Severe Snow/Ice Plan for Parents and Families

The Local Authority advises us to send information out annually to parents/carers.

‘Schools should, wherever possible, stay open in severe weather. They play a key role in their communities and by staying open help both their pupils and parents.’ –Department for Education

Every winter brings the possibility of snow and ice. Extreme bad weather can cause widespread and prolonged disruption. Schools are often affected and it can be difficult to maintain an education service.

As a fundamental principle every effort must be made to keep a school open, even if only limited numbers of pupils can attend. However, schools may close due to ‘unavoidable’ circumstances. Those circumstances being that it is no longer safe for staff or pupils to be onsite.

Our school will make every effort to prepare for severe snow/ice this winter and the normal expectation should be that the school is open. If we do experience severe weather resulting in hazardous and unsafe conditions, we may have to take the decision to close the school. Once a decision is made to close, we will:

• Post a message on the school website by 6.30am or asap;
• Send a message to parents/pupils via text/email;
• We will update the website regularly to keep parents, staff and pupils informed about arrangements for the following day;
• Where possible we will inform the Kent School Closures website 

If the school is forced to close during the day, we will immediately post a message on the website and send a message to parents via text/email. 

If the school is open, but that you feel the journey is not safe for your child, please contact the school to report the absence in the usual manner.

Please be aware that if the school is open, absence may be considered unauthorised.