The sight of primary children being delivered to school at the start of another week would normally not warrant a second glance.

But this morning the happy chatter - despite occasional drizzle - of kids and grown-ups on Gayton Road and elsewhere took on an almost historic significance, because the children's return to their classrooms marked the start of Step One of the government's four phase plan to lift the coronavirus lockdown.

From today, all children and students will return to face-to-face education in schools and colleges in England.

Secondary pupils have been asked to wear masks in classrooms, as well as while moving around their schools, but they are not compulsory.

Secondary students will also be asked to do a COVID test twice a week.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "The reopening of schools marks a truly national effort to beat this virus.

"It is because of the determination of every person in this country that we can start moving closer to a sense of normality – and it is right that getting our young people back into the classroom is the first step."

Wraparound childcare - that's care provided by schools outside of normal school hours - and other supervised children's activities can resume where they enable parents to work, seek work, attend education, seek medical care or attend a support group.

Vulnerable children can attend these settings regardless of circumstance.

Under-18 sport can take place at school as part of educational provision, or as part of wraparound care, but should not otherwise take place at this time.

Care home residents will be allowed one regular visitor provided they are tested and wear PPE. One named person will be able to enter the care home, where they will be allowed to hold hands with a relative.

The universal requirement to stay at home if you can will remain, but people can now leave home for recreation outdoors, instead of just for exercise.

This could include meeting a friend for a coffee or having a picnic in the park. But, you're only permitted to leave home for recreation outdoors within your household or bubble, or with one person from outside your household.

If you want to remind yourself what the rest of the Four Step plan looks like, click or tap here to read our summary.