After school activities and weather

[Butchmanda]

Not so much a AIBU as to ask your experiences. Practically every school in the borough closed for second day. Quite glad as, although we can walk, the placements are slippery etc. On the other hand, had schools been open, I'd have wrapped us all up and we'd have gone. Local music service which runs after school lessons and activities is resolutely open. Can't help thinking its for financial reasons as they'd have to refund / rebook all lessons if they cancelled. Possibly also because there are exams and concerts coming up but I think that's probably not the priority. I think we won't go to lessons tonight (finishing 8pm) as I don't want to drive and alternative is bus and walk. We won't get the lesson back but the teacher might be relieved to get home a bit early. Just think it's interesting that schools can afford to close (although not an easy decision) but other institutions can't. What are your experiences?

*pavements not placements

Our local schools are going to be closed tomorrow as well, so 3 full days. Our ASC has stayed open (based in another building) and is also providing full day cover for those who need it. Trying to be helpful but finances are a feature too, 3 days of refunds could really hurt a small business

The business I own runs after school activities that operate outside. The schools we run them in are so far open and we’re continuing as normal. We’ve just emailed parents giving them the option of letting their child attend and to remind them to dress their children appropriately for the weather.

If the schools were shut we’d cancel. There’s some truth in what you’re saying about the financial aspect but if we had cancelled we’d not refund the session as the cancellation would be due to situations out of our control.

We have a lot of parents relying on us for out of school childcare so cancelling is always a very last resort!

Ours is similar re refunds, but it won't stop folk asking/demanding/kicking off if they don't get one anyway!! Like you, closing is a last resort

One of the issues is the driving condi for the Staff, who have to leave really early and late, in the Schools. Also it'd easier to close than try to contact Parents to collect/be at home.

The LEA has a greater duty of care.

My GD baby yoga and other classes have been cancelled because the building just won't heat up to the required temperature.

It may be partly financial, but there may not be the same need to cancel private lessons.

I'd like to ask them why they're staying open but I doubt I'd get an answer. They operate out of a FE education college which I guess must be open but all the kids trekking there from 4pm will have been at home all day because schools have deemed it in everyone's interest to shut (I don't disagree ). And I suppose maybe under Act of God they wouldn't have to refund if cancelled. I just actually feel sorry for the teachers who probably work in that grey area between employed and freelance. I think I'll just stay at home!

None of the people we have running sessions mind, if they did or they felt there was risk (for instance we can’t run our sessions in high winds) we wouldnt open.

To be honest, if the after school club is run in a suitable safe environment, there is no reason at all to cancel. It’s totally up to the parents to decide whether their children should attend or not. I’d probably be advocating to my own DCs how to dress warmly and stay safe on the snow and ice rather than telling them it’s too sloppy to go out. But then maybe I’m a bit laissez faire!

Sloppy?! Slippy obvs!

where we are the council made the closure decision for all schools but in reality it's actually OK around here. You can walk around pretty easily, we've maybe got 4" lying if that. I understand closing the schools when it's made at an overall council level but for us, there wasn't really a need to close. There's enough staff who live within walking distance to be able to operate a service and we'd rather not let people down.

I'd generally go out in any weather - we have boots and coats etc. However I'm petrified of slipping on ice and hurting myself. I even have those clamp on cleats you can wear over your shoes. But kids won't wear them. I was quite relieved schools were closed for this reason. Yesterday we went out sledging - fresh powdery snow not a problem. Today is horrible. I guess I just want someone else to cancel so I don't have to make the decision. Even my husband thinks I should just get off my arse and take them on the bus, if I procrastinate for a bit longer it'll be too late anyway!