Teacher's strike

[ilkleymoorbartat]

Am prepared to be flamed for this and told IABU, so just wanted to gage others opinions.

Have 3 kids 8, 5 & 10 months. School teachers on strike next week on Wednesday and we have an inset day on the Monday.

I'm seriously considering taking kids out of school on the Tuesday to have a little break somewhere.

The last year has been horrible, and it seems like a good chance to get a cheap break with little disruption.

Is this a completely terrible idea?

I think there are 3 classes that are open in total (out of a 3 form entry school). No classes for any of the others.

I bet the kids in the classes that are open are absolutely gutted 🤣

YANBU OP if your kids definitely can't go in on the Wednesday

I know! Poor kids 😂😂😂😂

Ours have said they advise finding alternative care but nothing is set in stone - I'm thinking of doing same on 15/16 March and also taking DS out for the Friday 17

Go for it and have a wonderful time!

Government advice is:

school leaders will take all reasonable steps to keep schools open for as many pupils as possible.

does not say they have to stay open (although if you are not striking then they can expect you to be in, but maybe not pupils)

Do it! If it’s ok for them to just take a day off we should be able to do the same. Enjoy your time!

Unions representing school support staff have given very specific instructions to their members this week.

School support staff are not striking. They are expected to attend work as usual. However they are absolutely within their rights to refuse to carry out the duties of striking teachers. Whether schools are able to operate will depend very much on how many teaching staff are members of a striking union. I'm not sure many schools can be confident they will be open without disruption.

Ours have emailed to say they won’t be able to tell us until the morning of the strike day in what way they’ll be open, if at all. Helpful.

Fully support the teachers but I’d go.

We've heard absolutely nothing from either of our kids schools as we were thinking of doing the same.

This isn't true.

I thought the same. We took our child out in December for a covid-delayed winter break and were gone for 4 days (8 sessions).

We recieved a fine from the council. Who were twats and sent the fine in the post during the national postal strikes. We've still never recieved that original letter. We only found out we'd been fined when we got a final notice from the council telling us that they were prosecuting us because we hadn't paid the initial fine (that we didn;t know about). Her attendance (inc the holiday time off) currently stands at 95%...

I looked into it. The 10 sessions is purely a cumulative thing (the odd day here and there or persistent lateness). For holidays the fines kick in from day 1.

For the OP, I would take them out but tell the school that they are ill with sickness/temp.

Totally fine.
I mean school didn't even contact my children for 6 months during the pandemic, I know longer care about their faux concern if my child misses a day here or there.

For those saying they'd do it, what would you say to school / kids. I don't want to lie.

I don't suppose the school gives a monkey's so no "faux concern" required. It's the Government who came up with the bright idea about fines.

I would if both your kids classes are closed on the Wednesday. 1 day won't make a difference to kids if that age. Especially if their attendance is already good.

I'd say the kids had been sick on the Monday thus meaning under the 48 hour rule they have to have 2 days off.

Except that lots of schools don't follow the 48 hour rule these days (ours never has).

You do realise you’re an adult and don’t need permission from mumsnet. 😅

You won't get away with it in secondary so I'd do it now while you can. But I do museums and additional learning (e.g. nature reserves) not theme parks.. if you planned to be back Monday night and the kids "got sick" Monday night that's not your fault...

I'd do it, fuck em.

Having worked in schools we’d rather you were just honest. “Hi, Jonny and Tommy won’t be in on Tuesday whatever the date is, we will be on a short break and they will both return to school on Thursday whatever the date is.” The end. Short, factual.

I definitely would do it

I have 2 DD in different schools and they haven't told us anything. I wish they would just decide.

Fuck who?
Who's going to lose out here? Certainly not the teachers.

Well of course they have, they're burying their heads in the sand and hoping for as little disruption as possible. The problem is if schools just do not have enough staff they won't be able to stay open. My kids Secondary have advised they will very likely close and go to online learning.

My school is closing but there will be no online learning. No one to set it (or mark it) because, you know, strike.