UK lockdown: What are the new rules on schools and seeing family from 1 June?

From 1 June, people in England can now see people outside of their household group if they maintain social distancing

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On 1 June England moved into the second phase of Boris Johnson’s roadmap to lifting lockdown, which began on 11 May.

This transition means new rules have come into place regarding children attending school and seeing members of your family or friends.

Later in the month it will also see the reopening of non-essential retailers, such as clothes shops and betting shops.

The transition has only been made possible because the government says it has met "five key tests" including a reduction in daily Covid-deaths and keeping the R-number (the average number of people infected for every coronavirus case) below one.

If these tests continue to be met, it is estimated we will see phase three begin at the start of July. So from Monday what are the new rules?

Can I see friends and family?

In England you can now see friends and family in groups with a maximum size of six people.

These groups have to meet outside: either in public parks or in private gardens, and must maintain social distancing at all times.

This means you can have BBQs or picnics together but you must be aware of abiding by social distancing when sharing food, and being vigilant if you use a toilet in another household.

These are the same rules for people in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, first minister Nicola Sturgeon says it is safe for people to socialise in groups of eight rather than six.

In Wales you can meet in groups of two households with no upper limit on the number of people - but you are not permitted to travel further than five miles to do so.

Nowhere in the UK are you permitted to stay overnight at another household.

Is my child going back to school?

Primary schools in England are reopening on Monday 1 June to pupils in reception, Year 1 and Year 6. This is the first time they have been open since Friday 20 March.

Parents can choose to not send their child back to school if they wish - a survey from the National Foundation for Educational Research indicated as much as 50 per cent were not planning to send their child back.

The Department for Education says parents will not be fined if their child stays at home.

On 20 May more than 35 councils warned not all of their primary schools would be ready to reopen on 1 June. It has not been confirmed how many councils will not reopen today.

On Monday morning the business secretary Alok Sharma told BBC Breakfast: “I completely understand every parent wants to keep their child safe. And that’s precisely what the government wants to do in ensuring schools are safe places to return to.”

Ms Sturgeon has said schools in Scotland will be reopened from 11 August - not sooner.

Any other changes from 1 June?

Outdoor markets and car showrooms can now resume trading in England, providing they allow customers to social distance at all times.

You can also now exercise outside with up to five people, but you must maintain social distancing from anyone not in your household group.

And government guidance requiring 2.2 million people in at-risk groups to shield at home is to be relaxed in England from Monday, MP Robert Jenrick said on Sunday.

Mr Jenrick confirmed that those who are on the government shielding list, because they were more vulnerable to Covid-19, can now spend time with the rest of their household or someone from another household if they live alone.

The news comes as a growing number of scientists warned lockdown restrictions are being eased too quickly.