Parents with children at North Borough Junior School have expressed their frustration after being told once again to teach their children from home, but this time because of over running engineering works.

The headteacher of the school in Maidstone sent a message to parents breaking the 'unwelcome news' saying it is because works scheduled by Kent County Council (KCC) for the half term have still not been completed.

Teams are investigating an old air raid shelter under the playground, but exact reasons for the works have not been disclosed.

One mother with two daughters at the school in Peel Street said: "Year 6 was self-isolating for one and a half weeks before half term already, despite many children receiving negative PCR tests.

"It has not been explained to us why this engineering work has to occur now. Why can't it take place in the summer holidays and what is being done to minimise further disruption to school routines?

"I find it incredibly frustrating that we're just being told to 'revert to home learning'.

"My husband and I work full time and are not able to support our daughters in this way.

"In reality it means they complete the school work tasks in two hours and then spend the remainder of the day in front of screens."

In the message home, headteacher Jenny Chiverton said: "We have been directed to keep the school closed until the investigations have been completed.

"We will revert to remote learning for the next few days.

"It is very unlikely that the investigative works will go beyond Wednesday. There is, in fact, a possibility that they may be completed before Wednesday to allow us to reopen earlier than we were first informed that we could.

"I know that this has been unwelcome news for you, please believe that it is for us too.

"I find it incredibly frustrating that we're just being told to 'revert to home learning'."

"We would far rather be in school with the children. We've all missed far too much school time already this year, and have just got back into a flow and routine.

"However, it is vital that we do everything we are instructed to do to ensure the safety of everybody.

"Huge apologies for this disruption and inconvenience."

It has since been confirmed the school will reopen tomorrow.

Another parent says her children have already missed so much school, a few extra days because of ongoing works is 'unacceptable'.

James Sanderson, Head of Property Operations at KCC, said: “Shortly before the recent half-term holiday, KCC identified the need to carry out investigative work on an old air raid shelter under the playground of North Borough Junior School in Maidstone.

"This work was started during the half-term break; however, it has been necessary to extend these investigations beyond this period.

"To ensure the safety of the school community we asked the school to provide pupils with remote learning for the first few days of term while these investigations are completed.

"We anticipate the school will be able to reopen later this week and we would like to thank school staff, pupils, parents, and carers for their patience while this important work was carried out.

"Some areas of the school site may remain fenced off for a period until follow-up work can be carried out and we will keep the school updated as the work progresses.”

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone