Leaders of special schools have been sent into a “tailspin” by education secretary Gavin Williamson’s statement that schools would need to stay open for children with education, health and care plans (EHCPs), a sector leader has warned.

Claire Dorer, the chief executive of NASS (National Association of Independent and Non-Maintained Special Schools), said heads were now concerned that they are being expected to stay open when staffing shortages because of the outbreak might mean it is no longer safe to do so.

Mr Williamson announced yesterday that schools would be closing for the majority of pupils apart from children of key workers and vulnerable pupils - which he said included those with EHCPs.

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Ms Dorer said this effectively meant that special schools were being told they were being expected to stay open as their pupils will have EHCPs whereas the majority of the schools would be closing for most pupils.

Special schools under coronavirus pressure

She said: “It was announced that schools in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland were closing and we were gearing up for an announcement yesterday that schools in England were shutting, too.

“But what was announced, that schools would need to remain open for pupils with EHCPs, has sent special school heads into a tailspin.”

Ms Dorer said the move may have been meant to recognise that some pupils needed to access the specialist care and equipment at a special school and that for some pupils and their families expecting them to break from their normal routine would be a problem.

However, she said special schools needed to be able to maintain their staffing levels to operate safely.

She added: “We need more guidance from the Department for Education. Heads will have concerns that in special schools staff absence could mean that it is not safe to stay open and they need to know that if they think it is unsafe they will feel supported to close.”

Mr Williamson said yesterday that schools would be closing as the spike of the coronavirus was rising faster than had been anticipated.

Until yesterday the education secretary had said that the medical advice was that there was no major benefit to public health to close schools.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Special schools, colleges and local authorities are advised to make assessments on a case-by-case basis of the health and safeguarding considerations of pupils and students on an EHCP. 

“For some, they will be safer in education provision. For others, they will be safer at home. The secretary of state trusts leaders, with parents, to make these decisions.”