Severe Winter Weather Conditions
The school will stay open if at all possible when there is severe weather such as deep/drifting snow, very high winds, widespread flooding. Parents/Carers have the responsibility of getting children/pupils to and from school safely and need to decide if the journey is safe when severe weather affects transport and/or walking conditions. Parents/Carers should inform the office if their child is absent due to severe conditions making the journey unsafe. If your child has a disability and/or learning difficulty your decision to take the journey must take this into consideration. Please consider carefully and only keep children at home if conditions are unsafe.
On occasions, the school may need to close and we will inform you of this using the text messaging service. We will also lodge the closure on the Kent Closures website. To determine whether any school is open or closed please visit www.kentclosures.co.uk. Search for the school in the search box. The Kent closures website can also be used to find out if other services in Kent are open or closed, such as nurseries, children’s centres and libraries. You can also listen to KMFM, BBC Radio Kent or Heart FM to hear if a school has closed.
Late opening and/or early closure is a possibility in poor weather conditions and again we will inform you via the text messaging service and/or Kent Closures website and Local Radio.
What can you do to help?
- Please check your phone for text messages. Visit www.kent.gov.uk/winter for more information about gritting routes and travel issues around Kent so you can plan your journey.
- Don’t forget suitable warm clothing – gloves, hats, scarves, wellies etc and a change of trousers.
- If you are a working parent or feel you may have a problem with a sudden earlier pick up, please could you put a back-up plan in place with another member of your Covid support bubble and inform us on the day. This will allow staff to leave earlier for their safety if weather dictates.
If conditions worsen in the school day and parents feel it is absolutely necessary to collect children, please report to school office and let Mrs Webb know that you will be taking your child home. Please remember to keep socially distanced whilst waiting for your child to be brought to you. Please avoid collecting children before the end of the day, particularly if you live in Monkton, unless you feel their safety is at risk.
Please ensure your Child is appropriately clothed for cold/wet/windy weather and that shoes/boots have good grip for icy conditions.
Finally if you update of mobile phone number, please let us have the new number asap.
