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Extreme weather: when should a school close?

Exceptional weather such as extreme rainfall or snow can place senior leaders under a lot of pressure to decide whether or not to close their premises. The following advice will help you to decide whether to close your school if the weather is particularly bad.

  • Prepare a risk assessment ahead of time for school closure including guidelines for staff, children and parents, and procedures for communication and the safe collection of pupils.
  • Prepare caretaking and grounds procedures to ensure that paths and access areas are kept safe. Ensure drains are kept free of debris.
  • Consider all the people you will need to communicate with. Local radio stations, subscribing to a text messaging service for parents and carers and posting information on your website can all communicate closures.
  • When thinking about closure, consider whether you can provide heat and light, how many staff will be able to arrive, whether school meals be will available, whether there are any transport issues and whether you can safely return all pupils before the end of the normal day.