She said that forcing children who are mask-exempt to sit at the back of the class, or asking children who choose not to test to have separate lessons risks “vilifying” pupils whose “parents have a right to say no”.

Pupils at Lychett Minster School in Poole, Dorset have been told that they can wear scarves and coats if they are cold in lessons since windows and doors will be kept open “as much as possible”.

Andrew Mead, the secondary school’s headteacher, said: “Classrooms will be well ventilated with doors and windows kept open as much as possible. In view of this, we are allowing students to wear coats and scarves in lessons.”

Meanwhile children at St Mary’s Wavendon, a Church of England primary school in Milton Keynes, have been asked to take a lateral flow test before the start of term as a “precaution”.

“It is apparent that more cases of Covid have been recorded daily both locally and nationally,” the headteacher told parents. 

“Whilst I have been notified of a couple of cases over the break, we are very fortunate that with your help we are keeping our own cases within St Mary’s at a minimum.

“It is requested that all children have a lateral flow test prior to their return to school as this will be another precaution to keep everyone safe. I am sure that you all understand the reasons for this.”

‘Causing more harm than good’

One parent said that asking such young children to test risks “causing more harm than good”, adding: “It sends the wrong message to children – that they could be infectious, that they are a risk to others and that they are dangerous.”

Official guidance from the DfE says that while secondary school pupils should be encouraged to test at the start of term, there is “no need” for primary age pupils to regularly test.

Meanwhile, schools may need to suspend music and religious education classes so teachers can focus on exam years if staff absences soar, the chair of Ofqual has warned.

In a briefing to headteachers, Ian Bauckham said that schools might need to make “exceptional timetable adjustments” this term to cope with high levels of staff sickness.