Schools in England will close from tomorrow until further notice for all pupils except children of key workers and the most vulnerable, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said.

Mr Williamson told MPs: "I want to provide parents, students and staff with the certainty they need.

"After schools shut their gates on Friday afternoon they will remain closed until further notice.

"This will be for all children except to those of key workers and where children who are most vulnerable."

Mr Williamson added: "I know the situation has become increasingly challenging.

"I've said before that if the science and the advice changed, such that keeping schools open would no longer be in the best interest of children and teachers, that we would act - we are now at that stage.

"The spike of the virus is increasing at a faster pace than anticipated and it is crucial that we continue to consider the right measures to arrest this increase and to relieve the pressure on the health system.

"The public health benefits of schools remaining open as normal are shifting.

"It is also clear that schools are increasingly finding it more difficult to continue as normal as illness and self-isolation impacts on staffing levels and pupil attendance."

The Education Secretary added: "The scientific advice shows that these settings are safe for this small number of children to continue attending.

"But asking others to stay away will just go towards helping us slow the spread of this virus.

"Examples of these key workers include NHS staff, police and delivery drivers who need to be able to go to work.

"Vulnerable children include those who have a social worker and those with educational health and care plans."

Mr Williamson said the Government is "expecting" early years providers, sixth forms and further education colleges to do the same.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also confirmed school exams will "not take place as planned in May and June".

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: "We welcome the Government's announcement that, for public health reasons, schools will now close.

"It is better for this to take place in an ordered way than the chaotic pattern of closures that was developing.

"We also welcome the clarity that SATs, GCSE, AS- and A-Level exams are to be cancelled. This offers some degree of reassurance to teachers, their students and parents.

"We note that, at this time of emergency, the Government has decided that teacher assessment is indeed a good method of giving reliable information about young people's progress and achievements. We will return to that when this crisis is over.

"Now, more than anything else the Government needs to concentrate on ensuring that children in food poverty are fed properly - these children are not just those on free school meals."