Hello,
This is not a teacher bashing thread.
The vast majority of local schools are closed due to adverse weather conditions today.
The snow is very deep .
My eldest dcs got up and ready for school, dd1 then got a message from a friend to say senior school shut, no problems.
I then got a call to say the school where I work is closed, again no problems.
My dd1 whilst trying to clarify whether dd2's very remote village school was also closed stumbled on the info that the school bus which dd2 catches is not operating as driving conditions are too bad.
Still trying to find out whether dd2 shcool closed and no info.
Then I got an email stating that school is officially open but there were not enough teaching staff for normal lessons to go ahead.
The school also stated that as school is officially open the onus is on parents as to whether it is actually feasible for their dc to attend.
It then states that there is no public transport through the village and informs parents that the school bus is not operating.
It also states that if a parent brings a child to school they must be aware that school can close at any time without prior notice, and that if you do decided to drop your child off then the deal is that you can get back during school hours to collect them if need be.
Basically the wording made it clear that though conditions were very bad if you don't go then it will be recorded as unauthorised absence.
It also implied that if you did your child will not be undertaking any normal lessons!
I haven't taken dd2.
The last time this happened we received a phone call to say we could collect dd2 at 10 am! My dh had been in the house 15 minutes.
When I returned on foot to collect her, she was sat in the cold school hall literally twiddling her thumbs.
My moan is this. Everyone who collected their dc that day was recorded as unauthorised absense yet the children were not being taught and the message impled come quickly! Conditions are worsening come and collect your child fast!
Are there some sort of brownie points for schools who stay open?
Seriously I cannot think of any other logical reason for this kind of behaviour.
The message was very ambiguous, almost exonerating the school from any official criticism rather than making a firm call.
Btw The vast majority of children live further away than us from school. Less than 20% of children live within 1 mile of the school.