Witherslack, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6RS
015395 52298
Paul Macfarlane Helen Fothergill

Emergency Closure Procedure - Guidance for parents

It is the responsibility of the Headteacher to make the decision to close the school or delay opening. The Chair of Governors will be informed as soon as is practical.

 
The school will only be closed when the health and safety of staff and/or students would be compromised by the decision for the school to open or remain open. This includes travelling to and from school. In the event of a closure the procedures outlined below will be followed.

 
Extreme weather e.g. snow, flooding or high winds

In the event of severe weather through the day, we will make every effort to keep the school open and to continue as normal.  However, in certain circumstances this may not be possible and emergency procedures may have to be adopted and you will be requested to have your child collected.  It is wise to be prepared as we may not be able to notify you in advance.
 

If conditions allow, your child should set off for the school as normal, but you should be prepared for two eventualities.
 

  • If you have to travel on the A590, severe weather may affect it. 
  • If your child does arrive at the school and we are facing extreme circumstances, such as an unsafe site or not enough staff able to reach the school to safely look after students, we may have to close and your child will be sent home.  

Road Closures

In the event of the main road suddenly being closed first thing in the morning [eg accident], the following procedures will be put in place:

  • The Headteacher will make the decision to delay the opening of school until a time when at least one member of staff and a governor can arrive and open up the building. Parents will be informed through the usual snowball, and regular updates issued.
  • The member of staff does not have to receive children until 8.50am. [This is the general time adopted by schools for opening the building.]
  • The governor will be the chair, vice-chair or a parent governor, who have a full DBS clearance and a knowledge of the children.

In the event of the main road suddenly closing through the school day, the following procedures will be put in place:

  • All parents will be contacted personally by a member of staff to discuss arrangements for collection.
  • Children will not be sent home until a parent or designated adult collects them.
  • Staff will be sent home by the Headteacher if it is safe to do so at the end of the school day.
  • The Headteacher and another member of staff /governors will stay with any uncollected children until all have been safely collected.
  • Drinks and snacks will be issued to any uncollected children as appropriate.

Please make sure we have your contact details for during the day.
  
No child should leave the school in an emergency if they have nowhere to go. A member of staff will always stay on site until the last pupil has been collected.

  
Our decision will be communicated via local radio.  Lakeland FM is the most responsive to our local needs, but I will also inform BBC Radio Cumbria.  We will also use the website and Facebook to keep parents appraised.