AIBU to think school closures ignore parents' work commitments?

@toffeeappleturnip I sorted childcare so relax. And will speak for the many who are struggling to figure out arrangements who don't have the chance to post on a forum like this because they are too busy pulling out childcare from their arse. School is seen as childcare for the majority of working parents.

Your post:
' pls share the options available where I can still go to work? There are none. That's the issue. '

It's not much of a discussion if you just make up hypothetical situations that don't exist, pretending you are the one with childcare issues, then pretend none of the solutions given to you work.

That's not a discussion, that's just horseshit.

North England. School very much still open here including breakfast and afterschool club until 6 with very little comfortable space and resources. It's very hard on the little ones.

Totally agree. My eldest son is working on a roof is 40 degree heat as an apprentice with no time off cos it’s a heat wave and my youngest son is dossing around in his pants thrilled he has the day of school! Even he said it’s not that bad in the classrooms. All we’re teaching this generation is the minute it snows or the sun comes out the country shuts down! It’s pathetic.

@toffeeappleturnip It's a forum, it's ok to have a discussion without it being about yourself all the time.😜 And who knows, life can change in an instant where suddenly childcare becomes a problem, so these issues are still valid, whether they effect me or someone else.

But at the end of the day, school is seen primarily as an education source and secondary as childcare. This is how society runs and how we work. If all schools ceased to exist tomorrow, yes people would be concerned about education but I think a hell of a lot of people would also be wondering what to do with their child during the workday.

Oh ok. So you are arguing for the sake of arguing. You actually don't have any childcare issues at all.
🙄

Of course it impacts parents, making their working day more difficult to organise.

But 30 odd kids in school uniform in buildings built to contain heat, without air conditioning is not safe. Particularly when you add in the need to hydrate, and the lack of constant access to adequate, safe, toilets.

If my kids were still at school, I'd have been giving them the day off. But that is part of our family's privilege, that we are able to do so, without strain or penalty. If I could sign up to have a few kids just here to hang out, and take the strain off their parents, I would!

@toffeeappleturnip You missed the part where we have made arrangements...
I'm simply pointing out whilst it's easy for me, it's not easy for many. But school is definitely considered childcare, for the simple fact that there are no childcare alternatives other than unsustainable favours.

Firstly it's not the teachers decision, it's down to safety.

Children can't regulate temperature so we'll and when you get them outside for a quiet activity, they inevitable go off running and overheating, no matter how many times you say.

The classrooms are BOILING. 30+ people in a room without ventilation gets seriously uncomfortable.

The only way forward is to invest in AC, the challenge is who is going to pay for that? My kids school is an old victorian building designed to keep heat in and I did worry. Glad everyone is home today

You and your partner really ought to have considered how you were going to look after 3 children and work if you had decided neither of you were going to be available for emergency cover.

I think that’s exactly it. OP wanted to get it off her chest. Anonymous forum seems like a good place.
Just a nod that short notice closures have an impact would be good, not a breezy “don’t worry, we’ll send online work home”.

Schools work for the DofE.

So you understand that schools have to close but you don’t like the way your school has worded the message?

Are they though? Really? Or do we just make do 99% of the time. My classroom is boiling hot on a 'normal' warm summers day and absolutely freezing during a 'normal' winter thanks to its metal roof and glass down two sides of it, lack of insulation and dubious heating system. In the summer the main corridor for my classroom and the drama studio is often closed due to the excessive heat and no ventilation options and we've had several children faint as a result over the years. Children are required to line up outside at the fire escapes to access these classrooms instead. I can count on my hands the number of days I teach per year where someone doesnt complain about the temperature of my classroom.

All parents have a legal right to take time off to deal with an emergency involving their child (or any other dependent) I would imagine their school closing suddenly for whatever reason would class as an emergency.

We all know that. Parents do use the opportunity to work while their children are in school. Many also use childcare provisions for the time their children are not at school. These generally operate outside of school hours (recognising that while children are in school they are also being “cared for” - in loco parentis). Most childcare provision doesn’t operate on an ad hoc basis, leaving working parents in a difficult position when schools shut at short notice.

Our school has decided not to close but has said that if parents wish to keep their kids at home it will be marked as an authorised absence. I thought this was a good option as those who can will keep their kids off, and for the kids who do go in with fewer bodies I classrooms they should hopefully stay cooler.

Thank you. Is this going to be the on and off arrangement until the end of the school year...? Maybe.

I wonder who would be willing to take all 3 of my kids (age 5,5,7), or how many favours I'd be pulling (and returning) for 3 children.

And let's not even discuss how well we know the parents and who else is in the home of the other child - older siblings? stepfathers? A boyfriend? These things come to mind but how to ask when it's a favour? I might know a mother from 10mins of small talk at the playground but realistically what else do I know about them, nothing?

I really appreciate the suggestion, so not dumping on it, but these are all the things going through a parent's mind, whilst their boss is rolling their eyes at another childcare emergency.

Thankfully I have made arrangements for my 3 for today and tomorrow, however that's not the case for many and school is primarily an education source and secondary a childcare option for working parents.

Make arrangements with parents of your child's friends and do swops for childcare. ie they have them Thursday, you have them Saturday to give their parents a break at the weekend.

Ask your own friends or family if they could possibly help for half a day.

We all pitch in at times like this. You need to do the same.

There are always going to be times when children need to be sent home from school
or the whole school needs to shut for some reason. It is never a decision a school takes lightly but ultimately if it’s not safe for children to be in it’s not safe. That has to come before anything else in the decision making.

But this is exactly it. You say its not childcare and to have a backup plan but don't provide any suggestions. It's very easy to say "do this and do that" but without anything substantial behind it. It's not your job to arrange childcare, correct, it's mine. But pls share the options available where I can still go to work? There are none. That's the issue.

😂Not my job, the job of the school or anybody else’s,it’s your job!! I’m sure you manage to sort cover and parent when there is illness. Maybe get off MN and start to sort it now.

School has never been and never will be childcare.

@Duvetdayforme @Butt3rButt3r

Let's be realistic, school is there to provide an education, correct but it's also alongside the majority of standard work hours. So it's also childcare when parents work.

Please suggest childcare options available or the "back up plan" to working parents for school aged kids between 9-5pm and I'll happily make those arrangements during the heat wave......?

You have a backup plan like you do for school holidays, sickness etc.

It is nit the school's job to parent or provide childcare for your kids

A back up plan is what I would suggest as the world falling apart and hysterical flapping because parents are expected to take care of their own children during brief safeguarding situations is not sustainable. They are your children and ultimately they’re not the responsibility of schools or the government.

Its all a moot point as safeguarding decisions are always going to be made by schools themselves not some bod in Westminster or frothing mumsnetters.