Schools braced for teachers' walkout - updated

2:39pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008

By Sian Davies

PARENTS are facing childcare headaches as tomorrow's strike action threatens to close more than a third of Southampton's schools.

By last night 32 of the city's 81 schools had informed parents that they would be forced to close to some or all of their pupils due to the number of teachers on strike.

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) are walking out nationally in protest at a below-inflation pay offer by the government.

Disruption will hit hundreds of families in the city with schools announcing full or partial closure to pupils.

A spokesman for Southampton City Council said although a provisional list was being drawn up, the number of schools closed to pupils could rise on the day.

Education chiefs are urging parents to contact the city's Children's Information Service (CIS) who may be able to help in finding childcare.

Lin Clark of the CIS said: "We will do our very best to find last-minute childcare.

"It is possible to find something at short notice but we can't guarantee anything."

In Hampshire 23 schools had notified the county council of their intention to either fully or partly close tomorrow.

A Hampshire County Council spokesman said it was the decision of head teachers to close depending on staff numbers. Teachers had been asked to notify the school if they were intending to strike, although they were not duty bound to do so.

A fuller picture of how many of the 540 Hampshire schools will be closing was due to emerge today.

Education bosses on the Isle of Wight have announced that 18 schools would be closed or partially closed tomorrow.

Lecturers from Southampton City College, Brockenhurst College, Sparsholt College, Fareham College and Eastleigh College were also expected to strike over pay and conditions.

l To contact South-ampton Children's Information Service call 0800 169 8833 or log on to southamptoncis.

org. For a comprehensive list of schools that will be closing log on to dailyecho.co.uk.

Schools Open in Southampton

Schools Closed in Southampton

Partial Closures in Southampton

The schools so far confirmed as closed in Hampshire are:

Hampshire schools partially closed include;

Isle of Wight Schools Closed

Isle of Wight Schools Partially closed

ALL OTHER SCHOOLS ARE OPEN AS NORMAL

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