HUNDREDS of children in Dorset and the New Forest are off school today as teachers stage a walkout over pay in the build up to exam time.

Twenty three schools are closed completely and another 33 are only offering lessons to certain year groups or are open for half days.

Dorset County Council schools in north, central, and east Dorset: Closure: Cranborne Middle School, Emmanuel Middle School, Lytchett Minster School, Sandford Middle School, Sherborne Learning Centre, St Mary's Middle School, Swanage Middle School, The Priory Primary School, Wareham.

Partial closure: Christchurch Infant School, Ferndown Upper School, Hillside First School, Queen Elizabeth School, Shaftesbury School and Sports College, Sherborne Abbey, Somerford Primary School, Sturminster Newton High School, The Blandford School, The Purbeck School.

Bournemouth Closure: Kingsleigh Primary, Queens Park Junior, The Epiphany CE Primary, Linwood.

Partial Closure: Bethany CoE Junior School, Elmrise Primary, Heathlands, King's Park, St Luke's Primary, Townsend Primary, Winton Primary, Avonbourne, King's High, Oakmead, Poole.

Closure: Baden Powell and St Peter's Middle School, Branksome Heath Middle School, Canford Heath Middle School, Carter Community Sports College, St Joseph's Combined School, Sylvan First School, Talbot Combined School, Turlin Moor Community Middle School, St Mary's Catholic Combined School.

Partial closure: Ashdown Technology College, Corfe Hills School, Longfleet Combined School, Longspee School, Hillbourne School, Oakdale South Road Middle School, Poole High School, St Edwards RC, Rossmore.

New Forest: Closure: New Milton Infants, Priestlands .

Partial closure: Milford on Sea CofE Primary, New Milton Juniors.