Teaching unions have agreed to “intensive talks” on pay with Education Secretary Gilllian Keegan in exchange for a "period of calm" over the next two weeks.

The National Education Union, which shut down more than half of schools to some or all pupils in England during two days of strike action this week, has agreed that it won’t announce further strike dates in the next two weeks in exchange for talks.

Union leaders will start talks with Mrs Keegan today and they plan to continue negotiations over the weekend.

The Association of School and College Leaders, the National Association of Head Teachers and NASUWT teaching unions,  will also participate in the negotiations.

The NEU has been in a stand-off with Mrs Keegan for weeks over its refusal to suspend planned strikes in order to move to formal talks.

In a joint statement, the Department for Education and teaching unions said they have “agreed to move into a period of intensive talks”.

They added: “The talks will focus on teacher pay, conditions and workload reduction.

“In order for talks to begin and, we hope, reach a successful conclusion, the NEU has confirmed it will create a period of calm for two weeks during which time they have said no further strike dates will be announced. The Education Secretary and all unions will meet today, beginning intensive talks, which will continue over the weekend.”

It comes after the Government offered a 5 per cent pay rise to nurses, midwives and ambulance workers in England in a bid to end months of strikes.

Health unions have recommended the offer to their members.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.