“It is not reasonable, or feasible for schools to continue to provide a ‘normal’ school education” during the coronavirus lockdown, teachers have stressed this evening.

New joint guidance drawn up by the NEU teaching union and the ASCL and NAHT school leaders’ unions states: “This is not education as we have known it.

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“Sats, GCSEs, AS and A level exams, as well as Ofsted inspections have all been cancelled. Children and young people have very different home lives and very different levels of parental support. It is not feasible to carry on as before during this crisis.

“We cannot ‘home school’ the nation’s children. Children in school will not be following a normal timetable - with lessons and homework.

“The main focus, certainly in the short term, will be on ensuring that children are safe and supported...it is not possible to replicate a usual school experience at home.”

The document, which also has safety advice for schools, notes that not all pupils will have good internet access at home.