Temporary closures of schools and nurseries - statutory guidance update: equality impact assessment

Executive summary

This Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) relates to updates to the guidance for the temporary closure of schools and nurseries (“temporary closure”). The guidance aims to support local authorities in making decisions about temporary closures by ensuring processes are transparent and that decisions prioritise the rights and wellbeing of children and young people. It contributes to National Outcomes on education, children and young people, and communities.

The EQIA considered the potential impacts of the updated guidance across all protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 and the three limbs of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). The assessment reflected that the guidance represents a revision to existing policy and does not introduce new policy initiatives or alter the statutory framework for school closures.

The EQIA found that while temporary closures can have impacts on children and young people, families, staff and wider communities, the updated guidance does not introduce direct or indirect discrimination and does not result in identified positive or negative equality impacts for any protected characteristic. As a result, no mitigating actions or policy changes were required. Equality monitoring will continue as part of regular policy review activity.