Government 'extreme' red heat school closure advice criticised by a former teacher who now works with thousands of teachers across the UK.
More than 130 schools and counting across Oxfordshire fully or partially closed its doors from yesterday (Tuesday, June 23), as temperatures are expected to peak at 37C.
The Met Office alert is set to be in place until Friday morning and cause major disruption to daily life and travel across the county.
Despite this, the Department for Education advised schools, prioritising school attendance and advising for hot weather to instead be managed safely.
Becky Cranham, who is the director of the primary education resource provider PlanBee, says teaching and learning in that kind of environment is "significantly more challenging" than people think.
She said: "Good teaching in those circumstances is about adapting to meet pupils' needs, not pretending the conditions don't exist."
Criticising its statement form "an air-conditioned office", she said: "It's much harder when you're the one standing in front of 30 children in a classroom that's over 30C, trying to keep everyone focused, hydrated and learning."
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The Government advised schools to relax uniform rules, make rooms ventilated and encouraging children to wear lose, light-coloured clothing, sunhats and sun cream with high protection.
Other adjustments include making rooms as ventilated as possible, keeping the heat out, reducing unnecessary heat, and hydrating.
While she agrees that a school setting is the best place for children to learn, managing hot weather as it advised "isn't always straight forward.
She said: "Imagine trying to teach 30 children in a classroom with the afternoon sun pouring through the windows, inadequate blinds, little ventilation and temperatures climbing throughout the day.
"Teachers are doing everything they can to maintain routines and keep learning on track, while also making sure children stay safe, hydrated and comfortable."
