To think 'snow days' are pathetic

[Toddlerteaplease]

I understand if you live very rurally and genuinely can't get out. But snow in cities is rarely that bad. NHS staff don't take days off for a bit of snow. Last time we had severe snow. Not one person on my entire unit missed work. Even though schools were closed.

Our school closed. Roads clear and about 2cm. Pathetic!

My kids schools are closed, what should I do? Send them anyway?

The worst thing about snow days are all the people moaning about them on social media. Plus the 'it's - 40 here and we all go to work' irrelevant bollocks.

There may be perfectly reasonable explanations, playgrounds being unsafe, staff unable to get in, heating not being adequate.

Too many people sue I think when they slip, LAs can't afford?

I assume most businesses and schools don't close unless they absolutely have to.

Definitely agree about the -40 posts. People write things like this online, then travel a few inches into heated gas guzzler into heated indoor environment through roads which an enormously energy inefficient snowplough has cleared, and genuinely think they've got everything the right way round.

It's ridiculous that the school is closed when other work places and businesses are open, people are driving around, I just saw a massive John Lewis lorry deliver something in my street FGS! Luckily Friday is my day off but I have rung work and people are in today so I would have had to take day off otherwise.

Why do schools close so easily? I feel like they just can't be arsed.

It depends. I’m close enough to walk to work, but I know how the bad the roads were near me. It was gridlock, so even though people set off early they got stuck.

The city might be fine, but getting in and out of said city maybe not!

DH started work 6:30 this morning from his desk at home, the increased commuting time, lack of meetings and continuing snowfall made it a pretty simple adult calculation on whether it was worth travelling in.

NHS staff don't take days off for a bit of snow

So you want kids to make a potentially dangerous journey into school just because NHS staff do?

I saw on facebook, "in my day we walked to school in 10ft of snow in our barefeet " well thats right we did but it was bloody freezing the heating at school didn't even take the chill off we were not hardy we were misersble! If a council shut a school then it is for a reason!

Not all of the staff live within walking distance of the school, if they're commuting in from elsewhere and the school aren't going to have enough staff in at work by the time the kids arrive then they have no option but to close or delay opening. Our school did this once, texted all parents to say they'd be opening at 10am instead of 8.45 due to staff being delayed.

Pipes may have frozen or burst and they can't open without water available or heating.

If there are weather warnings in place advising against all bit essential travel then school have a duty of care toward their pupils and staff and close so they don't have to travel.

Depending on how bad the snow is some NHS staff do have to take the day off and it becomes emergency only.

I do think it's excessive though when things totally shut down in the UK for a slight dusting

I work for the NHS (currently on mat leave) and a lot of people in my department have the day off today for a snow day (Cardiff South Wales)

Well, nursery is closed so I'm not sure what you think I should do with my two year old? If that's pathetic then so be it...

Why do schools close so easily? I feel like they just can't be arsed.

I'm sure they'd rather stay open and avoid umpteen parents moaning at them about closing.

Yep and made me laugh last night when I was on a evening shift at work 6-12am how many called in sick. I don't drive to walked home in the snow and they were getting calls about people not going in today already

But the teachers have to get in safely too.

We have teachers who get buses ( which are cancelled in snow btw) and cycle

The side roads round here aren't gritted either so what We or not the main roads r are ok is irrelevant

Oooh I love a snow day, not looking likely where I am though.

Everyone else is managing to get around, the message about it being closed was saying the playground has snow in it. Well obviously but they can play in it like we used to or stay indoors!

I can't get my school and my children's buses haven't come to pick them up for their school so we're all home. Not pathetic at all. The roads around here are packed ice but ok if you have a big car or go very slowly and with the school traffic off the road it makes it a lot safer for everybody.

My previous school used to close for snow because 90% of the kids came in on coaches and the coach companies wouldn't run. It wasn't worth having the school open, heated, staff struggling in for a handful of kids in random classes. Most school now have effective websites /VLEs to set work. It is a hassle re childcare but it's really 100% not that we 'can't be arsed'. My friend is a head and she Hates having to make the call because she knows whichever way she goes exactly 50% will say its the wrong choice.

Schools might be over cautious but if snow is forecast or ice then it is probably better the pupils/staff don't go in than try to get everybody home.

Schools close because a lot of children live a long way from their school and they can't risk kids being stuck if the weather worsens during the day.
Cities are different to the countryside - getting around in rural areas can be tricky. Not all roads are busy enough that the snow doesn't get to settle and lots of little roads aren't gritted.