World Book Day comes EARLY for schoolchildren across the UK - after planned teachers' strikes scupper annual March 2nd literary celebration School pupils in England have been dressing up to mark World Book Day Literary day brought forward for many ahead of teacher strikes tomorrow Did you celebrate World Book Day today? Share your photos with us - email tips@dailymail. com By Jo Tweedy For Mailonline Published: 09:30 EST, 1 March 2023 | Updated: 10:21 EST, 1 March 2023 e-mail 2 View comments While World Book Day is officially tomorrow; many students have been donning their finest literary themed costumes a day early - as hundreds of schools are poised to close their doors for the second teachers' strike in England and Wales tomorrow. The annual reading celebration, designated as an official day by UNESCO , sees more than 100 countries around the globe celebrate World Book Day - but many schools have hastily brought the event forward by a day after teachers voted to go ahead with strikes across parts of the country. Author David Walliams posted a photo to celebrate the event, and also shared a clip of his visit to Clifton Primary School in Ealing where he spoke to schoolchildren about the best-selling books he's penned including Spaceboy, Billionaire Boy and Gangsta Granny. Elsewhere, singer Paloma Faith posted an image of her eldest daughter dressed as a lion on Instagram, taking the inspiration from popular children's book Jill and the Lion by Lesley Barnes. Comedian and author David Walliams posted this snap on Wednesday to mark World Book Day, before visiting Clifton Primary School in Ealing, London to meet with pupils In south-east London, primary pupils Ebba and James Foale Robinson, aged five and eight, dressed up as Hermione Granger and Harry Potter from JK Rowling's hit series. And Zak Sanderson, 10, and Nell Sanderson, seven, who attend St Faith's Primary School in Winchester, Hampshire, chose to dress up as the central protagonist in books they both love. While Zak opted to dress up as Welsh Rugby Union player Sam Warburton, whose autobiography he's reading, his little sister opted for a grey wig and specs to portray Gangsta Granny from David Walliams' popular kids novel. On social media, scores of parents shared photos of their youngsters in their literary outfits, with teachers also posting photos of staffrooms filled with characters from popular childrens' books. Singer Paloma Faith posted an image of her eldest daughter dressed as a lion on Instagram, taking the inspiration from popular children's book Jill and the Lion by Lesley Barnes Zak Sanderson, 10, and Nell Sanderson, seven, dressed up as Welsh Rugby Union player Sam Warburton and Gangsta Granny as their London school celebrated World Book Day Wizard times! Ebba and James Foale Robinson, aged five and eight, dressed up as Hermione Granger and Harry Potter from JK Rowling's hit series Tomorrow will thousands of schoolchildren at home, after the NEU estimated that around 200,000 members across England and Wales will strike over three days of action this week, with the 'majority of schools' expected to either restrict access to pupils or fully close. Tens of thousands of teachers across the Midlands and eastern England, as well as many more in Scotland, are striking today in a long-running dispute over pay. It is the second day of regional walkouts by the National Education Union (NEU) after teachers took strike action in the north of England on Monday. Last week, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan invited the teaching unions to 'formal talks on pay, conditions and reform' on the condition that this week's walkouts were suspended. Ms Keegan has called the union's decision not to suspend the regional strikes 'hugely disappointing'. A fox, a wolf and a spaceboy: Felix, Zoë and Arlo Duff posed up a storm ahead of their school day in celebration of World Book Day Well it is Wednesday! Esther Elliott, eight, (left) dressed as Wednesday Addams and her younger sister Penny Wren, seven, posed as Mirabelle Moon on their doorstep this morning Vivienne Nouril, aged four, celebrated with her reception class at Strand on the Green school in Chiswick - donning the same colours as the main character in Bear Moves Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'While it's difficult to predict the exact impact of strikes in schools this week, there is likely to be significant localised disruption. But Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the NEU, have accused the Government of 'burying its head in the sand' as they claim underfunded pay increases have 'pushed the profession to its limits'. They said: 'We reiterate once again that we are willing to enter negotiations at any time. Teachers want to be in the classroom, not the picket line. 'The Education Secretary needs to withdraw her unnecessary pre-conditions and get around the negotiating table. ' 'School leaders will be considering what approach to take for those schools affected, based on their individual circumstances and risk assessments. ' Signs on the picket line outside St. Andrew's RC Secondary School, in Glasgow, where teachers are taking strike action in a dispute over pay He added: 'It is very disappointing that the Government has not been more willing to act to prevent strikes by bringing something of substance to the table for discussion. For all the hours of talks we have conducted thus far, they have not offered any tangible move on pay, which is what is required. ' Further national strikes by NEU members in England and Wales are planned for March 15 and 16. Which schools are closed today? Essex Basildon Lower Academy - School open for year 7, online remote learning for years 8 and 9 Basildon Upper Academy - School open for Years 11, 12 and 13, online remote learning for year 10 Beauchamps High School in Wickford - Years 11 to 13 on site, years 7 to 10 have remote lessons at home Brightside Primary School in Billericay - Only one class will be open and no online learning. School will be open to vulnerable pupils Glenwood School in Benfleet - School is open to the children of critical workers Lincewood Primary School in Basildon - Open for all year 6 pupils, vulnerable children and children of critical workers. Remote education is not being provided Mayflower High School in Billericay - Open for vulnerable children and children of critical workers. Remote education is being provided for years 7, 8 ,9 , 10, and 12 Oakfield Primary School in Wickford St Joseph's Catholic Primary School on Canvey - Reception on school trip, so will still attend The Appleton School in South Benfleet - Open for year 12 and 13, year 11 for Mock exams and for vulnerable students and children of critical workers The Fitzwimarc School in Rayleigh - Years 7, 11, 12, 13 and vulnerable students will be on site. Years 8,9 and 10 will have remote learning at home The King John School in Benfleet - Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 in school only The Robert Drake Primary School in Benfleet - Vulnerable pupils able to attend The Sweyne Park School in Rayleigh - Remote education is being provided, open for vulnerable children, children of critical workers and pupils due to sit exams Wickford Primary School - Partially closing classes where staff have not confirmed attendance. All pupils, including vulnerable and those of critical workers, attending other classes Winter Gardens Academy on Canvey - Nursery open. Rest of school closed Chase High School in Westcliff - closed to year 8, 9 and 10 Cecil Jones Academy - closed to years 7, 8 and 9. School starts at 9. 55am for year 10 and 8. 50am for years 11, 12 and 13 Cambridgeshire Abbey College, Ramsey - Partially Open Alconbury CofE Primary School - Partially Open Alderman Jacobs School - Partially Open Alderman Payne Primary School - Partially Open All Saints Interchurch Academy - Partially Open Arbury Primary School - Partially Open Barrington CofE VC Primary School - Partially Open Barton CofE VA Primary School - Partially Open Bassingbourn Village College- Partially Open Bottisham Village College - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Bourn CofE Primary Academy - Partially Open Brampton Village Primary School - Partially Open Bury CofE Primary School - Partially Open Cambourne Village College - Partially Open Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology - Partially Open Chesterton Community College - Partially Open Colville Primary School - Closed Comberton Village College - Partially Open Cromwell Community College - Partially Open Ely College - Partially Open Ely St Mary's CofE Junior School - Partially Open Fawcett Primary School - Partially Open Fenstanton and Hilton Primary School - Partially Open Fordham CofE Primary School - Partially Open Fulbourn Primary School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Gamlingay Village Primary - Partially Open Godmanchester Community Academy - Partially Open Great Gidding CofE Primary School - Closed Great Paxton CofE Primary School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Great Wilbraham CofE Primary School - Partially Open Hartford Junior School - Partially Open Haslingfield Endowed Primary School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Histon and Impington Brook Primary School - Partially Open Histon and Impington Park Primary School - Partially Open Huntingdon Primary School - Partially Open Jeavons Wood Primary School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Lantern Community Primary School - Partially Open Linton Heights Junior School - Partially Open Littleport & East Cambs Academy - Partially Open Longsands Academy - Partially Open Marleigh Primary School - Partially Open Mayfield Primary School - Partially Open Meadow Primary School - Partially Open Meadowgate Academy - Partially Open Melbourn Primary School - Partially Open Melbourn Village College - Partially Open Meridian Primary School - Partially Open Morley Memorial Primary School - Partially Open Neale-Wade Academy - Partially Open Orchard Park Community Primary School - Closed Parkside Community College - Partially Open Pathfinder CofE Primary School - Partially Open Pendragon Community Primary School - Partially Open Pilgrim Pathways School - Partially Open Priory Junior School - Partially Open Priory Park Infant School & Playgroup - Open Queen Edith Primary School - Partially Open Queen Emma Primary School - Partially Open Samuel Pepys School - Partially Open Sawston Village College - Partially Open Sawtry Junior Academy - Partially Open Sawtry Village Academy - Partially Open Shirley Community Primary School - Closed Soham Village College - Partially Open St Bede's Inter-Church School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children St Helen's Primary School - Partially Open St Laurence Catholic Primary School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children St Matthew's Primary School - Closed St Peter's CofE Aided Junior School - Partially Open Stretham Community Primary School - Closed The Bellbird Primary School - Partially Open The Cavendish School - Partially Open The Grove Primary School - Partially Open The Netherhall School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children The Rackham Church of England Primary School - Partially Open The Spinney Primary School - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children The Vine Inter-Church Primary School - Partially Open Thomas Clarkson Academy - Partially Open Thongsley Fields Primary and Nursery School - Awaiting confirmation Townley Primary School - Partially Open Warboys Primary Academy - Partially Open Waterbeach Community Primary School - Partially Open Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Witchford Village College - Open to selected vulnerable and critical worker children Yaxley Infant School - Partially Open Norfolk Acle Academy - Restricted attendance to Year 11 and selected students Ashleigh Primary and Nursery School - The school and nursery are fully closed today Attleborough Academy - Partial closure; the Academy is closed to students in Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10 and Year 12 Avenue Junior School - Only open to a limited number of vulnerable pupils Barford Primary School - School is partially closed today Barnham Broom CE VA Primary School - School is partially closed; classes 1, 2 and 3 are closed. Classes 4 and 5 are open and children in these classes should attend as normal Bignold Primary School & Nursery - The school is only open for vulnerable students Bluebell Primary School - The majority of the school is closed to all, other than Year 6 and pupils who have been specifically asked to attend Broadland High Ormiston Academy - Closed to students in Year 8, 9 and 10. Students in Year 7 and 11 should attend as normal. Bure Valley School - In school provision for vulnerable learners only Catton Grove Primary School - Only open for children attending Caterpillars (2 year olds) and vulnerable children Cawston Church of England Primary Academy - Fully closed due to strike Cecil Gowing Infant School - Closed to all pupils Chapel Green School - Closed except priority Churchill Park Academy - Partially closed City of Norwich School - Closed to all students Colman Infant School - Closed to all students Colman Junior School - Closed to all students Costessey Primary School - Fully open to pupils in Reception, Y1, Y2 and Y6. In Y3, Y4 and Y5, pupils with SEND, those children with a social worker and those from Key Worker families can attend school as normal. Cringleford CE VA Primary School - EYFS and Year 2 fully open. Vulnerable children offered places. Dereham Church of England Junior Academy - Open for the following classes only: Year 3 - Gandhi and Mandela Year 4 - Babbage, Parks and Malorie Year 5 - Attenborough and Pankhurst Year 6 Dereham Neatherd High School - Only pupils who have received an invite should attend Dersingham VA Primary & Nursery School - Open for Nursery, Reception and Year 1 Diss High School - Open to Year 12 and Year 13 students only Docking Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery - Unable to staff Inca Jays (Y1 and Y2) class today. This class will be closed for today only. All other classes are open as usual. Downham Market Academy - Only open to students in Year 11, 12 and 13 Drayton CE VC Junior School - Fully closed Drayton Community Infant School - All classes closed Duke of Lancaster School - Closed Fakenham Infant & Nursery School - Nursery provision and reception is closed. Y1 and Y2 are open and pupils should attend as normal Fakenham Junior School - Y3 and Y6 closed. Only Y4 and Y5 will be open. After school Y5 sport club is cancelled Falcon Junior School - School is open for Year 3 Puffins and Pelicans, Year 4 Kingfishers and Firecrests, Year 5 Bitterns and Herons, Year 6 Doves and Eagles only Framingham Earl High School - Partial Closure: Open for Year 11 and those in the cast for 'Tuesday' as well as those attending trips to London (Drama) and Whitlingham (Y8 Pastoral) Frettenham Primary School - School is partially opened to identified children who have been contacted Harford Manor School - Closed to all pupils Harleston Sancroft Academy - School will remain open for the following year groups only: Year 6, Year 11 Henderson Green Primary Academy - Reception, Yr 1, 2, 3 and 4 closed. Yr 5, 6 and Rockets classes open. School open for all pupils at lunchtime. Hethersett Woodside Primary & Nursery School - Provision for vulnerable pupils and critical worker children Hillside Avenue Primary & Nursery School - Open to Year 6 pupils only Hobart High School - Closed to years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 Holt Community Primary School - The school will be open