Emergency Closure Information

SNOW PLAN

USEFUL INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Action

This plan covers the contingencies made for heavy snow fall that may result either in ‘closure’ or restricted school opening – called a ‘Snow Day’. A closure or Snow Day decision could be made at any time, therefore this plan aims to prevent;

• The stranding of pupils and staff at school, by careful decision making
• The unnecessary risks taken travelling to and from school, through good communication
• An impact on children’s education, by alternative means of support
• Accidents in the school, by good risk assessment

Policy

It is policy that the school will open on all normal days even when some poor road conditions exist. However, in the event of heavy snowfall we cannot guarantee that staff will be able to attend school and a decision to close or restrict school opening may have to be made.

If school is closed, whenever possible, a member of staff will be available at school to ensure that messages and communication are maintained for the first few hours of closure, thereafter the school will be empty. If you travel to school and no member of staff is present, your children must remain your responsibility and should not be left unattended at school.

When the school is closed, the school cannot look after children. However, if the school closes during the school day, children will of course be looked after until they can be collected. We have a duty of care to ensure all staff can return home safely so we ask that children are collected at your earliest opportunity.

This will obviously also impact on our before and after school providers.

Decision

If the weather conditions are severe enough to force closure, this decision will be communicated to parents through:

•   App message and Email to all parents via Arbor App

•   Publishing on the website home page as soon as possible

•   Hampshire County Council website  -www.hants.gov.uk/schoolclosures

•   Local radio stations:

• The Breeze                         106.4 FM
• Heart Hampshire                96.7 FM / 97.5 FM
• BBC Radio Solent               96.1 FM  / 103.8 FM
• The Coast                           107.2 FM / 107.8 FM                         

Snow Day

On a snow day, it may be necessary to use a staggered/delayed arrival and departure. This is to ensure we have sufficient staff to run the school and to make the school safe prior to opening. This information will be sent to parents using the usual means of communication. We will ensure that pupils have an educationally worthwhile day. If there is a prolonged closure of the school, staff will advise on work that can be completed at home via Google Classroom. If parents are unable to get their children to school because of the weather conditions we ask that you still ring in to let us know so that we can account for everyone’s safety.