Schools will be hit by major disruption today as the Tories were accused of failing kids by refusing to negotiate to end strikes.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) will take part in walkouts across England after rejecting the Government’s "insulting" pay offer.
It’s the fourth walkout by school staff this year - with another strike day planned for May 2.
More than half of England’s schools were closed or partially shut during last month's industrial action but the Tories are resisting pleas to end the bitter pay row causing the wave of strikes.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is refusing to meet NEU leaders to discuss a new pay offer despite the threat of three more strike dates this term.
NEU Joint General Secretary Kevin Courtney told the Mirror: "The Education Secretary’s abdication of her responsibility to negotiate is failing teachers and children.
"She needs to realise that this issue is not going away and must start treating it with the seriousness it deserves."
He said the Tories "can't even get their story straight" as Rishi Sunak says his door is always open but Ms Keegan "shows no interest in new talks".
All the major teaching unions have rejected the Government's offer of a 4.3% wage rise for most teachers and a £1,000 one-off payment to staff in September.
The NASUWT, the NAHT head teachers union and ASCL, which represents school leaders, are balloting their members over strike action.
Keir Starmer's spokesman said: "We are obviously concerned about anything that disrupts children's education. We have already seen the time that's been lost due to the Covid pandemic and we want to be in the position where our kids are in the classroom.
"Therefore it's absolutely incumbent on the Government to ensure that it is getting down and having those conversations with the unions, making those negotiations happen and moving this to a conclusion."
Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson said: "Children and parents across the country are extremely worried about how the upcoming teacher strikes will impact their exams, but Conservative ministers aren’t even willing to sit down and talk.
"They just don’t seem to care.
“The Government’s refusal to get back round the table with teachers and prevent these strikes is putting children’s futures at risk.
“We’ve already seen far too many GCSE and A-Levels wrecked during the pandemic – the current crop of pupils mustn’t become more casualties of Conservative chaos.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Any strike action is hugely damaging. We have made a fair and reasonable pay offer to teachers recognising their hard work and commitment.
“Thanks to the further £2billion pounds we are investing in our schools, next year, school funding will be at its highest level in history.”
It comes as the Department for Education said a typical primary school will receive £35,000 and a typical secondary school £200,000 from the £2billion funding boost announced in the Autumn Statement.
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: "I know children and parents alike will share my disappointment to be facing another round of teacher strikes, particularly at such an important time in the school year.
“I am particularly concerned by the potential for more disruption to children’s education in light of recent attendance figures, which show absence from school is rising at an alarming rate.
“Last year (2021/22), 1.6 million pupils were persistently absent from school – meaning they missed more than 10% of time in school. This is equal to 22.5% of all pupils in England, a jump from around 10% before the pandemic. Tackling this is where our focus must lie.
“I’m grateful to teachers for the care they put into their classes every day, and I hope that if attendance during strike action is restricted, schools are able to prioritise vulnerable children and those due to sit exams.”
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