AIBU to think school closures ignore parents' work commitments?

Haven’t read the full thread but… why do schools assume that homes are cooler than schools? And that children are aged at home in the heat than in schools?
Should there be an option of coming into school during the heatwave depending on what is more tolerable for the child, if safe guarding is the concern?

This didn’t happen in 1976 !
However, the schools were mainly old Victorian buildings that seemed to stay fairly cool

So did mine! They were very apologetic but I saw the state of my DS when he came out at 3 and the red alert hasn't even commenced. We also have the issue that a lot of the teachers have children at other schools so there was a bit of a domino effect.

The trust i work for have sort have done that. Its basically you can go home at lunch, but if you cant we are open and can watch the children (including secondaries) then the hope is enough want to go home so its cooler for those left and they can go to places like library and hall. Im not a teacher so not sure if work is being set or it will be do your homework.

I've never worked in a school with any AC. I'm in the Midlands and we've needed it every year for the past few years. There are at least 2 weeks every year where it's over 25 degrees in the classroom and it's obvious children's learning is affected. I think we've just all reached a stage of accepting schools are wholly inadequate instead of questioning why it's acceptable to put children in such buildings every day.

We had several complaints today about being open....

It doesn’t need to be for key workers. Just those who opt to come in.

I don't know why every time something like this happens people tend to question why the school doesn't consider the parents work and adapt by they question is never why don't employers consider childcare commitments?

Schools duty of care of care is to the children and staff not parents employees. Of course they know it's inconvenient for some parents. Remember that teachers are parents to and are well aware of the inconveniences of schools/nurseries closing. My school is staying open whilst my daughters nursery is closing at lunchtime and my DH is abroad for work until Saturday. I have zero family nearby, literally no one we can call on to help. That's a huge inconvenience for me. Luckily for me my school understands and is willing to make adjustments to accommodate parents in this position.

I think the work culture needs to change first.

Every new school needs to have solar on the roof installed and an AC system set up linked to that.

Also stop using so much glass in the architecture!

Do you think school staff aren’t parents? We are faced with the same issues as the rest of the working population! In some cases worse, because teachers and term time workers cannot just book a day off. So trust me, we understand what juggling childcare is like just as much as anybody else.

I think there needs to be some sort of Hub set up, like there was during Covid school closures.

Pick the coolest part of the school, there will be far fewer children than usual and just let them relax, watch films do craft etc.

I appreciate that schools aren’t childcare but for some people, taking time off at short notice just isn’t possible.

I used to have a lot of respect for the profession. Until the pandemic. That destroyed my respect for a vocal minority in the profession.

They count wrap around care and holiday clubs as child care NOT the actual state funded education during designated hours.

Sorry - are you trying to make any accidents involving students not in school the fault of teachers? Not parents? And you don’t think some might be ill or worse if they stay in schools in 40+ heat?

I keep reading this but how? Any solution will cost money and there isn’t the budget for it - year on year there are cuts, never rises.

The government must think it’s the lesser of evils to shut schools rather than fund them to say open.

I think heat will be another driver of inequality. Schools who have a PTA who can fund measures will be able to stay open in comparison to more poorly funded schools.

So come on how does a 100 year old building adapt on zero budget? I would love the ideas!

All the ones over about the age of 11 will be out with their mates, hopefully not at the local lake or river, I doubt they will be in being fanned by their parents

Schools need to adapt. This isn’t just a one off.

This. 100%

They should ask for a photo of an ID badge by email.

According to the DWP it is

My kids school has a very sensible approach. Keep your kids off (authorised absence), pick up early or if necessary leave them in and they will potentially spend time in the hall the coolest room. Seems very logical.

“Teachers plotted for the Met Office to issue a red heat alert saying danger to life and then made sure the school doesn’t have air con so they could get a day off”

And they wonder why there’s a teacher retention problem. This is crap. I e been a teacher for 35 years and I’ve never heard if a) teachers ’plotting’ for time off or b) SLT listening to the views of teaching staff

Parents might see it that way but it doesn't mean they are correct. The role of schools is to educate their pupils . They don't need to vonsode their parents work commitments

The schools have a duty of care to the children . If it's not safe for them in the school they have no choice but to close the school
It's annoying for parents but it's not their role to consider the parents work commitments