The government is expected to announce that pupils will not be expected to adhere to social distancing while in school, and the current “bubbles” of 15 pupils can be increased to include entire classes when they return in September.
Schools will instead be asked to focus on introducing strict hygiene regimes - such as hand washing and sanitising - and limiting the time children mix with others outside their class or year group by forming so-called bubbles to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The Daily Telegraph reported the news ahead of next week's anticipated announcement.
Responding to the article, the Department for Education said it would publish “further information and guidance next week to help schools prepare for a full return in September”.
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Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Leaks of proposals for school re-opening in September are not helpful.
"Schools and parents need to see from government a clearly thought-out plan outlining the scientific reasoning behind a return for all pupils.
"This is essential to reassure families and school staff that whatever the return to school looks like it is as safe as possible for the whole school community."
She warned there will be "serious challenges ahead and they need to be dealt with seriously."
"Head teachers need to have a clear idea of what they are planning for," she added.
"It is essential that government speaks to the teaching unions and education professionals to ensure we have a coherent strategy that is workable for September and includes planning for any second spikes or regional outbreaks that may occur.”
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs that the two-metre social distancing rule would be slashed to "one-metre plus." He said there would be additional measures in workplaces, such as different office layouts and the use of face coverings to mitigate the impact.
He also said that primary and secondary education will recommence in September with full attendance.
The return to schools has been a vexatious issue for the government as many parents and teaching unions and leading scientists expressed fears of the spread of the virus if children go back too soon, as some in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 have already returned.
Additionally, it's almost impossible for the youngest children in infant schools to adhere to social distancing rules as they are not as aware of personal space and boundaries as older students.
At the height of the pandemic in the UK in April, the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme it was "inconceivable" that schools would re-open without measures in place to stop the spread of the disease.
The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, saying he supports the return of pupils and teachers to schools when responding to the PM's statement on easing lockdown rules in the Commons on Tuesday.
He told MPs: “I do think it’s safe for some children to return to school and I completely support that.
“The question is how quickly can we get all children back to school safely? The sooner the better.”
And Mr Johnson responded: “May I finally say how welcome it was to hear from (Sir Keir) that he actively supports children now returning to school and that he believes that returning to school is safe.
“I think he said that, I don’t want to accuse him of a U-turn, but there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth and so on.
“It’s good to have his support on that matter. I welcome the spirit and manner in which he has responded to this statement today.”
