Part 1: Main Provisions Section 37 and Schedule 16: Temporary closure of educational institutions and childcare premises Part 3 – Northern Ireland
Paragraph 14 of the Schedule gives the Department of Education in Northern Ireland (the "DE") the power to direct the managers of particular schools, or schools in general, to close during a COVID-19 outbreak.
	A duty is placed on the managers of a school, which is subject to a temporary closure direction, to have regard to any guidance issued by the DE about how to comply with a temporary closure direction. Temporary closure directions must be published.
	A temporary closure direction can be enforced, on application by the DE, by injunction. No notice needs to be given to the managers of a school of such an application.
	The following duties are relaxed for the period of the temporary closure direction: the current duty on parents to secure education of their children; the duty on managers of schools to provide milk and meals; the duty on the managers of schools to admit a child who is the subject of an attendance order; the duty on parents to ensure their children regularly attend school; and the duty on the Education Authority to make exceptional education provision for children who require it.
	Paragraph 15 of the Schedule gives a power to the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland to direct further education colleges and higher education institutions ("relevant institutions") in Northern Ireland to close.
	The Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland is given the power to direct all relevant institutions in Northern Ireland, or particular relevant institutions, to close in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19. It must consult with the Chief Medical Officer in Northern Ireland or, in the Chief Medical Officer’s absence, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer before making such a direction.
	Under a temporary closure direction, the governing bodies of relevant institutions must take all reasonable steps to ensure that no persons are in attendance at premises of the institution for the duration of a temporary closure direction.
	Paragraph 16 of the Schedule also gives the Department of Health in Northern Ireland the power to issue temporary closure directions to registered day care providers and childminders (childcare providers) in the event of a COVID-19 pandemic. This requires the affected childcare providers to take reasonable steps to ensure that persons do not attend their premises for any purpose relating to childcare for the period of time set out in the direction.
	The Department of Health in Northern Ireland is allowed to specify, in any temporary closure direction: any steps required to be taken by the childcare provider; the persons affected by restrictions in attendance at the premises; and the purposes for which attendance is restricted.
	The Department of Health in Northern Ireland is required to publish any temporary closure direction and a temporary closure direction would apply until either the end of the period specified in in the direction, or the revocation of the direction by a further Departmental direction issued before that date.
	Registered childcare providers are required to have regard to any guidance issued by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland in relation to compliance with temporary closure directions.
	The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has a power to enforce a temporary closure direction by way of an injunction. An application for an injunction may be made without notice.
	Provision is made, where a temporary closure direction is in place, for duties which an authority is required to discharge in respect of children in need by Article 19(2) or (5) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 to be disregarded for the duration of the application of the temporary closure direction.
	The territorial extent and application of section 37(1) and Part 1 of the Schedule is England and Wales only, the territorial extent and application of section 37(2) and Part 2 of the Schedule is Scotland only and the territorial extent and application of section 37(3) and Part 3 of the Schedule is Northern Ireland only.