To think that every day that is had off school due to snow...

[MittzyBittzyTeenyWeeny]

Should be taken off the summer holidays.

(4 and counting at my DC's school so far!!

[MaureenMLove]

I don't mind that idea at all. I work in a school and I would gladly shorten the summer holidays!

However, totally pointless, because it's hard enough to get secondary school children to focus on the last week of summer term as it is, without hitting them with the fact they've got to stay for another 4 days!!

[roslily]

I think the issue now is how far away staff live from schools. I live in catchment, within walking distance, but this is very unusual, especially for secondary teachers. They are too scared of bumping into kids and parents.

Doesn't bother me, I have nothing to hide from kids. But in a previous job was once cornered by a parent in a pub!

[Lydwatt]

.....or they can't afford to buy near the school.

[backwardpossom]

I put work for my pupils onto my blog so that the kids who couldn't get in could download some revision sheets and the like (for prelim exams after Christmas). I looked at the stats earlier today and not one person has downloaded the material... ho hum. [fbear]

[roslily]

True Lydwatt, sorry I was referring to my school. Most of them live in more expensive areas than the school. It wasn't a criticism of teachers, I live near because we can only afford one car, and dh needs his for work.

I just mean things have changed and for lots of reasons they live further away.

[ArentFanny]

So what happens when you can get your child to school but teachers can't get in?

[Lydwatt]

its ok roslily i didn't read it as such!! I live in the catchment now but I am a boring middle aged so and so....however, I also lived in catchment in my 20's and got a lot of flack! My favourite was 'I saw you on friday night and you were with TWO men...!!'

[OneTwoBaubleMySanta]

I lived in catchment during my PGCE and vowed never again. Hearing the words "Hi Miss" whilst dancing very badly on the dancefloor is enough to put you off for life!

I think some posters need to remember that it is not teachers who decide to close the school but the Head and/or the LEA.

Having said that it is very rare for us to be shut and as Suffolk (West) has had very little snow we are open.

[Dexterrocks]

Sorry Mitzy - didn't mean that to sound like you were on about child care.
I am on our local PTA and have had to phone everyone in my dd class every day for the last 7 school days to say the school was shut. I got so much hassle from Mums moaning about having to pay for child care so they could get to work (rather than thank yous for letting them know).

[MittzyBittzyTeenyWeeny]

It's OK Dexter.. someone else had mentioned it and I suppose it may have seemed like that.

Not the biggest fan of my LEA so happy to blame them!

DD's school is generally more directed by the church and has a fabulous outlook to learning,

Whatever I have grumped about on here, I won't however be one of the ones at school on Monday bending the staff's ear about it though..Just needed to offload

[ilovexmasme]

dcs school had monday off, but i kept them off tues and wed aswell... i think they should have 2 weeks off in summer and 6 weeks in winter

[roslily]

onetwo that is true from my younger years. However now they only see my in shop buying milk and chocolate! Oh how life has changed.....

[littlemissturquoise]

What about the benefit to children of having FUN in the snow, spending time with their parent/carer when they normally would be at school and also the benefit of bonding with their siblings/neighbours/friends when out playing?

Education is not just about the academic! It should be considered on a holistic basis.

Children never catch up if they miss one day-utter bollockssss!! I am a teacher.

[MittzyBittzyTeenyWeeny]

FUN!!!! Aren't they putting a tax on that

[garrowismylaw]

Thing is, children are not having fun in the snow....because it is too bloody deep to play in!

[mumbar]

actually littlemiss has a point. MY DS got asked to go over the road to the park by a 9 yo lad from my street today and play, (we were in our garden and he came over)brilliant for him as his quirks make him a little different, being invited to play with, instead of trying to play alongside his peers was lovely for him.

[Goblinchild]

It's deep enough for our local park to have a couple of huge igloos in it, bricks moulded by plastic crates. They did it last time too. about 8-10 feet in diameter.
Then the little ones play in it during the day, and the teenagers sit in sleeping bags inside it until around 9.
Too deep to have fun? What an odd notion.

[maxybrown]

well my DH spent his "day off" setting work to be emailed to children to do whilst "off"

[MittzyBittzyTeenyWeeny]

Icicles here! Amazing! haven't seen them like that for years. The kids went icicle hunting.. hence my bath being full of them oh and I'd forgotten my freezer is full of them as well Longest they brought home was about 3' and beautiful.

[garrowismylaw]

My DC's wanted to sledge down the street, but it wouldn't budge because of the depth of the snow.
2 year old went out for 5 mins but started to cry as he could not move literally through the stuff.

[SingingMog]

At our school we haven't closed, but one of the main reasons we have done in the past due to snow is for the safety of the staff getting home. A lot of us live a good 30 mins drive away (I used to live in catchment until I got sick of being stalked around the supermarket and having a list of what I had bought recited back to me) .

Last year we ended up being open for the exam classes but not for the Key Stage 3 as our site covers a large area and a lot of it was too icy and dangerous for all of the kids to be there. We have an intranet too, so not a problem to put work up for students. Not that many of them use it, I know where you are coming from backwardpossum!

In response to the OP, I think YABU as (like other replies have said) since all the students are missing it is not too difficult to make sure they still complete what they need to when they get back to school. Plus, if they are off for a prolonged period of time then I am sure work could be distributed via internet. Not as good as being in school, but better than nothing!