Today is the last day many parents across the county will have to do the school run for what could be up to three months.

Schools will be closed from Monday due to the coronavirus. Some will remain open for children of 'key workers' such as NHS staff, teachers and those in other public service jobs.

For many parents this means having to work from home while looking after children. Some mums and dads on the school run from Valley Invicta Primary School at East Borough uncertain about how they will manage childcare.

Lee Barrett, 45, said: "Hopefully plans will be set up where children can learn from home. If I have to home school, it will be me back at school learning too.

"I've got my own business, so after Monday I don't know what I'm going to do. Luckily my wife can work from home so the kids will have someone to look after them.

"I've got a packaging business so I work in a big van delivering things to customers which I can't do at home."

Sarah Hewitt, 36, works in the NHS so for her, it is business as usual.

"I'm going to struggle a little bit regarding the childcare side of things.

"It stresses me out slightly because I work in the dental field so I can't work from home at all and if my partner can't work, what am I going to do?

"He's in the building trade so at the moment it's still business as usual too. Soon I think he’ll be told to shut down and then he can look after the children. But I only work part time so I will only be getting a part time wage."

Wendy Raffa, 45, said: "I can understand why they kept schools open because a lot of people need the childcare.

"Hopefully the kids get lots of homework sent home. The school has been very organised and sent emails home saying they are setting work."

Eleanor Davis 23, and Lisa Billion, 31, both have children in year one.

Eleanor said: "It’s a bit worrying, my son can sometimes struggle with concentration so I’m going to have to think of lots of things to do with him.

"There’s a website and a group on Facebook my friend set up with tips and activities you can do with your kids so I will be looking at that."

Lisa added: "My son is 10 and he doesn't like change at the best of times. He’s in year six now, come September he's going to be going to a different school and that’s going to be a huge change enough as it is.

"It's going to be hard, I did get little books for my kids from the shops so that they can do maths and English but when it comes to trying to teach them myself I don’t think that will go down that well."

Aneta Gogol, 44, said: "I have taken holiday at the moment but I'm back to work next week so that's when things could get difficult.

"Back in Poland where I'm from, schools have been shut for about two weeks already."

Jonathan Cobbing 34, has three children and is a stay-at-home dad.

"I know how dangerous it is to close schools but it's probably two weeks too late I think. I’m a stay-at-home dad and my wife works at the hospital so time off isn't an option for her at the moment.

"I’m not worried, my kids are quite young so I don't think it will be that dramatic for them. It’ll have a bigger impact on slightly older children and those going through exams."

Some parents in Medway have also been reacting to the news.

Hannah Fairman said the changes are affecting so many members of her family.

"My mum is disabled so we can't call her in for childcare if we need to. My husband has got to take time off work now and he lives further up the country so now he has to try to come down to us."

Tara Miran said: "I'm lucky I can work from home. The children's grandparents are in isolation so it's a huge challenge, I'm just going to work around the children really."

Paige Crowhurst said: "I'm a professional dog groomer and people are not bringing their dogs in now. I have also got the children at home so now it's going to be even more difficult."

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