AIBU to think school closures ignore parents' work commitments?

[OhNoItsThePinkyPonk]

AIBU to think that the school doesn’t take much account of parents’ need to work? Primary school have just announced they won’t be opening for the rest of the week, but it’s OK because they’ll be sending us online work for us to do with the children, and whilst they are sorry they have had to cancel sports day we shouldn’t be too upset because they’ve have rescheduled it for a couple of weeks time. Like, I totally get they have to put the safety of the children first and if it’s too hot it’s too hot, but what do they think I’m
doing when the kids are at school, preparing beautiful dinners, ensuring the craft box is topped up, pining wistfully for the moment they come home? FFS, my job obviously comes second to my children and of course I’ll cancel planned surgeries and clinics where I need to. It’s not the emergency that bothers me, it’s the blasé way in which it’s communicated as though it’s a
minor inconvenience, not a major major f’ing headache with serious second and third order effects.

phew, that’s better. Now to go and get the little darlings…

No, it’s an academy. They have 13 weeks off now.
I understand it all, I was just agreeing with OP as to how school communicate with parents.

I can tell you how they are coping Some tenants in Woolwich are taking legal action against their housing association because their homes reach 43c in the summer

I think that schools should stay open, but be prepared to go off timetable to account for the weather. It’s just as hot at home as it is in school. Get them all cool drinks, close the blinds and take things at a much slower pace.

I don't think you have any idea how intolerable it is in many classrooms.

It is certainly not as intolerable in many homes, and even if it is there are options available at home that are not available at school.

I what?? What are you rambling on about?

Schools exist to provide education, not childcare.

I lived in Singapore as a child. I started school and ended at 1.
that’s how they manage it because it’s ALWAYS hot and humid

So what do you suggest? One parent remains SAH just in case school is shut?? Have some magical non-existent nanny on standby who can jump in with no notice?

You have already said you understand safety concerns so not sure why half the posts are driving home the importance of safety to you. Your point of irritation is your other commitment of work and the difficulties it presents when you suddenly cannot work. I get the frustration as I have 3 grown up kids but generally speaking schools regularly do stuff at short notice with no consideration of working parents. They have no choice in this case and there is nothing they can do about the impact. My kids have grown up now but I can think of dozens of times the schools could have planned or communicated better to working parents. 2 stand out memories are youngest chil going on trip to London. It was snowing heavily and forecast worst area London. I phoned school as I assumed they wouldnt go. They said they hadn't assessed yet. We skidded, slipped and slided to shool. Eventually got there. Still not changed minds. Nightmare drive home. Home 10 mins got a call to pick up daughter as it was deemed unsafe to go. 2nd example trivial but sends clear message. Standing in playground with other parents in full view of classroom, teacher and kids. It is HAMMERING down with rain and stormy. Teacher in warm dry classroom carries on teaching and talking completely ignoring parents ordeal outside waiting and runs over by 10 mins. 10 mins is a long time stood in open area in horrible weather. Just saying....there are times when schools can but dont consider parents.....

A back up plan is what I would suggest as the world falling apart and hysterical flapping because parents are expected to take care of their own children during brief safeguarding situations is not sustainable. They are your children and ultimately they’re not the responsibility of schools or the government.

Its all a moot point as safeguarding decisions are always going to be made by schools themselves not some bod in Westminster or frothing mumsnetters.

You have a backup plan like you do for school holidays, sickness etc.

It is nit the school's job to parent or provide childcare for your kids

@Duvetdayforme @Butt3rButt3r

Let's be realistic, school is there to provide an education, correct but it's also alongside the majority of standard work hours. So it's also childcare when parents work.

Please suggest childcare options available or the "back up plan" to working parents for school aged kids between 9-5pm and I'll happily make those arrangements during the heat wave......?

😂Not my job, the job of the school or anybody else’s,it’s your job!! I’m sure you manage to sort cover and parent when there is illness. Maybe get off MN and start to sort it now.

School has never been and never will be childcare.

But this is exactly it. You say its not childcare and to have a backup plan but don't provide any suggestions. It's very easy to say "do this and do that" but without anything substantial behind it. It's not your job to arrange childcare, correct, it's mine. But pls share the options available where I can still go to work? There are none. That's the issue.

There are always going to be times when children need to be sent home from school
or the whole school needs to shut for some reason. It is never a decision a school takes lightly but ultimately if it’s not safe for children to be in it’s not safe. That has to come before anything else in the decision making.

Make arrangements with parents of your child's friends and do swops for childcare. ie they have them Thursday, you have them Saturday to give their parents a break at the weekend.

Ask your own friends or family if they could possibly help for half a day.

We all pitch in at times like this. You need to do the same.

Thank you. Is this going to be the on and off arrangement until the end of the school year...? Maybe.

I wonder who would be willing to take all 3 of my kids (age 5,5,7), or how many favours I'd be pulling (and returning) for 3 children.

And let's not even discuss how well we know the parents and who else is in the home of the other child - older siblings? stepfathers? A boyfriend? These things come to mind but how to ask when it's a favour? I might know a mother from 10mins of small talk at the playground but realistically what else do I know about them, nothing?

I really appreciate the suggestion, so not dumping on it, but these are all the things going through a parent's mind, whilst their boss is rolling their eyes at another childcare emergency.

Thankfully I have made arrangements for my 3 for today and tomorrow, however that's not the case for many and school is primarily an education source and secondary a childcare option for working parents.

Our school has decided not to close but has said that if parents wish to keep their kids at home it will be marked as an authorised absence. I thought this was a good option as those who can will keep their kids off, and for the kids who do go in with fewer bodies I classrooms they should hopefully stay cooler.

We all know that. Parents do use the opportunity to work while their children are in school. Many also use childcare provisions for the time their children are not at school. These generally operate outside of school hours (recognising that while children are in school they are also being “cared for” - in loco parentis). Most childcare provision doesn’t operate on an ad hoc basis, leaving working parents in a difficult position when schools shut at short notice.

All parents have a legal right to take time off to deal with an emergency involving their child (or any other dependent) I would imagine their school closing suddenly for whatever reason would class as an emergency.

Are they though? Really? Or do we just make do 99% of the time. My classroom is boiling hot on a 'normal' warm summers day and absolutely freezing during a 'normal' winter thanks to its metal roof and glass down two sides of it, lack of insulation and dubious heating system. In the summer the main corridor for my classroom and the drama studio is often closed due to the excessive heat and no ventilation options and we've had several children faint as a result over the years. Children are required to line up outside at the fire escapes to access these classrooms instead. I can count on my hands the number of days I teach per year where someone doesnt complain about the temperature of my classroom.

So you understand that schools have to close but you don’t like the way your school has worded the message?

Schools work for the DofE.

I think that’s exactly it. OP wanted to get it off her chest. Anonymous forum seems like a good place.
Just a nod that short notice closures have an impact would be good, not a breezy “don’t worry, we’ll send online work home”.

You and your partner really ought to have considered how you were going to look after 3 children and work if you had decided neither of you were going to be available for emergency cover.