MP's Commons question over school closures

6.13.14pm GMT Tue 12th Jan 2010

Colchester MP Bob Russell has tabled a Question in the House of Commons over the closure of so many of the nation's schools because of snow.

Mr Russell will be asking what advice the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, the Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, has given teachers and Local Education Authorities about using electronic communications to provide distant learning so that children can continue their studies at home.

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell said: "We are constantly told that Britain is a world leader in distant learning and that schools have regular Internet contact with pupils, and vice versa, so if it is claimed that schools have to close because of the snow then why cannot teaching continue with the aid of modern electronic communications?"

Mr Russell said that he was astonished at the closure of so many schools - but he paid tribute to the handful which did. "I have to ask, why did so many schools shut? In my 11 years at school I cannot recall my school ever shutting because of the snow. The school closures have caused huge disruption to families, particularly those where both parents go to work."