A number of pupils and staff at a school in Dartford have been forced to self isolate after one of the pupils tested positive for Covid-19.

All members of the child's bubble have been instructed to self-isolate, including two staff members, but the rest of Sutton-at-Hone Church of England Primary School remains open.

Headteacher Karen Trowell said the school had consulted with Public Health England on what to do, and had been commended by them on their actions.

She said she could "confirm that a member of our school community has recently tested positive for Covid-19.

"We have consulted with, and followed the guidance from, Public Health England and as a result we have instructed all members of the ‘bubble’ to self-isolate."

The child is a pupil in Reception, and it is thought the bubble of people affected involves eight pupils and two members of staff.

Ms Trowell added: "Public Health England have endorsed and commended our actions.

"The rest of the school remains open for Foundation Stage, Year 1, Year 6 and children of Key Workers.

Whilst some schools have remained open during lockdown to cater for the vulnerable and support key worker parents, the majority of schools only reopened their doors on June 1.

At the start of the month, the Government told primary schools to all children from Reception, Year One and Year Six to return to school, and as of June 15 secondary schools have also reopened for Years 10 and 12.

The reopening of schools has proved controversial, with many councils, including Greenwich, saying they do not believe it is possible to fulfill the Government's wishes to bring back all pupils before the end of the school year.

Unions and councils have argued that is would not be safe to do so, with socially distancing becoming impossible and testing and tracing as in this case becoming much tougher to manage.

The Government has since abandoned this stance, and parents who have children in year groups now expected to return ultimately have the final say in whether their child does so.