to wonder why the school needed to send a text warning us that they'd let us know about school being open or shut tomorrow...

[MrsMushroom]

because of the snow...when it's only dropped about three flakes?

The text was sent out this morning at 9.30am and there hadn't been ANY snow in the area (cheshire)...how can they warn us about the school closing when we've only had a sprinkle?

Ok it may get heavier....but that's a big MAY isn't it? Am I bu to think they might wait till morning and then decide?

[CrunchyFrog]

I hope my kids' school closes, it's a bloody nightmare to get to in snow, because of all the fuckwits who drive uneccessarily. Always a few cars sliding backwards down the ungritted hill!

[Pigsmummy]

Are you my (slightly unhinged) sister? She would find this something to moan about too.

[Pigsmummy]

A simple text confirming "don't call us, we will call you"? YABU

[Oblomov]

Got text last night, similar. Unlike OP was just grateful to be kept informed. Minimal snow ths morning, thus have dropped ds1 off. Am expecting text during the day though, to ask for him to be collected.

[Tanith]

That's what I thought when the text came through at 7 this morning. Not a flake!

The roads are now practically impassable.

[CockyPants]

OP I'm in Chester. Snowing heavily since 7:45am. Did Sainsbugs shop yesterday cos of bad forecast. DD school open at the mo, so I'm MNetting and watching daytime tv. Crock o shite....

[MrsMushroom]

Ours opened! But may close early.

[FryOneFatManic]

DD's secondary and DS's primary are open, at the moment. I need to keep track as they could close the schools later. We are in Leicestershire, so snow forecasted to hit later this morning/lunchtime.

DS's school is in the middle of a residential area, and although the two streets on the bus route have been gritted, the remaining estate hasn't. As a result getting to the school is hard. I walked up (lucky we are only a minute from the school), literally dragging DS on the icy pavement because he couldn't keep his balance.

If I can get the car out to the gritted street, I'll be fine from there...It's getting out that's the problem.

[janey68]

Where I am, the bus services have been suspended. Oh and I've also noticed the recycling lorry hasn't been round for its usual 7.30 am collection. So I suspect it's a few more places of work than schools which aren't operational today. Are you going to have a pop at them too op? Or is it just schools and teachers you want to get narky with?

Who'd be a teacher, or work in a school office? honestly, they always seem to be the brunt of this crap . Envy? Or just plain mean spiritedness?

[DeepRedBetty]

Not sure if it'll be a Snow Day or not, air temperature has shot up and it's sleet not snow now. for dd1 who has spent the evening finding her waterproofs etc ready for some serious tobogganing on the lethal rather steep slope on the other side of the valley in the morning.

[thebody]

My dds arnt going in tomorrow.

It's going to snow hard so may not be able to get them and its a 3 mike walk to our house.

Am amazed that parents bothering to send their kids.

As a TA I can't see myself going in even though I could walk in but the walk is very dangerous as no pavement.

Keep safe and have a snow day...

[chocoluvva]

The lady on the news described the snow as a "weather event"!!

And a Mrs Bunn (honestly) was filmed receiving her "survival pack". Which seemed to comprise a hat and pair of gloves. 'twas on the news at 10.

[MadameDefarge]

oh get over yourself. count yourself lucky they even bother giving you warning. sheesh. some folks seem to need a reason to bitch.

[goldiehorn]

The problem is as well, is that if the snow comes at lunchtime, you then have the chaotic situation of the school putting out a message to parents saying they can come and pick the kids up from lunchtime onwards. So the kids leaving one at a time every few minutes, (apart from a few who are stuck there way after school time finishes because their parents cannot come and pick them up) leaving the rest of the children high as kites and staring out of the window begging to be allowed outside. And then the teachers cannot get home because the snow has come down so heavily.

In some cases it is just easier to just shut the school pre emptively, although I think headteachers are reluctant to do this as they will look like right numpties if it does not materialise

[OscarPistoriusBitontheside]

YABU.

I want school to close becuase of two reasons.

1.) I quite fancy a 3 day weekend.

and

2.) We have a weird microclimate going on here and have been snowed in every winter since we lived here and it's not looking like we'll be able to get out anyway.

[ouryve]

Heavy snow is forecast and some people would appreciate some advance warning that school closure might happen so they have half a chance of making provisional childcare arrangements if they need to and can do.

So YABU.

[manicinsomniac]

as far as I've been told, it isn't lack of teachers that prevents a school opening, it's lack of catering staff.

I work in a boarding school so we have to stay open. When the snow is appalling only the 20% or so of us staff who live in walking distance make it in. Combining classes isn't a problem but we have had real difficulty getting enough hot food for the children ready before.

[DeepRedBetty]

Precisely Ambrosia! At least they didn't see you putting Tampax in your shopping bag, or gin (or did they? )

[MushroomSoup]

Ambrosia
I feel your pain!
And that is why I live 30 minutes drive away!

[McNewPants2013]

Ds school communication is via Facebook and twitter. It saves alot of parent phoning into the school and asking minor questions.

[Ambrosiacreamedrice]

Deep, I happened to pop into the Sainsbury's local near school after a Parents Evening and I followed round the aisles by grinning Year 11s asking 'What did I get on my Controlled Assessment?' For two weeks afterwards they shouted across the yard 'Miss we saw you in Sainsbury's'. This is why I live one town over.

[MushroomSoup]

On Monday night it took me 2 and a half hours to drive my usually 30 minute journey home from school. I have had to set off much earlier, which is tricky because I've had to sort out my own childcare both for the morning, and for late into the evening.
Schools don't usually close unless there is no alternative.

[DeepRedBetty]

BIL was in charge of school transport for the 2000 pupil school which my dds now attend (he describes it as the worst single job of his entire teaching career, btw , and was very glad to dump it onto a colleague last year). He told me the actual decision would be made around 6.30 in the morning, and the owner of the largest fleet of school coaches they had under contract normally called the shots. If Mr Coach Boss thought it was unsafe, that was that. Since catchment area is nearly thirty miles east to west and twenty five north to south transport is vital - only about a quarter of the children are in walking distance, and a vanishingly small number of the staff. Like most teachers they prefer to live where they're not likely to trip over Year 10's in their local pub...

[Ambrosiacreamedrice]

This thread, apart from the OP, has been wherearemysocka. Our local paper, on the other hand, had 3 letters from moaners complaining that us skivers might shut schools when they used to walk 8 miles up hill both ways to get to and from school.