Photos of children in France returning to school show the ‘strange’ and ‘disturbing’ nature of their new life, as kids are kept apart from each other using chalk squares.

Nursery school children in the northern French town of Tourcoing, which sits on the Belgian border, were photographed sitting alone in their own areas.

In another picture, crosses had been spray-painted on the floor to show them where to sit, while a third snap showed the use of hazard tape on the floor in a classroom.

The photos were shared by a broadcast journalist called Lionel Top, who works for BFM news channel.

Roughly translated from French, he wrote on Twitter: “The children are coming back today (a small part of them rather). Very strange, even disturbing atmosphere.”

He added: “And if these photos sadden us, imagine what the teachers feel .. ‘It makes me sick, you can’t imagine,’ an institute told me.”

In another tweet, Top explained that squares had been drawn on the ground in chalk to ensure the children kept a distance from one another.

He wrote: “Background: To ensure that distances are respected, while taking advantage of recreation, the educational team has drawn squares on the ground for the little ones.

“The children play, dance, jump, laugh together… but from this square. From what we’ve seen, they don’t see it as a punishment.”

While Top said the youngsters, aged just three and four, thankfully didn’t seem to be too bothered by the new system, after the pictures surfaced online many people have commented to say how sad they found the images.

One person posted one picture on Twitter and wrote: “I can’t get over this. This image is heartbreaking. We can’t call this ‘school’.”

Another wrote: “I’ve never seen such a sad image.“

Meanwhile, over in the UK, the government has announced that some pupils could return to school as soon as 1 June, a move that will be dependent on the continued control the virus.

In his televised address to the nation on Sunday evening, Johnson said: “In step two – at the earliest by June 1 – after half term – we believe we may be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6.

“Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays.

“And we will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops and on transport.”

He added that this will only be the case if the rate of infection, known as ‘R’, is kept at a low level.