Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if schools will close on 1st Feb?

354 replies

cosied · 17/01/2023 14:36

National teachers strike on 1st Feb so does that mean the schools are not open that day?

Has anyone received any communication from their schools relating to what impact the strikes may have?

OP posts:
AbbyGal · 17/01/2023 20:50

I'm a TA and as part of my job I teach small intervention groups and cover my class if the teacher is off sick or on a course.

My Head has decided that therefore 'teaching' is part of my job description and as such, I can legally take the class to cover my teacher on a strike day.

I will be taking advice from my union about this.

Chickenly · 17/01/2023 20:51

Woeman · 17/01/2023 19:58

There's not too many teachers in that union. Schools might have to collapse some year groups. The problem will be if the other unions strike.

The NEU is the biggest education union.

WeAreAllLionesses · 17/01/2023 20:52

I'm a rep.

The union will tell Heads how many staff but not who.

Teachers can picket if they wish but not mandatory.

surreygirl1987 · 17/01/2023 20:52

*No, but they have suggested that parents and dinner ladies cover for teachers.

I'm not joking.*

We were short staffed for catering staff at my school recently so they asked for teachers to help out by volunteering to serve the food to the kids over lunchtime.

Minniem2020 · 17/01/2023 20:54

I asked DSs teacher this morning and she said she isn't part of the union but wouldn't strike anyway if she was. I'm sure I'll get slated for this but I was relieved as DS is getting a visit from specialist speech and language that day which we've waited for 7 months for, as part of asd pathway which began over 2 years ago. So as selfish as it is I hope there's enough staff left to keep the school open.

StubbleAndSqueak · 17/01/2023 20:55

@amonsteronthehill of course they can , it's not their job. Would you like to take on a responsibility that you are not qualified for, for a pittance
I'd like to know if the schools insurance covers any of these people if something dreadful happens
Talk of parent volunteers etc...it's not a babysitting service it's their education, it needs fighting for

itsgettingweird · 17/01/2023 20:57

I think the government are trying to make a statement by suggesting parents and volunteers and lunchtime support staff run the school for the day.

It feels to me like some kind of inference that anyone can do it.

But I can assure you they can't. Teachers are highly skilled and they don't just keep the class safe and entertained for 6 days on one day.

Yellowmellow2 · 17/01/2023 20:59

One of the local strike days for us is World Book Day. Parents will either be delighted or disappointed that this will likely be cancelled!

bloodyeverlastinghell · 17/01/2023 21:00

AnotherAppleThief · 17/01/2023 19:52

Surely it depends how many teachers you have from that union who are striking? It's not a blanket 'teachers are striking- schools are shut'.

In Scotland that’s exactly what is happening. If you’re not in a union/ not striking/ in a different union the teacher is in School as usual without children. Apparently it’s been great for catching up on paperwork.

kitcat15 · 17/01/2023 21:00

AnotherAppleThief · 17/01/2023 19:52

Surely it depends how many teachers you have from that union who are striking? It's not a blanket 'teachers are striking- schools are shut'.

But they won't know for sure until the day....no one had to say ......when the nurses went on strike last monthour manager was told she couldn't ask anyone their intentions .....just had to wait and see....obviously some people did say before.....but most just didn't turn in

noblegiraffe · 17/01/2023 21:00

Talk of parent volunteers etc...it's not a babysitting service it's their education

It's not, the DfE has also said there is no requirement to teach the curriculum on strike days.

The parents could go in and supervise back-to-back viewings of Finding Nemo.

kitcat15 · 17/01/2023 21:02

Yellowmellow2 · 17/01/2023 20:59

One of the local strike days for us is World Book Day. Parents will either be delighted or disappointed that this will likely be cancelled!

Delighted I would think....save all that ballache of costumes

Shinyandnew1 · 17/01/2023 21:05

All teachers are going on strike at my own school so the school will not be open.

The TAs will be in school as usual doing admin tasks as the support staff strike ballot threshold wasn't reached. We only have TAs for some classes and those are morning-only, so they couldn't staff the school, even if my head thought using TAs to cover was a sensible plan, which luckily they don't!

SeanMean · 17/01/2023 21:07

We are planning on doing World Book Day on the Friday instead so no escape I’m afraid!

ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 17/01/2023 21:08

@WeAreAllLionesses - not sure how to, 'quote,' anymore on MN, but exactly right, although at our primary school the Head seems to know how many staff are in which union. Wasn't there a dispute about 9 years ago?

BirlinBrain · 17/01/2023 21:09

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

AllHunsBlazing · 17/01/2023 21:11

A few points on industrial relations law:

  • You don’t have to be a member of a Union/ the Union in question to strike. If there is legal industrial action in your workplace, you’re protected if you join in.
  • The ballots were likely organised regionally. Some regions may not have reached the required level and will not be subject to strikes (not legal ones anyway). This is why some hospitals are experiencing strike action from nurses and others aren’t.
  • There are legal restrictions on cover which can be arranged for those striking

By the way “ambulance drivers” is considered an offensive term in Ambulance Services. Paramedics and other frontline ambulance staff are so much more than drivers.

RoseDog · 17/01/2023 21:12

I'm in Scotland, Ds was off a few weeks ago for the strikes and the strike before Xmas the school was open to senior pupils only so he was in, as far as I'm aware the school will close fully on 2nd feb fir the next strike.

SanFranBear · 17/01/2023 21:12

I had an email from one DCs school head this afternoon saying that whilst he couldn't tell us for definite about the impact, it is very likely that there would be some disruption on the 1st and he'd be back in touch. Nothing from the other but I'm a Governor at that school and know the majority of staff are likely union members so can imagine I'll be home with two DC that day.

And good for them, I say!

Weddi · 17/01/2023 21:14

Depends on which unions the teachers are in and also whether they want to strike because not all will. Had a letter from the head today saying they’re unsure whether they will close yet, they need to figure out how many staff are going to strike first.

Wavingnotdrown1ng · 17/01/2023 21:15

Ttbhappy · 17/01/2023 20:33

Don't forget support staff might also have children at home do won't be able to cover

The NEU has TAs and support staff as part of the membership so they too will be on strike.

whynotwhatknot · 17/01/2023 21:15

so if they ave no obligation to state whther theyre striking or not the school has to automatically assume there wont be enough teachers and close surely

Ariautec · 17/01/2023 21:16

itsgettingweird · 17/01/2023 20:57

I think the government are trying to make a statement by suggesting parents and volunteers and lunchtime support staff run the school for the day.

It feels to me like some kind of inference that anyone can do it.

But I can assure you they can't. Teachers are highly skilled and they don't just keep the class safe and entertained for 6 days on one day.

If it wasn't so dangerous under safeguarding children, let them!

Oh, to be a fly on the wall...

Or I was going to say perhaps the Department for Education staff could run a school....but then they are striking too..,

EatYourVegetables · 17/01/2023 21:18

I’m considering not sending DCs in on the 1st of Feb. I support the strikes.

Shinyandnew1 · 17/01/2023 21:20

Wavingnotdrown1ng · 17/01/2023 21:15

The NEU has TAs and support staff as part of the membership so they too will be on strike.

Show quote history

The NEU support staff ballot didn't not meet the threshold for strike action.