main content School closures during extreme weather conditions

 
Many schools face difficulties in maintaining a normal service during extreme weather conditions, such as a heavy snowfall or icy roads and footpaths. Local and national guidance to Head Teachers, however, is that they should remain open wherever possible, to minimise the disruption to the children’s education and inconvenience to parents and carers. They are advised to have plans in place, for example, to enable a suitable programme of education to be provided for the pupils who do attend, albeit with reduced numbers of staff. Head Teachers are required to weigh up the risks of reduced supervision, late journeys home and minor bumps, against the disruption to pupils' learning caused by a closure.

A blanket decision to close schools is never acceptable. However, a decision to close a school may be made by the Head Teacher, on an individual basis, taking into account the local circumstances. An important consideration will be health and safety, in terms of numbers of adults available to supervise children and access to, and movement around, the school site. Schools are advised, for example, to minimise the risk by relaxing the normal footwear rules, so that children have the most suitable shoes or boots for the conditions.

Parents and carers are advised to keep an eye on the information on school websites and the Council website, where the latest information will be posted on full or partial closures.