The school short notice of closure - concrete.

[Onemoreday99]

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 ?

What prior warning could be given if the school didn’t know until they knew? It’s literally a last minute emergency for the school.

yes the OP is BU because they don’t want an absent mark but what does it even mean for it to “go against” the child? Unless they have had consistent unauthorised absences there is very little consequence to the OP. The only outcome of an absent mark is that it goes against the school’s absence figures which matters to them/ofsted/DfE. Not the parent.

if OP can’t log on for online learning then don’t and get the absent mark. Or just do as pp suggest and log on to get the mark and don’t do the work because DC can’t do it. The school isn’t doing this to catch people out or make life harder.

You might think it’s an overreaction but there have actually been schools that have collapsed so it’s reasonable for the school to a) want to ensure the safety of the building and b) need the kids out of the building while the safety is checked!

Just to say, it's affected, not effected!

You are def not being unreasonable.

Im not sure how I would manage child care in this scenario. We couldnt just not go into work on that short notice, and the kids couldn’t come with us. Grandparents are 200 miles away. Guess would be leaning on friends if they could stay home.

And then try and get them to do school work round their friends houses? Unlikely and optimistic at best I would have thought.

Yeah don't homeschool them you can't. But keep them with you

That’s what I thought too

@Bingus do you mean the school survey is fine whilst staying open

The government have known about the concrete stuff since about 1990 both Tory and labour parties. Since 2010 and the scraping of building for the future - absolutely no funding or alternative has been put in place.

DfE suddenly announces you have to have it check as after 30 years the building are falling down. If schools open - and the inspection has been done and a child or teacher dies from the roof coming in - everyone is legally, morally and financially liable.

Given the number that have to be done - there is a waiting list and again more money for the school to pay out of the budget.

it shuts due to short notice or a cancellation by the engineer - not good.

the teacher will struggle to set work on line - but at least it’s something and it is the expectation of there is a problem eg no devices, no WiFi etc just let them know !!

I once worked in a state school during Covid where I was lucky if 5/30 logged on for a lesson - they can use phones and if there os no excuse for 90% of students not to do it. Youngest primary maybe but not secondary

yanbu! they have known for weeks about the situation. survey should've been done last week! It's a disgrace especially demanding kids do work or be marked absent

@Thementalloadisreal I appreciate the essay but I don’t really care, I’m just enjoying the dramatics of Mumsnet. You’d be better off aiming your comments at the OP, rather than doing that indirectly through me whilst mentioning them every paragraph.

OP, you’re still NBU.

Really? OP said she gets the predicament. The schools have known this since last week. OP is NBU to dispute the unauthorised absence mark against her children

I just like to point out that schools may have know since last week, but due to historical information we where told that we didn't have any of this concrete. Even so all buildings are being rechecked just to check. Guess what half our school building has it in, after the new checkes. They honestly thought there wasn't a problem.
I believe that with all schools being checked there wasn't enough surveyors to do the job in one week. They will have priorities buildings in which they thought where an issue already.

I do think it's a wise precaution to close the school while they do it also, just in case they find anything as then they would have to send kids home.