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Original poster

If an independent school closes due to snow do they refund a days fees?

36 replies

islandofsodor · 02/02/2009 21:15

Just wondering how likely it is that the dc's school will be open tomorrow?

When they closed for a teacher's strike a couple of years ago they offered to either provide free childcare or a refund of a days fees.

OP posts:

KnickKnack · 02/02/2009 21:18

I have no idea, but I cant imagine that they would refund for a snow day...act of god and all that.

scienceteacher · 02/02/2009 21:23

I wouldn't expect so. The vast majority of fee income goes towards teachers' salaries, and the rest of stuff that like textbooks. There is little in the way of marginal daily expense.

I am surprised that your teachers went on strike, but on that day, they would not have been paid, so a refund totally appropriate.

LadyMuck · 02/02/2009 21:25

Don't think that their costs have been reduced.

But in fairness the dcs school is usually open even if the state schools are not. For it to be closed really means that the roads are not passable at all (and very few teachers live in walking distance).

Heated · 02/02/2009 21:30

Lol. They still have the pay the teachers & have the heating on which is their biggest expense.

Hulababy · 02/02/2009 21:32

No, I very much doubt it! I certainly wouldn't expect DD's school to refund me. They will still have to pay for teachers and support staff wages, and other outgoings after all.

Actually DD's school told me today that they never close. They have enough local staff, who are walking distance away, to ensure the school can always remain open (it is a small school). In all the time they have been open it has never yet had to close.

soapbox · 02/02/2009 21:35

They don't pay for the teachers when they are on strike. So paying you back wasn't an issue.

Closing a school because of snow is different - would you think it was reasonable not to be paid for a day because your place of work was closed? Because unless the teachers don't get paid, there is no way a school could afford to refund a days fees!

dilemma456 · 02/02/2009 21:51

Message withdrawn

Poppycake · 02/02/2009 22:01

at least they told you dlemma - I'll have to wait and see and be late to work if they are in or not go in at all if they aren't. Just another of those things which make working mothers look flakey.

dilemma456 · 02/02/2009 22:02

Message withdrawn

lisalisa · 02/02/2009 22:03

A bit off point but I really do not see why schools have to close due to snow any way.In many parts of the world snow is a more or less constant winter weather and kids in those countries don't spend winter at home.

Even here things ahve got so much more risk averse its ridiculous. I remember tramping to primary school in the early 70s through snow ( remember shaking off wellies at door and the freezing cold). Nothing happened to us and provided sschool is properly heated as it should be what on earth is the problem?

scrooged · 02/02/2009 22:04

ds's school will pop a note on their web site tomorrow morning.

LadyMuck · 02/02/2009 22:07

But in coutries with a fair bit of snow I assume people drive 4x4s or have snow chains?

I've had to abandon my car about 10 minutes away as I can't find a road clear enough (and flat enough) to get here. Most of my dcs teachers live a lot further away from the school than we do.

lisalisa · 02/02/2009 22:16

ladymuck - or walk?

soapbox · 02/02/2009 22:16

Lisa - because the teaching staff do not live within tramping distance.

If there are no trains and no buses running, then there is no way of getting into work.

soapbox · 02/02/2009 22:18

A lot of our teachers live miles and miles away - 15-20miles or more.

I guess teachers salaries don't go far on London prices, so many of them decamp further out and travel in each day.

Hulababy · 02/02/2009 22:18

The trouble is, is that so many schools are now at bursting point with a minimum of 30 per class and with no spare staff for cover, that if a number of staff are unable to get in, they can't stay open due to safety reasons. they still have to meet the max. in a class rules, etc. even when snowing.

lisalisa · 02/02/2009 22:19

Then that is ok soapbox.Our teachers live locally - all within 2 miles of school apart from 2 on entire staff and all staff apart from these 2 and pupils could easily walk in through the snow. Woudl just require proper clothing and boots and determination.

LadyMuck · 02/02/2009 22:20

OK Lisa, how far do you think it is reasonable to expect a teacher to walk in snow (bearing in mind that they will have marking etc)?

Hulababy · 02/02/2009 22:20

lisalisa - I would say that your school staffing is very unusual then. I have never worked at a school where many, let alone the vast majority, live withn catchment. Most live a fair few miles away.

Marina · 02/02/2009 22:22

This is why a lot of public sector workplaces in central London closed today. The salaries mean that most staff live in zones 4,5 or 6, often in the bits with no tube, and are too far away to walk. It would be 4 miles for me just to get to the DLR.

LadyMuck · 02/02/2009 22:23

Ah crosspost. I know of only 3 teachers who live in walking distance.

But it could all be a bit circular too. If those teachers have children at a different school and their teachers live further away so that that school closes then your teachers may live nearby but are still stuck?

lisalisa · 02/02/2009 22:24

ladymuck -as far as I would walk myself with young kids and buggy in snow provided tehy don't normally drive. If they drive then would expect them to come in - i struggled into work today over side roads that were a bit slow going - main roads were fine and gritted ( we live in london).

Hulalababy - our school may be unusual yes as it is a community school where teachers do live close to building but school still closes for snow. Most of the pupils live within 15 walk on good day so in snow half an hour.

I dunno - maybe it is too far to walk in actively falling hard snow with young kids but when flakes softly falling and snow soft not icey I don't really think it merits school closing tbh.

bosch · 02/02/2009 22:25

I guess if teachers on strike, they saved a day's pay and could spend it on childcare/refund.

If they close the school because of bad weather would you expect them to dock teachers a day's pay so that you can be refunded? I'd be livid if my employer (I'm not a teacher!) did that!

Marina · 02/02/2009 22:27

In our part of London we had nearly a foot of snow and the few people who ventured out with buggies were struggling badly.
I would not have expected anyone to walk far in those conditions. The snow was so thick you could not see kerbs/gutters etc.

LadyMuck · 02/02/2009 22:29

I also live in London, albeit surburbia, and have had to abandon my car several roads away as they are unpassable. Not one vehicle has been down my road today (over 1/2 mile long, 80 houses). I have had Sky and British Gas confirming booked visits tomorrow which I await with interest! So from where I am you are unreasonable, but then the snow here is over 9 inches deep so you wouldn't get very far with a maclaren buggy say. Backpacks all the way here.

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