The first pupils invited back would include primary school children and years 10 and 12

Senior ministers have drawn up a three-phase plan to lift the coronavirus lockdown that would see schools reopen as early as May 11.

Under “traffic light” proposals to be presented to Boris Johnson when he returns to work, schools would reopen in three weeks’ time, with pupils of different age groups taught for only part of the week or every other week to aid social distancing.

The first pupils invited back would include primary school children and those in years 10 and 12 who are due to sit GCSEs and A-levels next year.

It came as Michael Gove denied the UK had sleepwalked into a crisis. He was responding to the report in today’s Sunday Times that Boris Johnson had skipped five Cobra meetings on