Hundreds of schools in England and Wales are being forced to send children home this week as the UK continues to grapple with extreme temperatures.
A rare red warning for heat came into force on Wednesday, with the day officially confirmed by the Met Office as the hottest in June on record.
Temperatures reached 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, provisional figures show, breaking the previous record of 35.6C set in June 1976.
Teachers have expressed concern for their students’ safety during the heatwave, with many schools remaining closed amid forecasts of further extreme heat.
The heatwave is set to continue on Thursday and Friday, when it is possible that the record figure could be beaten again, according to the Met Office.
Parts of the East Midlands, east of England, London & south east England, south west England, Wales, and West Midlands are under the red warning until 9pm on Thursday.
At least 1,000 schools and nurseries across England and Wales are expected to remain closed or partially closed on Thursday and Friday.
For the latest updates on the UK heatwave, follow The Independent’s live coverage
While there is no maximum temperature limit for classrooms, schools can decide if they want to close early. Some 100 schools in Somerset will be closed over the next three days, with the vast majority fully closed on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Somerset council.
Parents can use The Independent’s school closure tool to check on the status of schools in their area:
A similar number will also be at least partially closed over the next three days in Buckinghamshire, along with 86 schools in Gloucestershire, according to council data.
Children at some schools have also been told they can wear PE kit rather than full school uniform, which can involve long trousers and blazers.
The Met Office has warned that that the exceptional heat will spread further north on Thursday, “with an even hotter day ahead for some with amber and red extreme heat warnings in force”.
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It added that some places may begin to feel slightly cooler due to a brisk breeze in the south.
Forecasters say that the weather event has been driven by a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe, as countries across the continent also experience extreme conditions.
Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office chief scientist, said: “The heatwave this week is a significant weather event, with a Red Extreme Heat warning issued. Human induced climate change has made events like this more likely and more intense.
"To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply.”
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