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| Snow closes thousands of schools | Snow closes thousands of schools |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of pupils had an extra day off school - and their parents had an extra childcare problem, as snow closed schools across the UK. | Tens of thousands of pupils had an extra day off school - and their parents had an extra childcare problem, as snow closed schools across the UK. |
| About one in six schools are believed to have been affected. | About one in six schools are believed to have been affected. |
| From Hampshire in southern England to Aberdeenshire in Scotland schools have been shut by bad weather, in the most widespread disruption of the winter. | From Hampshire in southern England to Aberdeenshire in Scotland schools have been shut by bad weather, in the most widespread disruption of the winter. |
| Schools and councils have been using websites and social networking to keep parents alerted to closures. | Schools and councils have been using websites and social networking to keep parents alerted to closures. |
| Head teachers make the final decision on whether to close schools. | Head teachers make the final decision on whether to close schools. |
| Sion Humphreys, policy adviser at the National Association of Head Teachers, said that heads had a duty of care to pupils. | Sion Humphreys, policy adviser at the National Association of Head Teachers, said that heads had a duty of care to pupils. |
| Exam worries | Exam worries |
| "They have to consider - is this a safe environment? Is the playground frozen, are there enough teachers? | "They have to consider - is this a safe environment? Is the playground frozen, are there enough teachers? |
| "Most teachers don't live in the community near the school so they have further to travel - so they sometimes find it harder to get in than their pupils." | "Most teachers don't live in the community near the school so they have further to travel - so they sometimes find it harder to get in than their pupils." |
| Keeping a school open depends on transport and access - and David Simmonds of the Local Government Association said councils had made this a priority. | Keeping a school open depends on transport and access - and David Simmonds of the Local Government Association said councils had made this a priority. |
| "Routes to large schools are gritting priorities for local authorities as they know how important keeping them open is both in terms of continuity of teaching for pupils and avoiding costly and disruptive childcare for parents," he said. | "Routes to large schools are gritting priorities for local authorities as they know how important keeping them open is both in terms of continuity of teaching for pupils and avoiding costly and disruptive childcare for parents," he said. |
| But heads had to consider the "local circumstances", said Mr Simmonds, such as "the number of teachers who can make it into work safely, dangerous road conditions, or problems with vital supplies such as food, heating or water". | But heads had to consider the "local circumstances", said Mr Simmonds, such as "the number of teachers who can make it into work safely, dangerous road conditions, or problems with vital supplies such as food, heating or water". |
| He also emphasised the need for early information for families. | He also emphasised the need for early information for families. |
| "A key priority in supporting mums and dads is for schools to ensure they make any decision as soon as possible so families can make arrangements accordingly," said Mr Simmonds. | "A key priority in supporting mums and dads is for schools to ensure they make any decision as soon as possible so families can make arrangements accordingly," said Mr Simmonds. |
| The Department for Education, responsible for schools in England, said: "Schools should wherever possible stay open in severe weather." | |
| A statement from the department also said that schools that stayed open would not suffer in terms of their attendance statistics, if some pupils were unable to get to school. | |
| Any prolonged snow closures could cause particular problems for pupils taking exams this week. There are GCSEs and A-level papers scheduled for this week. | Any prolonged snow closures could cause particular problems for pupils taking exams this week. There are GCSEs and A-level papers scheduled for this week. |
| A statement from the Joint Council for Qualifications said that rescheduling these exams was "not an option", because the "integrity of the question papers could be compromised". | A statement from the Joint Council for Qualifications said that rescheduling these exams was "not an option", because the "integrity of the question papers could be compromised". |
| If a school is closed and there are no alternative arrangements possible and the exam cannot be re-taken in the summer, the exam authorities say that pupils can apply for "special consideration", which could mean that exam boards take into account factors such as predicted grades. | If a school is closed and there are no alternative arrangements possible and the exam cannot be re-taken in the summer, the exam authorities say that pupils can apply for "special consideration", which could mean that exam boards take into account factors such as predicted grades. |
| Closing a school also has a knock-on effect for local businesses, says John Walker, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses. | Closing a school also has a knock-on effect for local businesses, says John Walker, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses. |
| "Many small firms will find that staff are unable to make it to work due to snow-bound roads and school closures which mean that parents have to stay at home to look after their children." | "Many small firms will find that staff are unable to make it to work due to snow-bound roads and school closures which mean that parents have to stay at home to look after their children." |
| Staffing problems could mean that businesses could not open - and this could be expensive for small firms, said Mr Walker. | Staffing problems could mean that businesses could not open - and this could be expensive for small firms, said Mr Walker. |
| Parents who have had to stay at home to look after children have also spoken of their own challenging conditions. | Parents who have had to stay at home to look after children have also spoken of their own challenging conditions. |
| Neil Farrington, a senior lecturer at Sunderland University described weather conditions near his home at Castleside, County Durham as "horrendous". | Neil Farrington, a senior lecturer at Sunderland University described weather conditions near his home at Castleside, County Durham as "horrendous". |
| "All the schools round here are closed so I have a house full of kids and dogs and none of them want to go out." | "All the schools round here are closed so I have a house full of kids and dogs and none of them want to go out." |
| Mr Farrington said the snow was now too deep for sledging: "We're all stuck in the house, climbing the walls." | Mr Farrington said the snow was now too deep for sledging: "We're all stuck in the house, climbing the walls." |