South Harringay Infant and Nursery is closed today (Tuesday)

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Permalink Reply by John D on February 3, 2009 at 14:39

But why ? Roads are clear, buses are running, probably lots, if not most, of the children live within walking distance anyway. Are they afraid the tots will slip in the playground and hurt their bums ? If they're not in school wouldn't they be in danger of slipping while out playing ?

I'm prepared to bet my Coronation Mug that the people who are staying away from work are the salaried and public service workers and those who DO turn up for work are the freelance, self employed and casual staff who don't get paid if they don't work

What a bunch of wimpy cissies we've become ! :-)

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Permalink Reply by Liz on February 3, 2009 at 14:52

Well, my previous experience of being one of those salaried public service workers in this situation some 18 years ago, is that its about 'critical mass'. If not enough teachers can arrive by the time that the children are due at school, then legally they can't allow the school to open.

This morning, a few of the teachers were there, but clearly now enough to make it safe to open the school. Those teachers in school will no doubt spend their time working (marking books, planning lessons, and completing the paperwork that these days no public servant is allowed to avoid) and those teachers at home will no doubt spend their time working (marking books, planning lessons, and completing the paperwork that these days no public servant is allowed to avoid).

I don't suppose the kids making snowmen and sledging down hills will mind all that much just for a couple of days although I appreciate the difficulty it poses for parents that work.

Snow like this happens so rarely, don't begrudge the kids some happy memories...I remember when I was a kid, I had days off for snow, and loved every minute of them.

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Permalink Reply by John D on February 3, 2009 at 15:04

But what I was getting at Liz, is why aren't the teachers there ? Probably have to stay at home because their children's schools are closed :-)

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Permalink Reply by Liz on February 3, 2009 at 15:20

I doubt it, teachers often bring their kids into school if they have no care for them.
I suspect that some live a great distance from here.
When I was working in Camden, teachers came from Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, every day to work. Many of the younger teachers lived in South London or Walthamstow. They couldn't have lived locally to the school if they wanted to, because the price of a house or flat in Camden was beyond them. I lived relatively close to Camden and yet I recall on a couple of occasions simply not being able to make it in in time for the start of school (once for snow and once when the buses went on strike) and had to walk it, arriving nearer 10 than 8.30. You can't operate a school on the hope that people will get there eventually. A decision has to made early and often the night before.
If the weather turns out not to be as bad as predicted, then you get complaints. If you leave it too late and then have to close through lack of staff, then you get irate parents because they have had no warning.

Head teachers generally make these decisions based on advice form LAs. In my experience, they never get 100% approval, no matter what they decide.

Incidentally, some schools did open yesterday in Haringey, but no children arrived! A better 'live feed' service via the web or mobiles from the council could have helped with the confusion.

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Permalink Reply by John D on February 3, 2009 at 15:53

Thanks for clarification Liz :-)

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Permalink Reply by Stuart on February 3, 2009 at 15:57

St Mary's CofE School in Hornsey is listed on the Haringey web site as one of those which opened yesterday but to which no children arrived. That's rubbish. We phoned them at 8.30am and were told that the school was closed as most of the teachers couldn't get in. So I'm pretty sceptical about any school which claims it opened but no children arrived - given the difficulties of travel yesterday, who seriously set off for school without first checking if it was open or not?

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Permalink Reply by Birdy_Too on February 3, 2009 at 18:40

Public transport doesn't run >
Teachers can't get to school >
Parents have to be off to look after nippers >
Commercial sector suffers >
Its on the news about how many billions industry has suffered >
Shrug shoulders and put the kettle on for another hot chocolate.

We all have a wonderful time playing in the snow, it should happen more often : )

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Permalink Reply by matt on February 3, 2009 at 20:01

Some of us had to keep the school buildings/services running whilst everyone was having fun.

Still, managed to build a big snowman with lots of enthusiastic folk. He's still out there guarding the gates from wandering dog walkers. :)

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