Warwickshire Lib Dems raise concerns over school closures

4.00.00pm GMT Mon 15th Mar 2004

Liberal Democrats in Warwickshire were concerned to find that many schools were closed last week because of the snow but that some parents were not informed and children were sent to school only to be sent home.

More than one in ten of the counties schools were closed.

Speaking today Warwickshire Euro-MP Liz Lynne said:

"We live in an age when in many households both parents work. I am concerned that parents sent their children to school expecting them to be safe until the end of the school day not realising the schools were closed.

"Parents have complained to me that they have gone off to work with no way of making alternative arrangements for their children. We cannot have children wandering the streets until their parents come home."

County Cllr Susan Juned Liberal Democrat PPC for Stratford said

"I have spoken to the education authority and asked for a full post mortem on the school closures. Most of the closures were primary schools in rural areas but in Alcester two of the secondary schools were closed while the third School remained open.

"There must be adequate provision for schoolchildren when a school is closed. The headteacher quite rightly is the person who makes the decision but the health & safety of the children must be paramount."

ENDS