To think closing schools or making them "optional" during the heatwave is putting pressure on working parents and is just a bit silly?

[Suchevilforebodings]

This doesn't actually effect me directly as neither of my children's schools have closed.
But some of the schools iny area are either closing or are making school optional IE: it won't be marked as absence.
I mean.... Really? Do kids actually need tome off because it's hot?
And is it fair on working parents to send out an email the day before to say school is closed? This heatwave was forecast last week.
Even making it "optional" puts the pressure on as the kids will want to stay off and many of their friends will be.
I just think it's bullshit tbh

Our council took the call to close all schools the following day based on a snow forecast (expected to be heavy just before and during the morning school run). There was very little snow. They got loads of grief about it.

But when schools wait and see and close at the last minute - they get grief about that too!

When are parents going to realise that they are still responsible for their kids even if they are at school? They could be sent home fir various reasons. Illness , accident, snow,heat etc. Parents should have a plan b of who would pick up their child any given day. It's not the schools responsibility.

Exactly! Damned if they do and damned if they don't, right?!

That’s the other issue. We live in a society where it’s expected that both parents work. So while school isn’t childcare, the societal expectation is that while children are at school, their parents work. There isn’t any paid term time childcare available, for understandable reasons as it would be too ad hoc.
I think most parents would be willing to take a day off and look after their kids, it’s their employers and their service users who are far less keen on the idea!

@NeverLookInTheMirror Only the wealthy can afford to realistically live now with only one parent working (without relying on government support).

Was I? I work for the NHS. I worked throughout.
I genuinely don’t understand why you’re arguing with me. I am agreeing with you. Schools should close if the conditions are dangerous for kids.
Literally all I’m saying is that it will mean people as a whole accepting reduced services in other areas, due to how society is set up. Please tell me what about that is so controversial that you keep arguing with me because I’m baffled!

Schools aren’t babysitting services, much and all as lots of people think they are. They are not set up for temperatures of 35 degrees (speaking as someone who teaches in a 3rd floor west facing room with huge windows). 30 pupils packed in there , but don’t worry, unless someone dies, we won’t expect you to keep your inconvenient offspring safe at home.

When I saw how red, sweaty and exhausted my two dds were after school today, I realised that shorter days might be a good idea. I cannot get them early tomorrow but will be picking them up at 1:30 on Thursday as the school says we can. I am fortunate that I can wfh (which is good as the train service is severely reduced!) and they are old enough that I can actually work with them around. Their school is small and old, only two classes have air con, when I was there for an assembly on Friday they found out the windows in the hall no longer open. If those who can go home do, it will make the school more pleasant for those who need to be there.

The school have done lots to be fair: no uniform, they have put gazebos up in the playground, tables with parasols so they don't have to eat in the canteen. But the playground has no natural shade either.

Im in the red zone. Its pretty horrible. DS 4 nursery school are closing at 12 everyday.

Its an absolute nightmare for us as both me and DP work full time and this week is incredibly stacked for us both. We are juggling as family not around to help this week.

My work are incredibly accommodating and a lot of my job can be done after hours. DPs work not so much. Its causing a few issues

BUT its just too much. DS is still little and I would rather him be home where om plying him with water and ice lollies. Its very hard for teachers to do that with 20 kids.

I do understand it but making it work isnt easy with such short notice. We got told at 9pm on Monday night...

Am in France and it’s around 40 so it is Hot Hot Hot. However I don’t think there’s anything problematic about being at school, no direct sunglight, no sports etc, cream
and hat even in shade and plenty of cool drinks. Theyve closed for two days.. also teacher cancelled parents evening! I don’t really get why. I wasn’t planning on doing it in the boiling sun.

Didn’t they invent emergency dependents leave for situations like this? Employment law exists. Schools shouldn’t need to take the brunt of all societal issues.

It is really hard on working parents when school's close, of course it is. I hate being off work and calling in over this would give me severe anxiety. Regardless, children's safety is paramount. My cousin's son collapsed in school today, and the next two days are going to be even worse. She is a single parent who works and is at a loss of choosing between prioritising her son's safety or keeping her job secure to ensure she can still pay rent, bills, food, etc. Those 3 days of no pay really affect some people. Of course the child is a priority above all else but it doesn't mean that going to work and paying the bills just suddenly doesn't matter anymore. So I understand that completely.

The ultimate issue comes down to the fact that UK school buildings are simply not equipped to deal with this heat. Why, I dont know, as it happens pretty much every single summer. My high school gave every student an ipad a year after I left but it still doesn't have air conditioning. The budgets are not always spent the most wisely. Something needs to be done as the heat causes this same disaster every single year. It isn't fair on anybody.

As for wondering how to mind children when schools close, what happens in many other European countries (and US) where kids get 8 or 10 weeks holidays?

And what's more, teachers are not the only workers who's jobs are harder in the heat
What do you imagine it's like instead a stifling hot care home, caring for 30 residents with dementia? Bathing people, showering them, doing personal care, hoisting? Being screamed at and assaulted?
What do you think it's like for A&E staff? Paramedics? The police?
None of these people can just close up and have a day off and now they're having to worry about last minute childcare on top of their jobs being made harder by the heat.

Where abouts are you based if you don't mind me asking?

Yes they did, and that’s what many people will use. But that will have an impact on others, is what I’m saying. A nurse taking emergency dependents leave will have an impact. A Tesco driver taking emergency dependents leave will have an impact. So all I’m saying is that society as a whole needs to adjust to accept those impacts, because these hot temperatures aren’t going away any time soon.

Large portions of the NHS shut up shop,worked from home and drastically reduced services( even those with zero face to face contact), hospitals widely cancelled or postponed non-urgent appointments and elective surgeries…

When I lived in Spain there were many more options for affordable holiday childcare than we have here.
These hot temperatures are here to stay. At the moment we’re dealing with it all on an ad hoc, emergency basis but actually there needs to be a whole societal readjustment to deal with things like this.

Schools closing doesn’t mean teachers are having the day off!!!

Here is a challenge.
Go and sit in a greenhouse with a few stinky teenagers.
you’ll soon get the picture.

I'm really confused as to why everyone seems to have this polar either kids are in school or no one can go to work.

My husband and I both work full time so we just... booked a babysitter the next few days. Uni has just finished so there are heaps of sensible 20 somethings tottering around looking for pocket money. Sorted.

Other mates are pooling childcare - one SAHP has a few kids one day, another another day.

If we couldn't have got childcare I'd have taken half a day's leave my partner worked from home half a day.

Come on people this isn't beyond the wit of humankind to solve for.

@BravasPatatas Exactly that. And teachers are of course entitled to take emergency dependant leave too so this will likely have a big impact!

I still don’t know why you’re arguing with me when i am literally agreeing with you.

I think you missed my point. Schools aren't a babysitting service for parents convenience. If it is fine for schools to open then children should be going about their normal lessons.
If however we are all in agreement it is too hot and no productive learning is happening then schools should close.

Yes, it’s a wider reaching issue that needs to be considered by the powers that be! Society will have to change to deal with the changing climate.