British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is working with Education Minister Gavin Williamson to ensure all schools can open in September and to provide support packages to help children catch up on lost learning, his office has said.

Detailed work is underway with schools, councils and unions to make sure all children are able to return in September if it is safe to do so, Reuters quoted a Downing Street source as saying.

Johnson has asked for measures to be drawn up to help children over the summer and further into the future, said the statement. For social justice reasons help was especially needed for those who had less support at home, it added.