Proposals to open schools on the peninsula in some form over the summer are being looked at by education bosses.

The Department for Education has been looking at the measure as one way in which to help support pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils and those who struggled to learn under lockdown, and suggested retired teachers and Ofsted inspectors could help staff them.

Suffolk County Council has already had six Ofsted inspectors locally working for it, and said it was continuing to discuss the possibility with the DfE on behalf of its schools.

But one peninsula academy trust chief executive has confirmed its teachers will not miss out on their holidays, and their terms and conditions will be honoured.

Clare Flintoff, chief executive at ASSET Education Trust, which runs Shotley and Stutton primary schools, said: "Our school staff have been working extremely hard providing remote learning and manning rotas in schools, many without any breaks at all since February, and they can expect to get a summer holiday."

Mrs Flintoff confirmed they were keen to help pupils, but would not be opening schools in the conventional manner.

"At ASSET we are looking at what we can offer but I would stress that we are looking at how we can boost learning over the summer period," said Mrs Flintoff. "Education will be the priority rather than childcare so I don't expect our schools to be open in that way.

"Parents have been doing an amazing job at home, especially those on the peninsula, using the online materials provided by our teachers.

"Even those children back at school have been using the same lessons and accessing them online in school. It is by working together with parents in this way that we can ensure our children look back on this experience with fond memories.

"Learning may be different but it is still happening and our young people are growing in their understanding of the world everyday."

The plans have come forward, just as the government confirmed primary schools will not be fully opened after an experiment with Reception, Years 1 and 6, made it clear, the suggestion would not be practical.

Cabinet member Matt Hancock also indicated it was unlikely secondary schools, such as Holbrook Academy, may not open fully in September.

Adrian Orr, assistant director for education and learning at the county council, said: "School leaders who have got good systems in place are now very much thinking about summer and September.

"The government has said it is looking at the possibility of summer schools, and school leaders are saying to us in the local authority 'please chase that up on our behalf because if that is going to happen we need to be identifying the young people now'.

"At the moment, the only information we have is that potentially the government might be looking for retired teachers and possibly the Ofsted workforce.

"We have got six Ofsted inspectors who are doing different duties in our team and doing great work to assist us.

"It is obviously not inspection work but they have all got a teaching background, so it could be the government looks to extend that, and we have been very grateful for the support."

The council's education bosses said many school leaders and teachers had worked through Easter and half term, meaning they had not had any time off since February half term.

A spokesman from the DfE would not confirm whether summer schools would be implemented, but admitted it was considering "what more is required".

He said: "We will do whatever we can to make sure no child, whatever their background, falls behind as a result of coronavirus.

"The government has already committed more than £100million to support children to learn at home, and pupil premium funding at the highest ever rate per pupil continues to be paid to help them support their disadvantaged pupils.

"Many schools have begun welcoming children from Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 back to the classroom as part of a phased and cautious approach. We are also considering, with a range of partner organisations, what more is required to support all pupils who have been affected by school closures."

However, some questions have been raised by the Suffolk branch of the National Education Union, including whether there is enough demand or staff, whether Ofsted inspectors have enough recent classroom experience, and whether the right DBS checks would be in place for retired staff. Suffolk branch spokesman Graham White added: "The scientific evidence is still that September looks safer than June or July for pupils to be in school.

"The daily death rate is still over 100, the R rate is nearly 1 and likely to rise as restrictions are lifted, schools that opened are being shut again because of Covid cases and we still do not have a credible and efficient test trace and track mechanism for Covid cases. Therefore although there may be some merit in running these summer schools it would benefit more pupils both short and long term if the government addressed the underlying issues of school funding, digital poverty, poverty and the curriculum and assessment issues facing many pupils."