Millions of parents become unpaid teachers to their kids on the first day of UK school closures

MILLIONS of parents took on new roles as unpaid teachers yesterday as their kids were kept at home.

But some exhausted mums and dads failed to keep their excited offspring in check — leaving them in awe of the real classroom heroes.

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Some families drew up time-tables in advance over the weekend — ready to kick off their first school day at home with literacy and maths.

There were children even dressed in their school uniforms before sitting down to study at kitchen tables nationwide.

However, posts on social media suggested some amateur teachers were looking forward to doing the school run proper again.

‘COOPED-UP OFFSPRING’

And many admitted they were struggling to instil discipline in their cooped-up offspring, who now face being away from school for several months because of coronavirus.

Among those gearing up for home-schooling yesterday morning was The Saturdays singer Una Healy, 38, who wished her fellow parents luck.

She shared a picture on Instagram of her son Tadhg, five, and daughter Aoife, eight, at the kitchen table with worksheets in front of them.

Una wrote: “And so it begins! Best of luck to everyone in the same boat this morning. #homeschool #day1.”

Fellow parent Melanie Williams joked: “100 per cent attendance at today’s #homeschool and the welcome assembly was lovely.”

But not all home lessons went smooth for the millions who had to look after their children while also working from home.

Mum Samantha Nixon wrote: “Teachers deserve much more credit! I didn’t realise how much until I had to #homeschool my two children.”

‘STRESSED-OUT’

One parent asked “How are teachers not alcoholics?” while a stressed-out dad got his golf clubs out for a “PE lesson” with his son in the back garden.

Another, Rori Fett, joked: “Day one of the schools closing and home-schooling beginning. Kids have been expelled and I’m taking early retirement. What time is wine o’clock?”

James DeVaney added: “Anyone working from home with kids still think teachers are paid appropriately?”

Naomi Seal posted: “Day 1 of homeschooling. We both cried before lunch.”

Some schools offered online lessons for their pupils to follow at home, including Truro High, an independent establishment in Cornwall for girls.

Headmistress Sarah Matthews said: “Our priority will be to ensure that the quality of learning does not change.

“We do not simply want the girls to maintain their standards over the coming weeks and months. We want them to be stretched, to complete their curriculum coursework as planned and to continue to make excellent progress.”

Despite millions staying at home after last week’s announcement by PM Boris Johnson, children of designated “key workers” are still allowed to go to school as normal.

However school leaders said most parents had heeded advice from the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to send their children in only if it was absolutely necessary. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, paid tribute to classroom staff for calmly adapting to the coronavirus crisis.

He said: “Schools are reporting that the number of pupils arriving is manageable. We are grateful to parents for their understanding.

‘REMAIN VIGILANT’

“We would like to pay tribute to schools for their amazing work in organising this provision so quickly. They have calmly gone about the business of identifying children who need places, arranging staffing cover, and providing learning resources for children who are at home. It has been an exemplary exercise in superb leadership.”

Parents were also warned to remain vigilant to the dangers of their children spending more time online.

Child safety online organisation Internet Matters said parents should check that their children’s devices have age-appropriate settings in place — and implement screen time limits as part of their new routine.

Carolyn Bunting, the group’s chief executive, said: “As parents, we are all facing uncharted territory amid the coronavirus pandemic as we try to navigate work, schooling and our children’s well-being.

“Tech provides many fantastic opportunities at this time, giving children additional tools to learn, create, socialise and a place to have their downtime. However, as a child’s screen time increases, so does their chances of facing online risks.”

She warned: “It’s essential that parents do not become complacent about their child’s digital world and the harms they could be facing online, which could include everything from seeing inappropriate content to having unwanted contact from strangers.”