Parents forced to use up day's leave as teachers strike

Jackie Pennant, an executive assistant in a large office in central London, was one of many parents forced to use up a day of annual leave.

Her two sons, Rohan, aged nine and seven-year-old Kiyan, were unable to go to their school in Catford. Jackie told ITV News she supported the teachers but regretted sacrificing precious leave.

There's no one else to look after my children, it's either my husband or I that have to take a day off or emergency leave. It is disruptive in that respect and therefore you end up losing a day's leave You just have to do what you have to do. I agree in principle about why the teachers are striking. Maybe there's better way of going about it. Luckily a lot of people I work with have children of school age themselves so they're quite flexible in me being able to take a day off.

Rohan had a different view of the strike:

I do like school it's good to have a day off as well.