The government is being urged to allow schools to make their own decisions on when it is safe to reopen amid the coronavirus crisis.

There should be “local flexibility” permitting some schools to make their own choices about reopening, in consultation with their councils, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).

Councils should also have the power to close schools or nurseries if testing indicates clusters of new Covid-19 cases, the LGA has said.

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It added that local flexibility should apply in communities where there is higher risk associated with Covid-19, such as those with a high proportion of black, Asian and minority-ethnic residents.

The calls are backed by the NEU and NASUWT teaching unions, who claim heads “cannot operate their sites where it isn’t safe to do so”.

Mary Bousted, NEU joint general secretary, said: “We agree with the LGA that we need to give local authorities a leading role. We have concerns that a wider opening of schools, too early, poses a lot of unanswered questions about the risks in poor communities.

“The [Department for Education] has not done nearly enough thinking about the emerging evidence about the racial disparities of the epidemic and what it means for schools with diverse pupil populations.”

Patrick Roach, NASUWT general secretary, said: “The NASUWT supports the call by the LGA for an enforcement mechanism to enable schools to be closed where clusters of Covid-19 cases emerge.

“Taking the step to close a school where testing indicates a cluster will be a vital part of controlling the spread of the virus.

“However, such a mechanism relies on an effective and widespread testing and tracing programme to be in place, something which to date is still woefully lacking and which the government has failed to get a grip on.

“The NASUWT remains clear that no school should reopen until it can demonstrate that it is safe to do so.”

The LGA, NEU and NASUWT are also calling on the government to share the scientific evidence underpinning its decision to reopen schools. 

Judith Blake, chair of the LGA’s children and young people board, said: “We know parents are anxious about sending their children back to school or nursery.

“Plans to reopen schools and early years settings must focus on reassuring parents that it will be safe for children to return to school. Publication of the scientific advice is vital to help provide that reassurance.”

Dr Roach said: “We have challenged the government to publish the scientific advice which underpins its decision to try to start to reopen schools from 1 June and to explain how it can demonstrate to school staff and parents that the decisions it is making are the right ones to protect public health.”

Dr Bousted added: “We agree with the LGA that publication of the scientific advice is vital to help provide reassurance to the public.

“The government keeps citing Denmark and the Netherlands but those countries have experienced far fewer deaths per capita than the UK and therefore aren’t suitable comparisons. The UK has experienced 432 deaths per million of the population compared to 85 deaths per million in Denmark.

“Spain and Italy are the countries that have experienced a higher death rate per capita than the UK and both have closed their schools until September.

“We share the LGA’s concern to see the science and are not at all surprised parents are seeking more reassurance.”

A DfE spokesperson said: “We want children back in schools as soon as possible because being back with their teachers and friends is so important for their education and their wellbeing.

“Plans for a phased return of some year groups from 1 June, at the earliest, are based on the best scientific and medical advice. The welfare of children and staff has been at the heart of all decision making.

“We have engaged closely with the unions throughout the past seven weeks and will continue to do so, including to develop further guidance for the sector.”