FSB complains that school closures cost work days

Head teachers have come under fire from business leaders, who say many schools have been close too readily because of the snow.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) says that many work days are being lost as schools close, and they have called on the government and head teachers to create a code for school closures.

Head teachers hit back, saying that schools were closed on the basis of local issues alone.

Spokesman for the FSB, Stephen Alambritis, told BBC Radio’s Today programme: “There is concern that the vast majority of absences from work is simply because parents have to stay at home to look after the children.

“We appreciate that, but we do have a worry that head teachers and the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Association of Directors of Children's Services haven't really sat down and thought through a code of practice to make sure wherever possible that it's only in exceptional circumstances that the school is closed.

"We all know that the vast majority of children are within a small catchment area to attend school and so there is a concern that head teachers may be closing schools unnecessarily."

John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said decisions were made based on a “whole range” of local information. "It can be a very difficult and a very local decision; that's why it's right that head teachers should make these decisions," he said.

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "These are never easy decisions, but we cannot and should not dictate closures from Whitehall when we don't know local circumstances. We trust heads to make the right decision for their school."

Thank goodness for that. The last thing we need is more government intervention.