SCHOOL CLOSURE PROCEDURES
In the case of extreme weather, any decision whether or not to close the school will be taken as early as possible.
Emergency Closures outside the school day (e.g. snow closures)
Once a decision has been made to close the school, the following actions will take place:
Local radio stations including BBC Solent Radio, Wave 105 and Heart FM will be contacted in order that they can broadcast the closure. (Please be aware that there can be a delay between informing the radio station and them broadcasting the information.)
A text alert will be sent to parents registered with the school system.
Local bus companies will be contacted to inform them of the closure.
We will also aim to publicise the closure via the school’s website and on a recorded answerphone message on the school’s system although this won’t always be possible.
Therefore, if it is possible that the school may be closed due to bad weather, please tune in to one of the radio stations and ensure that mobile phones registered with Arbor are turned on. If you hear that the school is to be closed, it is always helpful to contact others you know to check the message gets through effectively.
Emergency Closures within the school day
If the school has to be closed during the school day, the school will begin a procedure for contacting parents as soon as possible that the school is being closed, through text alerts as well as through contacting local radio stations.
In such occasions, our main aim is to ensure the safety of the children on the school site whilst waiting to be collected.
Decisions to close the school
The decision to close the school is a serious one. Our main consideration will always be the health and safety of our children and staff. Where possible, for example in the case of bad weather, we will endeavour to liaise with other local schools, although please be aware that all schools are different and can be affected by such situations in different ways, depending on whether children come to school by bus or whether staff live a long way away etc.
Hopefully, it will not be necessary to close the school but it is always best to prepare for the eventuality just in case.
