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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The school short notice of closure - concrete.

60 replies

Onemoreday99 · 05/09/2023 18:28

Now I understand the predicament, and I know why some schools have had to shut. All my friends who have children effected were informed last week.
our children are due to return to school tomorrow and we received an email at 5 pm to say that they are sure that they are not effected but want a survey done of the whole school before children return.
they say they are certain the survey will be clear but for now the school is to be shut. They have had 2 inset days and this has been in the news for at least a week if not more. 5pm on the night before return does not leave any time for parents to find any form of childcare, they also expect the children so complete the work set online or deemed absent. Neither of my children will be able to do this as they will have to unfortunately be made to come with me tomorrow to a meeting. AIBU to say no and refuse it to go towards their attendance ?

OP posts:
SisterMichaelsHabit · 05/09/2023 18:36

Would you prefer the school suddenly collapsed on your child and all their friends? YABU. While the timing isn't ideal, they could have a number of reasons why they have had to wait so long, not least getting the LA to agree to the cost of the survey and handing over a list of approved surveyors as not just anyone can work on LA buildings. If it's an academy, getting the parent company to agree to the cost can also take time.

Original poster
Onemoreday99 · 05/09/2023 18:38

I said I understand the predicament. I do not feel if parents can’t find the time in 12 hours to home school their kids they those kids shouldn’t be marked against their attendance.

OP posts:
ViaBlue · 05/09/2023 18:39

Less than 12hrs notice is shocking. YANBU!

OnAMidnightTrainToGeorgia · 05/09/2023 18:40

You are picking at a situation that's not evolved yet!

Ridiculous

Sidslaw · 05/09/2023 18:41

It is what it is - where exactly do you think the school is going to magic up surveyors from when every school in the country is fighting for them?

Callyem · 05/09/2023 18:41

Sounds like they are waiting on availability of surveyors.

IhearyouClemFandango · 05/09/2023 18:42

All the OP is saying is that they expect it to not go against their attendance, which is fair enough.

You're not being unreasonable OP. There is no good reason why they couldn't have looked into this last week.

Original poster
Onemoreday99 · 05/09/2023 18:43

@OnAMidnightTrainToGeorgia I am confused. I am talking about tomorrow.

OP posts:
declutteringmymind · 05/09/2023 18:43

I'm sure it won't go against their attendance. What makes you think it would?

IhearyouClemFandango · 05/09/2023 18:44

Callyem · 05/09/2023 18:41

Sounds like they are waiting on availability of surveyors.

They would have known they didn't have a surveyor before 5pm this eve however.

declutteringmymind · 05/09/2023 18:44

Sorry I misread your OP.

completely unreasonable for them to mark as absent.

Original poster
Onemoreday99 · 05/09/2023 18:44

@declutteringmymind becausen they have to sign on for registration etc

OP posts:
Inkpotlover · 05/09/2023 18:45

The short notice is probably because they've been suddenly told a surveyor is available. They must be like gold dust at the moment. It's tricky for parents, but it's not the school's fault.

listsandbudgets · 05/09/2023 18:46

They are not being unreasonable to want to check.

You are definitely not being unreasonable for wanting more notice

Inkpotlover · 05/09/2023 18:46

Onemoreday99 · 05/09/2023 18:44

@declutteringmymind becausen they have to sign on for registration etc

You should argue against that. It's massively unfair to those kids who can't be online.

MyrtleSmurf · 05/09/2023 18:50

Staff at our school were told at 8pm that the school would be closed the next day. Parents a little after that.

We didn't have online schooling though and I definitely wouldn't accept children being marked as absent for it!

Thementalloadisreal · 05/09/2023 18:58

I doubt the school got much more notice then you .

There is/was an exception mark they used to give children who were absent for other reasons eg. During covid they used it when waiting for PCR results so off school but not sick. It seems a bit harsh that the school would go straight to unauthorised absence with such little notice. However, schools are education settings, not actually childcare, so a last minute closure will be tricky for working parents but that’s not really the school’s problem. The school is responsible for delivering the curriculum not childcare. If they’re providing online learning then they are fulfilling their responsibilities and the children should be able to log in remotely from wherever and get a mark for registration.

luckylavender · 05/09/2023 19:01

SisterMichaelsHabit · 05/09/2023 18:36

Would you prefer the school suddenly collapsed on your child and all their friends? YABU. While the timing isn't ideal, they could have a number of reasons why they have had to wait so long, not least getting the LA to agree to the cost of the survey and handing over a list of approved surveyors as not just anyone can work on LA buildings. If it's an academy, getting the parent company to agree to the cost can also take time.

You really can't see how totally unacceptable that is for parents? Really? No one should be letting this government off the bin fire they have made of this.

Thementalloadisreal · 05/09/2023 19:02

ps. I say that as someone whose local school is also shut and my kids are being taught in various other locations :(
local parents are really moaning at how inconvenient it is to go to different schools. Online learning is the only other alternative. The schools do their best but they cannot make everyone happy, ever.

luckylavender · 05/09/2023 19:02

IhearyouClemFandango · 05/09/2023 18:42

All the OP is saying is that they expect it to not go against their attendance, which is fair enough.

You're not being unreasonable OP. There is no good reason why they couldn't have looked into this last week.

It literally says this in the OP

ilovesooty · 05/09/2023 19:04

Here we go. There will be loads of threads like this no doubt in the coming weeks.

VisionsOfSplendour · 05/09/2023 19:05

Not unreasonable at all to make the arrangements that work for you given the short notice but how will you refuse to have it go against their attendance? You can't control that

Seashor · 05/09/2023 19:06

You say you understand the predicament and you clearly don’t. What exactly did you want the teachers to do about it? I’m not a bloody engineer. Some office bod is desperately trying to sort out the mess with the relevant professionals, bet there are LOADS sitting around pissing you off by not sorting it out yesterday!

Original poster
Onemoreday99 · 05/09/2023 19:09

I do understand the predicament 😂
bur surely schools should understand that not all children will be available for home learning.

OP posts:
Original poster
Onemoreday99 · 05/09/2023 19:11

I have absolutely no issues with the school being shut - but to expect parents to be able to make sure they’re available to home school then on Google classroom the first day with that little notice is my issue.

OP posts: