I blame the council

Probably being thick here but I don't get it!!

PP when we have weather forecast warnings they dont grit the roads before the snowfall  I havent seen any gritters where I live ..

I guess the said countries are geared up for it as it's commonplace. Where I am it's not 'a little bit of snow' - I'm 54 and I think it's the worst I can remember. Depends where you live I guess.

Because other countries have weeks of it every year guaranteed .... so they have the equipment to cope with it all. We have had several years of fairly mild winters with very little snow, and the budget for gritting etc. was minimal for the local councils. When we have a bad spell like this week we have no machinery and not enough resources for the gritting.

Aaahh ok - I haven't personally seen any gritters near me though the roads do appear to have been gritted.  Obv the side roads haven't but I suppose it would be virtually impossible to grit all roads.

Satsoomawoo approx how much in inches do you have??

BTW I can't quote - gaga won't let me.

I believe 3 people have died as a direct result of the weather.

What browser do you use pretty_p?

Think it's internet explorer.

Mother nature.

Always wins.

I think the number is now up to seven!

Is it Satsoo?  Oh dearie me!

A rough estimate - 16 or 17. The first fall it was over 12 (I measured that) we have had more since and it's not going anywhere at the moment.

Yep...more than a "little bit" of snow.

pretty_p
I gather there is an issue with Internet Explorer and with Safari.
The GaGa folk in Seattle said they would look into it.
Apparently other browers are quoting alright.

We had over a foot of snow here, but a lot of it has melted today YAY!  Getting ready for the next lot now!

Satsoomawoo you have obv had some of the worst of the weather however most of the country has seen nothing like that amount yet they still manage to make an absolute pigs ear of it.  Snow came down quite heavily in my area the other morning and half the schools sent the kids home - surely they would have been far safer staying in school rather than  sending them out in that weather.

Thanks Brisket - I will give up trying to quote now.

With regards to the amount of deaths - it is incredibly sad but we mustn't forget that people die in all weathers.  Thing is they close schools but then the kids are wandering the street in the snow - surely if safety was the main concern they would be far safer in school.  Obv for thos kids that live some distance from school this may not be the case but for those in walking distance I really can't see what the problem is.

When I was a lad we went to school.
Wellies and top coat.  Snow waist high.
Huge avalanches of snow falling from rooftops and burying us poor little kids.
Took us ages. But we went. The school remained open.
Intrepid.

It wouldn't be fair for the pupils within walking distance of their school to go while the rest don't. It puts them at an advantage doesn't it?

Not if there's no staff to take care of them. I live in a small village .................yes most of the kids could have waded through the snow to get there but the majority of staff couldn't get in - the roads in and out of the village were impassable - it took my husband nearly four hours to do a forty minute journey.

The majority of schools close because staff can't get into work, not because of safety concerns about the children.  Schools can't open if there are not enough teachers, teaching assistants, cooks, midday supervisers etc., to look after the children.  Although a lot of schools try to be flexible, they still need to maintain pupil:staff ratios.  Almost all of the schools I work with were closed for two or three days this week - not because the children couldn't get there but because most of the staff can't afford to live in inner London and have to commute from a little further out.  There were virtually no trains running in south London/north Kent, and the roads were impassable in many areas (and still are today in some places).

Oooh don't get me started Brisket There are so many more factors to consider these days  ...... a lot more people live further away from their schools then they used to. Even those who are within reasonable walking distance have to deal with more traffic on the roads they walk on than they did years ago, so less people are prepared to take the risk.  It's not as acceptable for younger children to walk on their own as it was back then....and parents (if they work) don't have the time to walk with them for miles in the snow. Transport is a major factor.

Headteachers get a bad press over this.... but what some don't realise is they really don't close on a whim. For our school to shut the Head has to make the decision, the governing body have to agree, and then it goes to the local council too. It's not one person deciding it isn't safe. Sometimes the decision is often taken out of school's hands (in affect)..... because if the buses decided they aren't running...or decide to run early (on the home run) we have no choice but to the let the students go. And then there is the dreaded Health and Safety brigade! And the parents who complain/threaten to sue (they are growing in number!!) over safety. It's a minefield. Schools do their best to weigh it all up and make an informed decision.........and then the media jump on them from a great height regardless.

The last school I worked in never shut for snow, because the majority of children, and luckily the majority of staff, lived in the town. My current school (in the same town) shuts more frequently because the majority of children come by bus from outside of town, and many of the staff travel a long way too.

Having said that.....we had a significant amount of snow this week, but we still didn't shut. We stayed open even though there weren't enough staff to cover lessons.........the staff that did make it in did twice as much work...... but are we appreciated for it? No.....we had parents ringing in to complain about the lack of proper provision. You just can't win.

no!!!   I am gobsmacked!   they must have heard on the news & radio that loads of other schools were actually closed?

Actually I think something similar has happened down at Ickles school...   I think some of the fee paying parents may have asked for a refund for Thurs & Fri when the school was closed...   cos we have just had an email telling us that to make up for lessons missed on Friday the school day will continue til 5.30pm on Monday!!   

Ickles not happy

Out of the two schools my kids go to, one was shut for one day, but plenty of kids weren't sent in by anxious parents! 

Do not fear. A nice bit of justice has been served.

Next Friday the whole school has the afternoon off. It's a long held tradition celebrating something or other The Mayor comes along with his aid dressed as a pixie.

Anyhoo.....those children who texted their parents to moan about having to sit in the hall and watch a film because their teacher hadn't made it into school are now having catch up lessons that afternoon. 

HAHAHAHAHA!!!

HAHAHAHAHA!

savour the moment Ducks... savour it

That's so funny (little swots) ...............will the school keep to it though?

Do teachers get paid if they don't come in?

Well I hope so - why wouldn't they?

Health and safety has gone into overdrive up here. Everything has came to a halt. I believe teachers get paid, along with everyone else thats affected by the conditions,

If only we had just a "little bit of snow".

It's over 2 feet deep here - no buses, trains, gritters or snow ploughs in my area  for 4 days - no post has been able to get to us and I had to take 3 days off work - paid, fortunately.

I think it may be a regional thing .......................however - are the pics on the news not indicative enough? it's not just 'a little snow' for some of us.

Last year Bucks was swamped with it and some towns were marooned.
This year ( so far) we have got away with it thank god.

Last year we got away with it - this year it's a nightmare. It's good to share - it would be unfair if the same places got it all the time although Scotland (or some of it) always seem to get hit.

I suppose if you know you're gonna get it bad - provisions are usually in place. It's a RARITY HERE TO BE THIS BAD tbh.

I remeber last year having to travel to hospital and during the bad weather, staff couldn't get in.  My council were very good about clearing the roads and getting the gritting lorries out, but the neighbouring council did nothing.  There was an obvious live of demarcation between the two councils.

Teachers do get paid if they don't get in. If they didn't you'd have people risking life and limb even in extreme weather because they can't afford to give up a days pay.

They can be asked to make up the time though, and in the case of our school, that's exactly what they have been asked to do. Those who didn't get in this week are the ones giving up their annual Friday afternoon off to give the extra lessons to those children who objected to having no teacher for two periods.

I'm so glad I live near the school