Thousands of parents across Kent are still unsure if their children will be in class next week with just seven days left until a planned teachers' strike.

A number of schools in the county are planning to shut completely, while others have vowed to remain open - but for many a decision on keeping lessons running has yet to be taken.

Some head teachers have even warned they might not be able to announce any closures until the morning of the first day of industrial action next Wednesday.

The uncertainty means many parents have been left in limbo over whether to make childcare arrangements.

One Kent school that will be staying open throughout the strikes is Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury.

Head teacher Ken Moffat has told parents he believes pupils have already suffered enough disruption to their studies thanks to the Covid pandemic.

In a letter to parents, seen by KentOnline, he promises to do all he can to keep the school gates open during what is expected to be four days of strike action across the county in February and March.

"Myself and senior staff will cover lessons throughout those days and we can dream up plenty of imaginative approaches to have year groups together in the afternoon on a variety of activities if necessary," he writes.

"It may cause some headaches, but we will get through it. I have already looked at trimming back any trips or luxurious usages of staff time on those days.

"Given the disruption that the current generation of students has endured, it does not look fair to me to deprive them of further days of learning and I know you, the parent body, do not want the additional headache of organising childcare or re-arranging your working practices.

"Of course, I am grumpy that the majority of the teachers’ pay rise this year had to come from the existing budget - approximately £85,000 I hadn’t budgeted to spend - but I do believe there are more effective ways to make displeasure about this known."

Mr Moffat was invited by KentOnline to expand on the position set out in his letter to parents, but he declined the invitation.

"Given the disruption that the current generation of students has endured, it does not look fair to me to deprive them of further days of learning..."

Elsewhere in Canterbury, Simon Langton Girls' Grammar is among many schools choosing to remain open to only a selected number of pupils.

Head teacher Paul Pollard has asked children in Years 9 and 10 to stay at home, but says online learning will be provided, as well as food parcels for those eligible for free school meals.

Northfleet Technology College will also only open to selected pupils, welcoming those in Years 11 and 13, who are on the cusp of exams, as well as the children of emergency workers.

The situation is a little more complicated in primary schools, which are bound by legal staffing ratios to maintain the safety of younger pupils.

Some have therefore advised parents to make arrangements for their children to be looked after on strike days.

Emma Law, the head teacher of East Stour Primary in Ashford, has told parents information about closures "may not be able to be shared until the morning of the strikes".

She added: "We're considering several options, including moving some lessons online and closing the school."

Nicky Murrell, the head teacher at Briary Primary in Herne Bay, has also written to parents recommending they make "alternative childcare arrangements" for the days of the strikes.

But she admits any decision could be left to the last minute, adding: "If your child’s class is affected, we will inform you no later than 7.30am on the first day of strike action,"

It's a similar situation at St William of Perth School in Rochester, where parents have been told a potential school closure is being considered.

Grove Park Primary in Sittingbourne has also warned "some or all classes may have to be closed" as a last resort.

A letter to parents sent on Monday says: "We will inform you of the final arrangements as soon as possible."

In total, seven days of strikes organised by the National Education Union (NEU) will be held across February and March.

Currently it is expected that schools in Kent will be affected on four of those seven days.

It is an escalation of a dispute over pay in which the union is demanding an above-inflation rise for its teacher members.

The Department for Education (DfE) has offered a 5% increase to most teachers for the current school year.

However, the NEU - the UK's largest teaching union - argues that a below-inflation pay settlement, at a time of soaring prices, effectively means teachers are taking a pay cut.

"This is not about a pay rise but correcting historic real-terms pay cuts," Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the NEU, said when announcing the strikes.

Ahead of the ballot on strike action, Downing Street urged teachers not to walk out and inflict "substantial damage" to children's education.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We would hope they would continue to discuss with us their concerns rather than withdraw education from children."

The NEU has claimed to have had around 22,000 new sign-ups in the past week after announcing the walkouts.

Asked if there is likely to be more disruption due to the influx of new members, Ms Bousted told the PA news agency: "I think the action will be stronger because we've got a bigger membership.

"People join so they can take part in the action."

Some 300,000 teachers and support staff were asked to vote in the NEU ballot - and more than 127,000 teacher members and 16,000 support staff members in England and Wales backed the planned industrial action.

The NAHT school leaders' union and the NASUWT teachers' union both failed to achieve the 50% ballot turnout required by law for its members to go out on strike over pay in England.

Both unions are considering balloting members again.

February 1 is looking set to be one of the biggest days of industrial strife in recent times, with university lecturers, railway workers, train drivers, border force and job centre staff among those walking out alongside teachers.

The government hopes to quell the unrest with new anti-strike laws, which would restrict the right to strike in certain sectors by imposing minimum service levels.

Expected strike days in Kent

• February 1: All schools in England and Wales
• March 2: South-east and south-west England, and London
• March 15 and 16: All schools in England and Wales

Opponents argue the legislation would effectively outlaw the ability of many workers to withdraw their labour during disputes with management.

Trades Union Congress general secretary Paul Nowak said: "Unions will fights these plans every step of the way - including through parliament and through the courts.

"On February 1 will we hold events across the country against this spiteful new bill which is unworkable and almost certainly illegal.

"We will call on the general public to show support for workers taking action to defend their pay and conditions, to defend our public services and to protect the fundamental right to strike."

Labour has said it opposes any attempts to pass anti-strike legislation and that it would likely repeal any such bill if it wins the next election.

Questioned about the government plans earlier this month, leader of the opposition Sir Keir Starmer accused Downing Street of being "all over the show" on industrial relations..

"Every day there is a different briefing as to whether there is going to be legislation, what it is going to be and when it is going to come," he said.

"If it is further restrictions, then we would repeal it and the reason for that is I do not think that legislation is the way that you bring an end to industrial disputes.

"I think there is a reason for that and that is because I don’t think this legislation is going to work. I am pretty sure they have had an assessment that tells them that it is likely to make a bad situation worse."