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Original poster

That schools should close tomorrow where it is snowyy...

442 replies

SunshineAndSummer · 11/12/2022 20:37

I feel like we should be prepared for days where it'll be difficult for teachers and some children to get into school due to bad weather, so online learning can take place instead!

OP posts:
Mamanyt · 13/12/2022 03:22

I'm torn on this a bit, but mostly on specifics. How much snow? How to handle (online takes a bit of prepping for, and it is unfair for every teacher to have to prep for online EVERY day during the winter), how about makeup days? Here, where I currently live in the US, if there are snow days (heavy snow, roads closed), the days are made up at the end of the years. And when I lived in Alaska, where I started school, it was not unusual for students and staff to dogsled in on bad days.

Withmayo · 13/12/2022 06:31

In the run up to Christmas they hardly do anything anyway, especially at primary schools! 😉 If some can’t get in they aren’t missing much - go and play in the snow! My daughter’s school used to close at least a couple of times every winter (in a rural, northern area where lots of children travelled in from surrounding villages).

Bumblefuzz · 13/12/2022 06:40

A local high school closed yesterday because the car park was icy/snowy. I work for a company that has a contract with lots of schools to clear and grit at short notice. Whilst they couldn't necessarily predict the weather, they could have been more prepared.

mogsrus · 13/12/2022 07:10

rosemarysalter · 12/12/2022 20:01

Our school opened. We had thick
Snowfall but walked the 1.2
Mile's there

A few people who live closer didn't make it

Most didn’t want to make it. Oh snow! That’s it then , we’re finished I walked every day with my friends the one mile uphill, or if that was too bad, it was across : fields, we never missed a day. Boiler house flooded one day, no heating for 3 days, cold yes, just go on with it.

Eastie77Returns · 13/12/2022 07:20

DC’s school closed again due to the dangerous and icy roads. Despite the fact the gritters have been out and other schools in the borough are open. Really screwed as need to work after getting nothing done yesterday. I know the school could get several members of staff in as so many live close by and the roads around the school are not dangerous at all, we live across the road and it’s on a quiet residential road. Utterly fed up. I know I’ll be flamed as my last post was criticised but I don’t care. And yes I know, train strike. But I am due into the office this morning and TFL shows I can do this via bus and Overground.

DD’s teacher lives on our street. Half tempted to knock on her door and plead with her to watch DD for a few hours as I’m desperate!

Benjispruce4 · 13/12/2022 07:27

I don’t understand the panic some have around a sprinkle of snow. The attitude that you can’t get to work without even trying. I remember walking across fields with my dad when his car broke down. His trousers were soaked but he walked me miles to school after abandoning the car and them walked on to work miles away. Different attitude, he’s a war baby.

Bekstar · 13/12/2022 07:29

Why stop life for a bit of snow. We live in an area that virtually gets cut off to traffic if the snow is too deep, but our teachers still do everything to get in, one or two may not make it from further afield but 9 out of 10 make it, some will walk if need be, same for the kids and parents. God I'm disabled and we always walked to school in snow as a child. My poor brothers were usually tasked with pulling me along on a sledge. We didn't stop life. What's the point. What about those parents who need to work and can't leave the kids alone, do they just say "sorry it's snowed an inch I won't make it in but I still need paying" it's just not realistic. As for online learning not everyone can access the internet and especially in poor connection areas in the snow.
Schools should have a plan yes, but that plan should be centred around how they'd cope of one or two staff and students can't make it. Our school is in a bad area for weather but it's usually the staff from out of area that don't make it. Sometimes they will ask for parent volunteers, they have a list of parents who are messaged to see if they can help supervise kids. They turn things a little more fun and join classes together where needed so the parent helpers aren't looking after a group alone. But they manage.

Eastie77Returns · 13/12/2022 07:41

Bekstar · 13/12/2022 07:29

Why stop life for a bit of snow. We live in an area that virtually gets cut off to traffic if the snow is too deep, but our teachers still do everything to get in, one or two may not make it from further afield but 9 out of 10 make it, some will walk if need be, same for the kids and parents. God I'm disabled and we always walked to school in snow as a child. My poor brothers were usually tasked with pulling me along on a sledge. We didn't stop life. What's the point. What about those parents who need to work and can't leave the kids alone, do they just say "sorry it's snowed an inch I won't make it in but I still need paying" it's just not realistic. As for online learning not everyone can access the internet and especially in poor connection areas in the snow.
Schools should have a plan yes, but that plan should be centred around how they'd cope of one or two staff and students can't make it. Our school is in a bad area for weather but it's usually the staff from out of area that don't make it. Sometimes they will ask for parent volunteers, they have a list of parents who are messaged to see if they can help supervise kids. They turn things a little more fun and join classes together where needed so the parent helpers aren't looking after a group alone. But they manage.

Exactly this. So many parents do not have the luxury of staying at home from work because it’s snowing. I’m extremely lucky in that I can WFH but there are parents panicking on the DC’s WhatsApp chat this morning.

JRHartley72 · 13/12/2022 08:26

Bekstar · 13/12/2022 07:29

Why stop life for a bit of snow. We live in an area that virtually gets cut off to traffic if the snow is too deep, but our teachers still do everything to get in, one or two may not make it from further afield but 9 out of 10 make it, some will walk if need be, same for the kids and parents. God I'm disabled and we always walked to school in snow as a child. My poor brothers were usually tasked with pulling me along on a sledge. We didn't stop life. What's the point. What about those parents who need to work and can't leave the kids alone, do they just say "sorry it's snowed an inch I won't make it in but I still need paying" it's just not realistic. As for online learning not everyone can access the internet and especially in poor connection areas in the snow.
Schools should have a plan yes, but that plan should be centred around how they'd cope of one or two staff and students can't make it. Our school is in a bad area for weather but it's usually the staff from out of area that don't make it. Sometimes they will ask for parent volunteers, they have a list of parents who are messaged to see if they can help supervise kids. They turn things a little more fun and join classes together where needed so the parent helpers aren't looking after a group alone. But they manage.

It sounds like your teachers are prepared because thick snow isn't unusual for your area. In London, we've had five/six inches and today the roads and pavements are covered in black ice. Putting teachers aside for a moment, it's not safe for parents to bring their kids in, or for kids to walk on their own. Buses and Tubes are screwed. The gritters are sticking to the main roads only as well, so the side ones are like ice rinks.

That's why things have ground to a halt here.

JRHartley72 · 13/12/2022 08:30

Eastie77Returns · 13/12/2022 07:20

DC’s school closed again due to the dangerous and icy roads. Despite the fact the gritters have been out and other schools in the borough are open. Really screwed as need to work after getting nothing done yesterday. I know the school could get several members of staff in as so many live close by and the roads around the school are not dangerous at all, we live across the road and it’s on a quiet residential road. Utterly fed up. I know I’ll be flamed as my last post was criticised but I don’t care. And yes I know, train strike. But I am due into the office this morning and TFL shows I can do this via bus and Overground.

DD’s teacher lives on our street. Half tempted to knock on her door and plead with her to watch DD for a few hours as I’m desperate!

London here too. No way would I want to walk or drive my DC to school right now – the pavements and roads are like ice rinks. It's frustrating because we have to work, but I think my boss would be far less impressed with me being laid up with a broken leg or wrist than me having to WFH for another day because of an extreme weather event.

ILoveeCakes · 13/12/2022 08:33

It seems to be the new normal that everything shuts at the slightest hint of difficulty.

I've had 2 events (one off ones) cancel this week due to the weather. FFS - It's down the road and only local people attending. The roads are 100% passable. I don't know what all the fuss is about - definitely more fuss than is usual for the same weather.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 13/12/2022 08:50

In London, we've had five/six inches and today the roads and pavements are covered in black ice

Can I ask where in London had five to six inches of snow? because I'm in zone 6 and it was pretty much all gone last night.

Florenz · 13/12/2022 08:54

Covid has made people soft and reluctant to leave their homes if there is any kind of deviation from the norm.

ILoveeCakes · 13/12/2022 08:59

Florenz · 13/12/2022 08:54

Covid has made people soft and reluctant to leave their homes if there is any kind of deviation from the norm.

Or, more precisely, the psychological warfare that the government waged on people under the guise of covid.

They employed top psychologists to make people scared and compliant and, well, I guess they got what they asked for.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882722/25-options-for-increasing-adherence-to-social-distancing-measures-22032020.pdf

sue20 · 13/12/2022 09:44

Purplemagnolias · 11/12/2022 20:40

Having grown up in a country with lots of snow I find it so strange that society should 'close down' due to a few snowflakes..Confused

Presumably infrastures are set up towards the climate where you live. So in hot countries the emphasis is on cooling buildings.

Solonge · 13/12/2022 10:05

Withmayo · 13/12/2022 06:31

In the run up to Christmas they hardly do anything anyway, especially at primary schools! 😉 If some can’t get in they aren’t missing much - go and play in the snow! My daughter’s school used to close at least a couple of times every winter (in a rural, northern area where lots of children travelled in from surrounding villages).

….and the parents skip work?

Solonge · 13/12/2022 10:06

ILoveeCakes · 13/12/2022 08:59

Or, more precisely, the psychological warfare that the government waged on people under the guise of covid.

They employed top psychologists to make people scared and compliant and, well, I guess they got what they asked for.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882722/25-options-for-increasing-adherence-to-social-distancing-measures-22032020.pdf

Show quote history

Truly….people like you are the problem. You should have worked the Covid wards and watched the people dying….shame on you.

ILoveeCakes · 13/12/2022 10:11

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

JRHartley72 · 13/12/2022 10:17

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 13/12/2022 08:50

In London, we've had five/six inches and today the roads and pavements are covered in black ice

Can I ask where in London had five to six inches of snow? because I'm in zone 6 and it was pretty much all gone last night.

Zone 2, north London. My daughter measured the snowfall on our bin yesterday morning – it really was that thick! Still loads of it here now.

mogsrus · 13/12/2022 10:57

When I worked in cinemas yrs ago it always amazed the staff how busy we used to get when it was snowy. They could get to us but take a day or two off work amazing. Some people were quite surprised that we were always open, we were always surprised that you actually came in

ILoveeCakes · 13/12/2022 10:59

Solonge · 13/12/2022 10:06

Truly….people like you are the problem. You should have worked the Covid wards and watched the people dying….shame on you.

Show quote history

I'll just provide the evidence that the death rate was lower in 2020 than in many recent years:

www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/deathsintheukfrom1990to2020

You can report that and get it taken down if you don't like the facts.

toomuchlaundry · 13/12/2022 11:02

Doesn’t that table show the rate was higher in 2020

ILoveeCakes · 13/12/2022 11:08

toomuchlaundry · 13/12/2022 11:02

Doesn’t that table show the rate was higher in 2020

The death rate is higher in lots of earlier years - 2010 and back. ie something we have seen before in the recent past.

2020 should have off the charts based on what the media were telling us. But the figures (from the ONS) say otherwise. That's all I'm pointing out.

Eastie77Returns · 13/12/2022 11:11

JRHartley72 · 13/12/2022 08:30

London here too. No way would I want to walk or drive my DC to school right now – the pavements and roads are like ice rinks. It's frustrating because we have to work, but I think my boss would be far less impressed with me being laid up with a broken leg or wrist than me having to WFH for another day because of an extreme weather event.

Show quote history

Broken leg or wrist seems unlikely but perhaps it is icier where you are. I walked past DC’s school today. Paths are clear and gritted. No issues with access to it. DD’s teacher lives on our road and she walked past our house today with a hot drink. She managed to struggle to Costa but the walk to school was clearly too dangerous.

purityjonesrockedmyworld · 13/12/2022 11:12

liveforsummer · 11/12/2022 20:48

If you live somewhere very high and remote maybe? For the majority the roads will be passable or have cleared sufficiently to get to school. We have to be at the ponies far earlier than we have to be at school along single lane back roads. It's still accessible and we've had heavy snow. Certainly don't see it as a reason to close. What about emergency service workers. Do you expect them all just to stay at home too?

That’s not heavy snow