schools opening when it has snowed!

FBaby

I'm sorry to say but English people really become wimps when it comes to snow. Snow is not some danger monster that falls upon the ground to put everyone in danger. Snow is in many ways not that different to very heavy rain. It means that you have to be much more careful and take more time for your journey.

It snowed quite a bit in our town, but the roads are ok. I've been out this afternoon, coming out of my drive is snowed covered road and on a hill it I did skid once. Still, inevitably the schools will be closed tomorrow...

Friday, there was hardly any snow yet everyone was already planning leaving work early and the school asked for children to be picked up early if possible...just in case...and everyone was just waiting to be told it was ok to go home by the big boss. It's almost as if it's seen as an opportunity to skive. I totally understand closing schools when the main roads are all icy, but closing just because there's some snow on the ground shouldn't in itself be enough to close a whole school.

kingfisherblue

I have had a text saying my older son's school is open tomorrow. We haven't had it particularly bad here, though, and there has been a good thaw. I'll have my son ready, and hope his transport turns up. If it doesn't, I will be able to get him there if necessary. He might be a bit late, making me late, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Transport doesn't let you know if they are not coming, though, which is a bit of a pain. I might ring the escort tonight (she doesn't have a mobile, so can't text, but I am reluctant to disturb her evening).

My younger son will also be in school, as there is a note on his school's website saying that they are open.

I'm at a workshop in the morning, and my daughter is on her day off, so she will be able to have a lie in.

I'm not a snow lover, so I'm quite hapy that we have managed to escape with just a couple of days bd weather. It hasn't been nearly as bad as recent years, although it is cold. The heating has been on 24/7 as my son's breathing is compromised when the air gets cold. His paediatrician was hoping to reduce his inhalers latter this year, but I've had to increase them with the cold weather.

To those who do need to travel, have safe journeys. To those who don't, keep warm and enjoy the extra time with your kids. They grow up too quickly these days, so make the most of unexpected days together.

Wyre

My kids are in secondary school - 2 have train journeys, the other has an hour bus ride.

It has been snowing all day here and while the main roads are clear, the side streets are already an icy nightmare which will only get worse as it freezes overnight.

My youngest has been saying all day she won't go to school tomorrow, and I have been saying if the school is open she is going, it isn't a choice! Some schools already have reported to the local radio station that they won't be open and I expect that many more will do so as the roads become skating rinks.

Hopefully ours will let us know before the kids leave for school.

Deanied

toshkininny wrote: »

Going by previous years, if they open and children manage to get in but only a few, they usually end up watching a film and playing in the snow so seems a bit pointless trying to get there.

Also our head has a system where if she can't get in to the school she will work at a school nearer to her - for one day I don't see the point. If it's ongoing then that's different.

It's not your head that has a system. It's part of the teachers code of conduct. If teachers can't get to their school due to something like adverse weather all teachers should walk to their nearest school and work there. The point is that if every teacher did that very few schools would have to shut as they would all be staffed. However very few teachers actually do this as there is no national Id card or way of proving you are a teacher, so the school would be irresponsible to let any random loose on their children for the day. Also the school would need to do a crb check to check the person is safe to work with children and that can not be completed instantly. It's a good idea in theory, but not so good in practice.

ossie

In Kent at least, you can check online....
http://www.kentclosures.co.uk/

Wine_of_the_World

The roads were fine around here - but the school still closed early - any excuse! Shops were still open, cafes, restaurants all open – went out for dinner Sat night – no probs – pubs didn’t close early for the snow! I wonder whether schools will be open Monday – hhmmm
I think its strange schools close in the snow when other business / services remain open.
Perhaps it could be concluded that teachers are bad drivers!

toshkininny

ossie wrote: »

In Kent at least, you can check online....
http://www.kentclosures.co.uk/

Thanks, already checked and school saying open! Knowing our head, I wouldn't put it past asking the Caretaker to clear the paths today!

johnnyl

toshkininny wrote: »

Thanks, already checked and school saying open! Knowing our head, I wouldn't put it past asking the Caretaker to clear the paths today!

and whats wrong with that?

gregg1

marisco wrote: »

I dont think it has anything to do with making stats look good. The school where I work has a caretaker on site. At 6am he starts his checks making sure the heating and lighting is working okay. He then checks the outside of the school.

All staff have to phone in by 7.15 if they are unable to get in due to road conditions, lack of child care for their own kids if their schools are closed etc. Once there is a full and clear picture of the situation a discussion is held and a decision is made as to whether it is safe to allow the children to attend. The health and safety of our pupils is paramount.

We have to decide by 7.30 and publish the decision on our website or send text alerts, as that is when the school breakfast club opens. When snow is forcast we advise parents to check the website for the decision as to whether it will open or not before bringing their children in. In the hopes that if we have to close they are spared a possibly hazardous journey.

The decision to close a school due to adverse weather conditions is not taken lightly. On Friday when the snow was really coming in we stayed open despite many of my colleagues facing difficult and long journeys home. We had many worried parents turning up at our reception asking to take their children home whilst it was relatively safe on the roads from 11 in the morning. We allowed this as we dont want our pupils or their parents taking any risks.

It is a difficult one. My OH's school closed Friday because the majority of the kids travel in by coach through rural areas and it is the coach companies who are the first ones to refuse to transport the kids.

However, my friend's school where she teaches was open. Took her over two hours to travel 15 miles, she had an accident on the way and she had only been at the school for ten minutes when the head decided to close it. The staff then had to contact the parents of the kids who had turned up (interestingly, the majority of parents had kept their kids off anyway) and get them to come back for their kids, some of whom were then stuck in heavy traffic trying to get to work.

My friend spent two hours trying to get home but had to abandon her car and walk some of the way.

Parents and teachers alike were pretty peed off with the initial decision to open the school.

gregg1

Deanied wrote: »

It's not your head that has a system. It's part of the teachers code of conduct. If teachers can't get to their school due to something like adverse weather all teachers should walk to their nearest school and work there. The point is that if every teacher did that very few schools would have to shut as they would all be staffed. However very few teachers actually do this as there is no national Id card or way of proving you are a teacher, so the school would be irresponsible to let any random loose on their children for the day. Also the school would need to do a crb check to check the person is safe to work with children and that can not be completed instantly. It's a good idea in theory, but not so good in practice.

But if the nearest school is also closed, which is more than likely, what then?

My OH spent Friday sending her kids work to do on the Frog website. She has checked today and not one child has done the work. The parents are informed to get their kids to check the site in the event of the school being closed. Obviously, the parents have ignored that although they will be quick to complain about their kids missing school! You just can't win sometimes!

In addition, all days lost due to adverse weather are made up during the feb half term when kids are asked to go in school to catch up for one or two days. It is always a very poor turnout of kids!