We recognise that heavy snowfall can cause significant problems for staff and families attempting to come into school. Disruption to transport services may prevent many members of staff and children from coming in to school at all. Ice and snow may cause hazardous conditions to road users and to those on foot. This impacts the number of people who are able to safely come into school on ‘snow days’, and therefore, we may need to take a decision as soon as possible about whether the school should be closed until further notice.
Our Decision
• The duty of care to our children and staff will always be at the forefront of any decision to either keep the school open in adverse weather or to implement a closure.
• We will always aim to keep the school open if possible, as we recognise the inconvenience of disruption to the normal school week and to families.
• We will make a decision as soon as is practical, but it is possible that a final decision will not be taken until the morning when enough information is available.
• Our decision will be based on the information that we are in possession of at the time the decision is made.
Factors that will affect our decision
• Whether there are enough members of staff able to travel safely to and from school in order to be able to provide satisfactory care for our children.
• Whether the severity of the weather conditions is on such a major scale that it is unlikely that many people will be able, physically, to make it into school.
• Whether conditions are expected to worsen or improve during the course of the day.
• Whether the school can provide lunch for the children.
• Whether the school grounds are sufficiently safe for children, parents and staff.
• Whether the school has sufficient heating.
• Whether the school has lighting and hot water across the site.
• Whether external agencies, e.g. police, local government, motoring organisations, etc, are advising against travel in our region.
Advice
We advise parents not to set off for school without first confirming that the school will be open. Please ensure you have contingency plans in place for your child if school should close either at the beginning of the school day or during the school day.
If The School is Open During Snowy Weather (a ‘Snow Day’)
1. Before bringing children in to school, parents are asked to ensure they have arrangements in place to collect the children from school early, if the need arises.
2. Parents should ensure that the school has contact details on which they can be reached throughout the day. Most information will be relayed by text message, Uley School website, Facebook or email where possible.
3. We aim for the children to play outside in the snow if they wish, so please make sure they are well dressed for very cold weather, with spare clothes, footwear and socks. Please provide a coat!
If heavy snow falls during the day when the school is open:
1. If heavy snow falls when the children are already at the school and disruption is foreseeable, then parents should set off from their place of work or from home in plenty of time to ensure that they arrive at the school before the school closes.
2. It may be that parents are asked to pick children up early due to either problems with heating, or the need to close the school part way through the day to allow children and staff to get home safely before the weather deteriorates, please be alert for messages throughout the day.
Snow Policy – FAQs
Will parents be contacted in the event of snow?
Our Uley School website should be consulted regularly. Additionally, Gloucestershire County Council’s website publishes up to date information on school closures and this can be accessed at Gloucestershire school and library closures | Gloucestershire County Council.
We will also text message and/or email parents to ensure a clear message is sent. Please however, be aware that occasionally in bad weather, text messages can be delayed due to a high volume of messages being sent by schools.
To travel to school or not?
Parents have to decide whether it is safe and desirable for them to make the journey into school. Please be mindful of local advice from the police, weather updates and motoring organisations.
Does it matter what time we arrive at school?
No. On ‘Snow Days’ school may open later at 10.00 am and we will expect children to arrive as soon as possible after this time. We prefer that you arrive safely. It is important that children sign in and register at the front office if they arrive late.
When should I collect my child?
School will close at the usual time, but should the decision be made to close earlier, parents will be notified in the usual way (e.g. by text, email, Gloucestershire County Council and web site)
Will there be before/after school club?
There will be no Before & After School Club if school has had to close due to the weather.
Should the decision be taken to close the school during the school day then there will be no Before and After school club or after school activities.
Will there be work available for my child to complete?
Class 1 – activities will be set through tapestry
Class 2 – on this page
Class 3 – on this page
Class 4 – on this page
School staff are contactable through admin@uley.gloucs.sch.uk. Any further work set from class teachers will be sent via admin.
Please be aware that this may be delayed as staff could be stuck in traffic because of the weather.
Parents may also access the Oak Academy materials online for their child’s year group Free, time-saving teacher resources | Oak National Academy. There are also the homework webs sent out at the beginning of each term and can also be found on the school website under the class pages.
The homework policy also signposts to websites to support learning.