Blackgates Primary School

Extreme weather plan


In anticipation of extreme weather conditions it is prudent for schools to prepare for such events effectively At Blackgates Primary, we have set out procedures within this policy to:

• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of all pupils and employees should the school have to deal with severe, inclement weather; and
• Ensure that all employees and parents are clear about their roles and responsibilities in the event of severe weather or school closure.
Inclement weather can be defined as snow, ice, and fog, which render journeys extremely hazardous. Extremely hazardous includes those conditions in which the appropriate authorities advise people not to make unnecessary journeys or indeed travel at all. The decision to close a school unexpectedly is not taken lightly; it is a decision which will be made by the school (head teacher). In all cases we will seek to avoid a school closure unless it is absolutely necessary. The school aim is to maintain a service to parents and pupils for as long as is reasonably practical. However the interest and safety of children and staff are paramount under these circumstances.

In these circumstances we may take the following actions:

• Open school later than normal
• End the school day earlier than normal
• Open the school only for some pupils
• Close the school (as a last resort)

Closure before the school day begins

 

Procedures:

Once the decision to close the school or alter timings has been made the head teacher will:

• Inform the local authority via the recognised channels. This function may be delegated to either the Assistant Headteachers and the Learning Mentor who both have permissions to
do so. The Chair of Governors will be notified. The Local Authority website www.educationleeds.co.uk will be updated with school
closures regularly.

• Staff will also be informed by the internal ‘snowline’ mechanism of the closure, if possible by
8.00 am.

• The school website will display an information message.

The school closure will be posted on Radio Aire 96.3FM and www.radioaire.co.uk and on Radio Leeds 92.4FM and will be both broadcast and visible on the websites.

• If the closure lasts longer than one day, contacts will be made with parents and staff and the school web site will be updated if possible.

• Staff will be updated by telephone or text message daily as necessary.

• A return to school will be notified to parents and staff by text, telephone and the school website will be updated.


Closure within the school day


If inclement weather forces the closure of the school once sessions have started then the following
will apply:

Procedures:
Once the decision to close the school or alter timings has been made the head teacher will:


• Inform the local authority via the recognised channels. This function may be delegated to
either the Assistant Headteachers or the Learning Mentor who all have permissions to do so.
• The Chair of Governors will be notified.

• The local authority website www. educationleeds.co.uk will be updated with school
closures regularly.

• Parents will be informed by text message or telephone of the closure as soon as possible. This function
will be processed by either Head, Assistant Headteachers or Learning Mentor.

• The school website will display an information message

• The school closure will be posted on Radio Aire 96.3FM and www.radioaire.co.uk and on
Radio Leeds 92.4FM and will be both broadcast and visible on the websites.

• Parents will come to their normal pick up point to collect their children.

• No child will be allowed to walk home alone.

• Parents will be able to take children from other families only if the parent of those children has first contacted school to give permission.

• Staff will be allowed to leave once enough pupils have left so as to make it safe within school in respect of staffing ratios. Those staff with the furthest to travel will be allowed to leave
first and subsequently in approximate distance order.

• There will be staff within school until the last child has left.

• If it is likely that this process will cut across the lunchtime period then food will continue to
be provided where possible, albeit it at a reduced level of choice.

• A return to school will be notified to parents and staff by text message or telephone and the school web site will be updated.

 

Responsibilities

Parents


• Keep school informed of any changes in mobile telephone numbers

• Check mobile phone for messages, and relevant web sites

 

Staff

 

• Keep school informed of any changes in mobile telephone numbers

• Check mobile phone for messages, and relevant web sites

• If school is closed, to work on planning & preparation at home for the duration of the closure.

 


Head teacher

 

• To keep the local authority fully informed

• To keep parents and staff fully informed

• To keep the chair of governors fully informed

Full or partial re-opening

 

 

 

Responsibilities

 Head teacher

• Risk assessment carried out to ascertain whether it is safe for staff and pupils to return to school which would include:

• Heating system working

• Ensure pathways have been prioritised and cleared

• Car parking facilities

• Risk of slipping on floors inside school

• Staffing levels

• Identify which members of staff are able to make it into school and should be able to make it in.

• Identify/prioritise which classes/year groups may be kept operational if a full return is not
possible.
• Consider the possibility of opening later and closing earlier.

• Advising staff/pupils to wear sensible clothing and footwear
Site manager

• Check heating system regularly.

• Check stocks of rock salt.

• Check that matting located in entrance areas is suitable and in good condition to minimise the risk of slipping.

• Ensure that there is suitable equipment to clear away snow/ice to create safe pathways in and out of the school building.

• Ensure that the pathways around the building and to the main entrance are maintained.