Lack of data behind Calderdale Council's decision for children not to go back to schools

The absence of data underpinned Calderdale Council’s advice that it does not believe it is safe for more children to return to schools at this stage amid the COVID-19 crisis, councillors heard.
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Two weeks ago a furious row broke out when Calderdale Council advised headteachers, governors and parents, although it was ultimately up to schools to decide if it was safe to bring more children in by the Government’s June 1 target date.

Opposition Conservatives and Liberal Democrats were angry they had not been consulted before the advice was published, the Conservative Group arguing it was flying in the face of Government’s advice while the Liberal Democrats ultimately believed the advice was right.

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At the council’s Cabinet meeting Coun Sophie Whittaker (Con, Rastrick) asked ruling Labour councillors if they would publish the council’s data which contradicted the Government’s data about return to schools and had emailed in a request for this information.

Calderdale Council leader Councillor Tim SwiftCalderdale Council leader Councillor Tim Swift
Calderdale Council leader Councillor Tim Swift

“I asked about the decision to write to local schools advising them against opening to a larger cohort of students, contravening the Government’s advice,” she said.

Leader of the Council, Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town) said the decision had largely been based on the assessment by the council’s Director of Public Health, Deborah Harkins, that it was unclear whether three of the Government’s five tests for safe return to school could be met in Calderdale.

“It’s not so much the data as the absence of data, particularly testing.

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“Also, if the lifting of lockdown led to an increase in cases, how quickly would we know that and how quickly could we respond to it.

“In a nutshell, that’s it,” he said.

Coun Swift said it was not about “blindly” going against Government for the sake of it.

The council employed professional officers to advise it and councillors should listen to the advice they gave, he said.

Coun Swift said Government recognised Local Authorities had an important role to play in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and he hoped that meant Calderdale would get the detailed data it needed, particularly testing information and infection rates, to guide decision making in the time ahead.

Calderdale schools have remained open for children of key workers and vulnerable children to attend, with Government advising other children from some primary school age groups should return.