Wednesday and Friday will see the majority of schools closed yet again as teachers continue with industrial action.

Such has been the level of strikes since February, many pupils now have missed around a week of school.

And while the government would think nothing of fining a parent who took their child away from the classroom for that long – ministers are more than content to let those missed days slide rather than get back around the negotiating table.

From the crippling strain the NHS is under to an education system which is cashless and in crisis – crumbling public services are fast becoming the status quo and one it seems we’re being forced into accepting.

Letters home from schools give a small insight into the strain leaders are under.

Job vacancies attracting just one – and sometimes zero – applicants. A desire to offer a full curriculum and a vast range of subjects – particularly post-16 – despite a lack of staff and the resources to do so.

And perhaps the biggest fly in the ointment – the need now to take money from other areas of the school budget to bolster the pay of the teaching staff you desperately need and want to retain leaving fewer coffers in the pot for resources, building repairs, professional development of staff, extra curricular activities, trips and the like. All the things that can make a considerable difference to the quality of the education and experience children have.

Education minister Gillian Keegan - who insists ‘inflation busting pay rises’ will not be on the cards - says in the next breath she wants to stop the strikes. The NEU however claim she hasn’t spoken with them since Easter.

Perhaps since her March offer of a £1,000 one-off payment and a 4.5% average increase across the sector next year was turned down?

A reluctance to negotiate might have more to do with not wishing to be seen to be caving to union demands?

However, a whopping 40,000 teachers quit last year – around 9% of the entire workforce according to the NEU. How long can ministers continue to shrug their shoulders for?

Vacancies are now at their highest since 2004 and all major teaching unions are preparing fresh ballots to extend their mandate for strike action - raising the threat of further strikes in the autumn. Headteachers are reportedly likely to join them.

While some are starting to now argue those walk outs will need to be longer and more sustained.

There is also mounting speculation that having always said they would take advice from the government-appointed pay review body, which is reportedly leaning towards a 6.5% pay increase, the DfE is expected to opt to offer less which will no doubt fuel more anger and frustration.

We’re now less than three weeks from the end of the summer term. The sheer level of strikes is starting to make school feel like a subject pupils can choose whether or not to take and headteachers no doubt have budgets to plan ahead of September.

The strikes are squeezing teachers, pupils and their families.

And whether the government wants to sit around the negotiating table or set light to it – surely it’s about time ministers revealed what it is they are willing to pay?