Hundreds of pupils are in limbo after a Merseyside primary school suddenly closed for the rest of this week over concerns about the safety of its building.
Parents of pupils at Lydiate Primary School in Sefton were told the school, which first shut on Friday, will be closed for the remainder of the week after building inspections revealed concerns with "multiple" structures in the building.
The school's chair of governors called the situation "unprecedented" in a message to parents.
Pupils will be out of school until at least next Monday and the closure has also affected its nursery, Little Buds and after school program Fun4Kids.
Messages to parents through an app used by the school show it was originally shut on Friday following a building inspection, with that being extended to Monday and then to the end of this week.
Senior management are now attempting to find a temporary site for the school, which had 302 pupils at its last Ofsted inspection in June this year.
The school apologised to parents for the inconvenience but said they would not put the safety of pupils and teachers at risk.
One parent said a Christmas charity event planned to take place at the school on Friday now couldn't even go ahead elsewhere because donations were inside the building and they couldn't go in to get them.
Are you affected by the school's closure? Get in touch with Nick on 0151 472 2491 or nick.tyrrell@reachplc.com
Another parent said the current situation was "chaos".
The parent, who did not want to be named, said: "There are people who have got jobs, they've had to call in sick.
"Not everyone can ask friends or family to look after their children, it's chaos.
"Parents were told it would be closed on Friday, then on Sunday were told it would close on Monday, and now it's the rest of the week."
In a message to parents, chair of governors Claire Moore said it was the governors' top priority to get children back into education as soon as possible.
Ms Moore's message yesterday evening read: "The governing body have commissioned an independent structural and conditioning survey to take place this week.
"The school will therefore remain closed this week.
"Our priority is to get the children back into education and the local authority are now working on a plan to provide a temporary alternative venue for the children's education."
Parents have been invited to a meeting with the headteacher, senior leadership team and governors this evening to get more information on the reasons behind the closure.
A Sefton Council spokesman said: "We are working very closely with the school and other partners to seek a resolution.
"Further discussions will be taking place over the coming days to agree a way forward."
