Thousands of teachers have walked out from schools this morning in a bitter row over pay, affecting some seven million pupils.
The strikes in England and Wales – which are the first of seven days worth in February and March – follow failed talks on Monday between Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and the general secretaries of unions representing teachers and headteachers.
Teachers in Scotland, meanwhile, are in the middle of a 16-day rolling programme of strikes.
After the walkouts were confirmed, parents and guardians up and down the country are now being forced to juggle their plans and work commitments as their children spend the day away from the classroom.
Around 85% of schools will be either fully or partially closed by the strike action today, the general secretary of the National Education Union has said.
The strikes – which are the first of seven days worth in February and March – follow failed talks on Monday afternoon between Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and the general secretaries of unions representing teachers and headteachers
