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snow this week and school closures?

44 replies

squirtycream · 29/11/2010 08:29

should I brace myself for school closures? we're in london, snow due to hit us tomorrow (according to bbc)..

any school closures further north?

are schools gritting etc to ensure access to school? wasn't the case for us last year have to say!

thanks!

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Foxy800 · 29/11/2010 09:10

I guess all we can do is take it one day at a time and just keep listening to the local news.
we have no snow as yet but same as you could get it tomorrow.

wotnochocs · 29/11/2010 09:15

Yes I'm in North Yorkshire and most of the schools are closed today.We've had about 5 inches in our village since yesterday afternoon

KnowNothing · 29/11/2010 09:17

Our school was open all of last winter. It has a text alert service if it does close.

KangarooCaught · 29/11/2010 09:19

London schools close at a drop of a hat ime, my father's included. But tbf, it's often to the exasperation of HTs who are at the mercy of the bus companies

mrz · 29/11/2010 09:28

We are closed. I've been up since 5.30 as I have about 18 inches of snow on my estate and 4x4s aren't moving and then 20miles on single track roads to school.
(we've had 6 inches overnight and it's still snowing)

ln1981 · 29/11/2010 12:12

yep all schools in our county (Fife) are closed, though councils own website doesnt actually have all the schools listed as being closed! Hmm
just as well really as I didnt fancy the 2 mile hike to school with three small children! the snow was over the top of my wellies when i went to clear the path. at least its sunny now Grin

mrz · 29/11/2010 12:14

Still snow here and had the most odd thunder storm with blue lightening earlier.

Tinuviel · 29/11/2010 12:52

All schools in our town are closed and the school I work in 15 miles away is closed too. We are in the north east. My school always seems to close on days that I don't work!

mrz · 29/11/2010 13:13

To top it all my neighbour has cleared his drive and piled the snow on mine!!

taffetacat · 29/11/2010 14:01

blue lightning!

We are in Kent, not a snowflake in sight. Last Jan, despite lots of snow ( about 6 really heavy days ) the school stayed steadfastly open, except one day when there were too few teachers. The other days they made a big deal of children struggling in, but as there was a teacher shortage they just ended up watching DVDs most of the day. The school closed at midday-1pm those days too.

DooinMeCleanin · 29/11/2010 14:06

Dd1's school never closes. It's ridiculous tbh. Nor do you get any leaway wrt timekeeping, as I discovered this morning when we were pulled aside (along with about 12 other parents) to explain why we were 7 minutes late after dd2 would not walk in the ice incase she fell. She sort of shuffled all the way to schol very very slowly.

The roads were covered in ice, which was covered with slush, cars were going at around 5 miles per hour and still skidding all over/not being able to stop at crossings etc. I'd hate to have lived far away enough to have to drive there, it must have been very scary.

The only thing the school is concerned about is their bloody ofsted rating. They pride themselves on 'doing their best to stay open in severe weather' Hmm

taffetacat · 29/11/2010 14:15

Yes, Dooin - our school is similar. Lets struggle in, gingerly with mountains of kids and snowsuits very gingerly, get frostbitten after an hour of trudging and then finally get them there so they can watch DVDs. They can do that at home. Angry

Then trudge back again a few hours later to collect them. A great education. Really worth it.Hmm

squirtycream · 29/11/2010 14:17

thanks all, I guess it's wait and see!!

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Seona1973 · 29/11/2010 14:59

our school was open today but we had to collect them early (2pm instead of 3pm) we got texted to come and collect the kids. We have to check the local council website tomorrow morning to see if they will be open tomorrow. I hope so as the whole school is supposed to be going to see a pantomime tomorrow and it would be a shame if they had to cancel it.

Seona1973 · 29/11/2010 15:00

p.s. am in Scotland

Ooopsadaisy · 29/11/2010 15:02

I have to ask - how do you all cope?

Do you have extra kind employers? It sounds like a nightmare to me!

Seona1973 · 29/11/2010 15:30

luckily I dont work or it would be a complete nightmare.

mrz · 29/11/2010 15:36

Ooopsadaisy can I ask do you live or work in a large town with good public transport or in a rural area?

VivaLeBeaver · 29/11/2010 15:47

DD's school closed 30mins early, they told us when we were dropping off this morning that it would be closing early. Becasue snow is forcast and they want everyone to get home in daylight. Well I picked her up nearly an hour ago and its still daylight. There is no snow on hte roads here at all, a sprinkling on the fields. ffs

ln1981 · 29/11/2010 16:35

sahm here too. think some of my friends have been lucky in that their work has been closed so havent had to go in, would hate to think of the hassle those who work must face when trying to organise childcare when this kind of thing happens.

snowplough · 29/11/2010 19:39

My DCs school was closed and rang work to tell them.My (childless) boss was a bit off and asked whether it would be possible to come in and collect some work to do at home.Took the DC in (it took about an hour to get there)and when I got there the little one fell down the stairs and bumped her head.Then the MD came in and told me to not worry about work and take a few days off til things were back to normal.Trouble is I've no holidays left ,so they'd better pay me for it!!

spanieleyes · 29/11/2010 19:52

I teach in a small rural school where some parents have to travel a distance to the reach us. I spent the morning stareing out of the window watching blizzards of snow come and go trying to decide whether I should shut the school or not. Eventually we told parents they could collect if they wanted to,most did although a few couldn't make it until usual time. Snow is still falling and more is forecast for overnight. I realise how difficult it is for working parents and I don't want to close the school but neither do I want to be responsible for accidents, to children, parents or staff. I shall just have to wait and see Sad

gingernutlover · 29/11/2010 20:05

I am parying we get a very small amount of snow because we are under a lot of pressure from LEA and head to get into work "regardless of weather conditions"

Ooopsadaisy · 29/11/2010 20:19

It's interesting to hear how you all cope work-wise.

My DCs are old enough to sort themselves out if the school's shut and in the past all us Mums have just mucked in looking after each other's dcs. We all need a friend who works nights!!!!!!!!!! ie - is home in the day if a little knackered!

mrz - I'm in a shitty town with shitty transport (snow or no snow!)

clayre · 29/11/2010 20:25

Our school was closed today and is closed tomorrow (dundee) shame really cos we only a few minutes walk from it, we all have cabin fever!!