To wonder on what constitutional basis Local Authorities are doing their own thing regarding opening schools and giving Stay at Home message

[cantdothisnow1]

2 LA's have today announced that they are not opening schools (other than are currently open to key workers and vulnerable) and another has urged a Stay at Home message.

Does anyone, more knowledgable than me, know on what constitutional basis local authorities may make such decisions. They are not devolved like Scotland and Wales and we don't run a federal system where state governors make decisions.

Could this be the start of a new political era where regions do their own thing and central government yields less power?

[ListeningQuietly]

From what I hear many schools have written to parents
My county has nearly 700 schools
I know people in the education department and even they have not enough knowledge to make such a statement

[Greysparkles]

OK I'll expand.

Many schools in my immediate area

[Summerof699]

The majority of funding for schools comes from central government. I would think that refusing to open would risk that funding being withdrawn, why would the government pay for schools that refuse to operate?

[bestthingsinceslicedbread]

Because the power to open a school is solely down to the governing body not central government. It is the governing body who will be held accountable for the children's safety not central government. Maintained schools work with their local authority to make these decisions. All the risk is on the school/governing body not central government. Further because the government has not be up front with schools or worked with the profession in any way to decide how best to open schools, many feel that as they don't have enough information about the risk to their pupils then they can't open safely.

[whostolemy]

It's happened in my area. The R-rate is still high here and we are behind the curve with cases still rising.

[PicsInRed]

I don’t know but history is full of people in the wrong who said they were just following orders.

It's been a while since we've had a Godwin's nomination. I nominate thee.

[ListeningQuietly]

why would the government pay for schools that refuse to operate?
If the Governing body have assessed the risks to their pupils and staff (bearing in mind their legal obligations as employers)
and can justify that decision to the NAO and Ofsted
it is none of Whitehall's business

[topcat2014]

As a primary school chair of governors these are indeed difficult times

[Scatterbrainbox]

I think it is appropriate to make local decisions. I don't know about Rochdale, but from local news I understand that the R Is currently higher than average in Merseyside. So it makes sense to take decisions accordingly.

[PickUpAPickUpAPenguin]

why would the government pay for schools that refuse to operate?

Keyworker and vulnerable children are still being looked after as usual. Schools are currently checking up on children as if they are social workers, setting work for kids and providing support like transition, UCAS applications...