Fed-up teachers are going on strike across England and Wales today as Tory ministers continue to resist their demands for decent pay rises.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) are taking part in the first of seven days of rolling strikes, which will run until March 16.
Some 23,400 schools are expected to be affected when tens of thousands of teachers swap classrooms for picket lines to show their fury over more than a decade of squeezed pay.
Teachers are joining university staff, train drivers and civil servants for the biggest day of mass walkouts in more than a decade.
It coincides with a wave of protests by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) against the Government's anti-strike legislation, which passed the Commons on Monday night.
Downing Street admitted that the mass strike action will be "very difficult" for the public after ministers failed to avert the walkouts.
In a message to parents ahead of the strike, NEU Joint General Secretary Kevin Courtney said: "The strike will disrupt their child's education and we regret that, and it will disrupt their home life and their work life and we regret that.
"We sincerely regret it, but we're pointing to disruption that is happening every day in schools. If we don't persuade Government to invest in education that disruption just carries on."
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “It is hugely disappointing the NEU is continuing with strike action. These strikes will have a significant impact on children’s education, especially following the disruption of the past two years, and are creating huge uncertainly for parents.
“With talks ongoing on a range of issues, including around future pay, workload, behaviour and recruitment and retention, it is clear that strikes are not being used as a last resort.
“I have been clear today that unions do not need to strike to meet with me. I also reiterated my call to union leaders to ask their members to let head teachers know if they intend to strike, helping schools to minimise the impact on children.”
STRIKE MAP WIDGET: Click on the strikes tab and enter your postcode below to see which schools near you are affected- or find a demonstration to show your support
Who is striking?
Members of the National Education Union, the country's largest teaching union, are going on strike over pay.
The NEU balloted more than 300,000 teachers and school staff in England and Wales for walkouts - and the union says another 38,000 people have joined their ranks since the ballot was announced.
The union has not given an exact number of how many members will strike as there are seven dates in total and not all members will walk out at the same time.
The NAHT, which represents headteachers, is planning to re-ballot its members after missing the turnout threshold required by law. The NASUWT also missed this threshold.
When are the strike dates?
Seven days of strikes have been announced, starting on February 1 and running until March 16.
February 1 will be a national strike across England and Wales, as will March 15 and 16. In Wales there will be a separate strike on February 14.
Regional walkouts will take place in England on February 28, March 1 and 2.
How many schools will be affected?
The NEU says the first walkout on February 1 will affect 23,400 schools in England and Wales. There were nearly 26,000 schools in total according to figures from last year.
Individual schools will only be affected by walkouts on up to four of the dates.
Will children have to go in anyway?
Children should go to class as normal unless they are told otherwise by their school.
The Department for Education is urging schools to take "all reasonable steps to keep the school open for as many pupils as possible".
But it is up to heads to decide whether they shut their doors or how to run the school day with reduced staffing.
Schools are being told to prioritise vulnerable kids, the children of critical workers and those sitting exams if they have to restrict numbers of pupils in the classroom.
Teachers should try to deliver remote learning if they have to restrict pupil attendance, according to the latest Government guidance.
