Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil says the Nova Scotia Teachers Union has “walked away” after two days of conciliation talks with the provincial government.

In a statement issued Friday night, McNeil said the province offered an additional $10 million to address classroom concerns. He called NSTU’s proposal “unrealistic” and could cost the province $500 million.

With the current talks over and a strike date looming, McNeil promises to “do everything we can to find a resolution as quickly as possible.”

In an email, NSTU says they are “disappointed” that an agreement could not be met. They say the government “remains unwilling to negotiate working conditions” into their collective agreement.

The union is in a legal strike position on Dec. 3. They say job action is “likely’ on Dec. 5 and will provide more information next week.

While the conciliation talks were underway, hundreds of teachers marched through the streets of Halifax Friday afternoon, rallying at the offices of five different MLAs.

With the clock ticking towards a possible work stoppage, there is also concern and preparations growing among parents, employers and daycares across the province.

Many parents say they will try to arrange time off with their employers, or finding somewhere else to send their kids.

“I have to stop working to make plans for my sons,” says father Osama Hamd.

“He goes to a before and after school program that's willing to take him and they also take him on PD days,” says mother Karlee Dunlap.

On Friday, CTV News spoke with a number of daycare operators who already offer before and after school programs. They say they'll keep their school-aged children all day, but won't be able to offer any extra spaces.

The department of education has sent memos to child care operators, saying it will make every effort to help them respond to the needs of families by pushing through paperwork for extra spaces for school aged kids.

The 60 children who attend after school programs at the Ward 5 Neighbourhood Centre will be welcome all day, even though the program says there isn't any extra funding.

“We'll do whatever it takes to make sure that the kids are safe, secure and have fun,” says executive director Doug MacDonald.

The union has the option to work-to-rule, which would affect extracurricular activities at schools, or they could have rotating strikes.

The strike mandate is in effect until April.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Sarah Ritchie