LONDON — The British government has abandoned plans to have all younger children return to school in England before the summer holidays after school principals raised concerns about coronavirus-related social distancing requirements.

Although many of England’s primary schools have remained open during the pandemic for the children of essential workers and students with special needs, the government had planned to get all younger children back to class in stages.

However, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson acknowledged Tuesday that's not possible given the constraints related to classroom sizes, the need for social distancing and an inadequate numbers of teachers.

Last week, the very youngest schoolchildren were allowed to return as well as those in Year 6, who are due to go to secondary school come September. The plan was that all others would slowly return over the coming weeks.

Britain’s school year normally runs until late July.