'Parents are constantly told do not take your children out of school for holidays and yet over the pandemic of course children weren't in school, and now they're not going to be again.' Susanna Reid & Ed Balls react to the news that teachers will strike in February and March.

@susannareid100 @edballs And why aren't @GMB talking about these two? 👇👇👇👇

@susannareid100 @edballs A fair narrative is needed. 1) Teachers do not want to strike. We want a fully funded pay rise. People’s jobs and the education of children are at risk. 2) Schools have to enforce GOV’T policy on kids missing school - part of this target-driven system. #EnoughIsEnough

@susannareid100 @edballs I am a teacher I did not want to strike. However, l voted for action because we have not had a pay rise since the last Labour government. The Tories used us to pay off debt during austerity

@susannareid100 @edballs Remember any teacher pay increase is a cut and only paid from existing school budgets. School budgets have been cut so lots of teachers won't get what has been offered by the government. Every time we have a tory government education suffers.

@susannareid100 @edballs I think the frustration of parents of pupils in schools ought to be directed at the government. Look how teachers, NHS staff and other essential workers were respected during the pandemic and now they are being criticised for standing up for their rights

@susannareid100 @edballs When is GMB going to talk about Zahawi and his tax avoidance situation … or have you been warned off !

@susannareid100 @edballs Children’s education is affected by lack of permanent staff in schools, low morale and lack of resources- 4 days out of school is not as damaging. Teachers are at an all time low

@susannareid100 @edballs School fined us for a weeks holiday - week before breaking up for Christmas. The week consisted of a games day, a pantomime day. A Christmas party day & school Christmas concert. Maybe I should invoice them for the extra childcare I will have to pay for 🤬

@susannareid100 @edballs The Tory government has deliberately held wages down for over 12 years - now THEIR decision is coming home to roost. So much for their claims of a high wage economy unless of course you are a Tory donor!

@susannareid100 @edballs Let's not forget education starts in Early Years. Recruitment and retention at an all time low putting mounting pressure on nursery teams. Some nurseries are running on more agency/bank staff than permanent staff. Trying to recruit qualified staff is like climbing a mountain