Lydia Bright has doubled down on her criticism of school closures during the record-breaking heatwave.
More than 1,000 schools across the UK shut their doors or reduced opening hours as temperatures hit 40C last week.
Lydia, 35, mother to daughter Loretta, six, was critical of her primary school’s decision to close at short notice, pointing out that the move ‘creates problems for working parents’.
In a lengthy statement shared on Instagram, Lydia insisted ‘long term solutions need to be made, not just last minute emails’ if school closures become a regular occurrence due to climate change.
She wrote: ‘My Response. I just wanted to address this further because this week I was invited onto radio shows to discuss my views, they’ve been printed in the media and even debated on TV panel shows.
‘Working overseas, I haven’t had the chance to respond, so l’ve taken a bit of time to gather my thoughts.
Lydia Bright, 35, has doubled down on her criticism of school closures during the record-breaking heatwave
In a statement shared on Instagram, Lydia insisted ‘long term solutions need to be made, not just last minute emails’ if school closures become a regular occurrence due to climate change .
‘My frustration came from the very real impact these last minute school closures had on my immediate family.
‘As a single working mum, my life has to be organised down to the minute. When plans change overnight, it creates enormous pressure. Thankfully, I made it work, but only because I was able to rely on my parents, Loretta’s dad and even my cousin, who all had to rearrange their schedules to step in and help.
‘Then there was my long-term foster sister, who couldn’t get to work at her care home because my niece Luna’s nursery was also closed. She’s just one example of the thousands of parents working in care homes, hospitals and other frontline services who couldn’t work. The knock-on effect is huge.
‘Lastly, during the pandemic, I became passionate about raising awareness of children in care and the vital role schools play as places of safety, stability and routine. For some children, school is so much more than education. It’s where they receive support, safeguarding, hot meals, consistency.
‘I’m not suggesting that one week of school closures would suddenly lead to large numbers of children entering care. But if climate change means periods of extreme heat become more common, could one week become two?
‘Could school closures become a regular occurrence? And if they do, what will that mean for the children who rely on school the most?
‘We are all entitled to our own beliefs and have our circumstances and journeys for having them. I believe we need to protect children’s education, support working families, keep essential services running and ensure our most vulnerable children have school consistently.
‘if this is something we’re likely to face more often in the future, we need long-term solutions, not last-minute emails at 7.15pm.’
Other parents have branded teachers as ‘lazy’ on social media, claiming they are simply looking for a day off and pointing out that employees in other industries are still expected to work.
One LBC caller warned this morning that Britain is ‘breeding a nation of melts’ who will be ‘ill-prepared for real life in this hard world’.
Lydia is currently on a P&O Cruises brand collaboration trip around the Mediterranean, and told her Instagram followers this week that she was desperately trying to arrange extra childcare for her daughter.
‘Am I the only one who thinks this is madness?’ she asked her 1.2million followers.
‘At 7.15pm on Monday night, I received an email to say the school would be closing at 1pm on Tuesday and now today and Thursday because of the heat. I’m struggling to get my head around it.’
‘Children all over the world sit in classrooms in these temperatures every day, without air conditioning,’ she continued.
Lydia, mother to daughter Loretta, six, was critical of her primary school’s decision to close at short notice, pointing out that the move ‘creates problems for working parents’
The former TOWIE star told her Instagram followers this week that she was desperately trying to arrange extra childcare
‘Our children happily spend entire days on holiday in this heat and when we collect them at 1pm we’re taking them home to houses that are exactly the same temperature. Maybe I’m missing something?’
‘I’m currently overseas trying to rearrange plans for Loretta and I know I won’t be the only working parent trying to move schedules and commitments.’
Lydia, who shares custody of Loretta with her ex-boyfriend Lee Cronin, ended her post by saying: ‘It feels like we’re solving one problem by creating another for hundreds of working families.’
Twelve schools across Lydia’s home county of Essex confirmed full or partial closures on Wednesday, with most of those moving to remote learning.
Parents faced major disruption after at least 578 schools in England and more than 500 in Wales announced full or partial closures amid concerns over dangerous classroom temperatures.
Other schools had relaxed uniform rules and allowed pupils to attend in PE kits rather than blazers and long trousers.
However, the measures were criticised by parents and social media users.
LBC caller James said the decision to close schools was leaving children ‘ill-prepared for real life in this hard world’.
He told presenter Henry Riley: ‘We are breeding a nation of melts. We’ve got children that as you’ve already said are locked in their bedrooms. They are so ill-prepared for what real life in this hard world is like.’
Meanwhile, one person posted on social media: ‘Why is it that schools can close when it suits them, but if a parent takes their own child out of class for the day they’re threatened with fines and prosecution.
‘Teachers are just lazy and want the day off.’
Another added: ‘Pathetic.. wonder why kids are wet wipes… this is why…wrapped in cotton wool.. yet every single kid off school is playing in the sun.. make it make sense.’
A third said: ‘In the real world, supply bottles of water to keep them hydrated. In work life, you are NOT sent home because it’s hot.’
