Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood has expressed concern over the impact of school closures on working parents in Wales.
Leanne Wood, who represents South Wales Central, wrote to Education Minister Leighton Andrews to ask whether he has any plans to issue guidance to local authorities, requesting them to plan alternative provision for school pupils in bad weather.
In the letter, Leanne Wood said: “I have received numerous representations from parents in RCT who have been deeply unhappy at the decision made by a very large number of schools in the county borough to close over recent days due to the bad weather.
“Whilst many parents understand that health and safety cannot be compromised, they fail to understand why it was necessary to close the schools on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th January. For many workers, taking time off can result in either the loss of pay or the loss of much-cherished holidays.
“I accept that perhaps not all teachers have been able to get to work because many roads have not been cleared, but surely, if some staff can get in, the school could be opened?
With more snow on the way, and following the loss of a number of days last February because of snow, people find it difficult to understand why there has been little or no planning for such a situation.
“I’d be grateful to hear whether you have any plans to issue guidance to local authorities, requesting them to plan alternative provision for school pupils in inclement weather? I’m sure that you’ll accept that many families cannot afford to lose any pay, particularly through no fault of their own, and that public bodies should do all they can to ensure minimum disruption in such circumstances.”
The Rhondda-based AM was also today raising the issue with First Minister Carwyn Jones
