AS teachers strike today, parents and guardians are left to look for alternatives with some unable to take time off work.

Some schools in the St Helens Borough are closed for the day, with pupils off or receiving online learning.

Many stand with teachers forced to strike due to unfair pay and conditions, with some describing teachers as "not having taken this decision lightly".

Star readers share their views on the industrial action and how it’s affected their children.

Gillian Crosby shared that the strike has raised concerns over her son’s learning as he prepares to take his GCSE exams in the summer following a disruptive education due to the pandemic.

Gillian said: "My son is doing GCSEs this summer; they are off with online lessons.

"Not good enough, especially as he tells me the exam boards have raised the standards back up to pre covid levels, despite this year’s kids losing about six months of in-classroom teaching and now this on top."

READ > Teachers in St Helens go on strike in NEU industrial action

St Helens Star: Teachers have been striking up and down the country today (Wednesday, February 1)Teachers have been striking up and down the country today (Wednesday, February 1) (Image: PA)

Sheri Gorman showed her support towards teachers who are striking today as she decided to make the most of having her child off.

She said: "Booked the day off work and taking my son to Knowsley Safari Park for free after they kindly offered free children's tickets.

"I'm glad I get the chance to spend some quality time with my child who will attend the educational talks whilst at the Safari Park, so if this is what the teachers need to do then it's really not a big deal."

Ramona Jackson commented: "Solidarity with the teachers; without decent pay and conditions, less people will choose to go into the profession and future generations will be affected.

"Enough is enough."

Clare Sherwood sympathised with the difficult decision NEU members had to make. She said: "Withdrawing your labour is an important right that we must protect. I know the teachers will not have taken this decision lightly."

Lisa Dooley said: "My youngest son is unaffected in primary, but my two eldest in secondary are both off.

"School has set them work to do which they won't be doing. If the teachers want to strike (which I fully understand the reasoning) then that’s fine, but I will not be teaching them at home."