Boroughs blame icy playgrounds for school closures

Every state school in 10 boroughs was shut following yesterday's heavy snowfall.

Councils in the rest of the boroughs reported that "most if not all" their schools were closed, many for the second day running.

Some blamed transport problems affecting teachers and pupils alike. Others, including Wandsworth council, said ice-covered playgrounds were too dangerous.

An Evening Standard survey found:

●All state schools were expected to be closed in Bromley, Enfield, Hammersmith&Fulham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston, Merton, Newham, Richmond and Tower Hamlets.

●In Sutton, Islington and Haringey, most if not all schools were closing again today.

●In another 14 boroughs, at least 650 primary, secondary and nursery schools were shut. Most of the remaining councils advised parents to check for themselves as the majority of their schools would not be opening.

A total of 1,000 schools and nurseries were closed across London. The Government told headteachers to use their "common sense" when deciding whether it is safe to open.

In Barnet, 96 schools were closing today, along with at least 70 in Ealing, 57 in Hackney and 55 in Greenwich. More than 50 schools and children's centres in Camden were confirmed to be closing but Great Ormond Street school for children at the hospital was one of the few to remain "fully open".

Many private schools closed down and schools across the South-East were affected. Local authorities in Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire, Essex, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire said almost all their schools were shut.

But many parents were annoyed that they had to find alternative arrangements at short notice for their children for a second day.

Margaret Morrissey, of the Parents Outloud campaign group, said: "It is terribly difficult for parents. You've got to go to work and you've got the added problem of what to do with the children."

She warned that children given the day off might grow into adults who think "when things get difficult you should just stay at home and have fun".

Yesterday, London boroughs confirmed that 700 schools were known to have been closed, with hundreds more closures not documented. Across England more than 3,000 schools closed due to the snow yesterday and many remained shut today. In advice to parents, Wandsworth council said: "The severe conditions have forced the closure of many of the borough's schools as teachers, teaching assistants and support staff cannot get to work.

"In most cases frozen playgrounds mean it would be too dangerous for children to attend school.

"The council has been advising parents to contact schools directly to find out whether they are closed and when they expect to re-open."

Westminster council said parents should assume "most" schools were closed "as the weather continues to hamper safe travel for pupils and teachers".

In Bexley, 87 schools were closed and only two open. The council said: "All available resources are being employed to deal with the aftermath of the worst snow the borough has seen since February 1991. Many schools are closed for a second day due to icy conditions."

Bromley council told parents: "Due to major disruption to transport in and around the borough, the majority of our schools have been unable to provide sufficient staff to be able to operate satisfactorily We are advising all schools to remain closed on Tuesday."