Guidance for schools: prepare for severe weather conditions
Check the weather forecast during the winter season 2010
We advice you to check the Met Office websites daily (morning and afternoon) during the winter months, as weather conditions can rapidly change, so you are able to prepare your school in time for severe weather: weather forecast for London and the South East and Met Office radar. For general up-to-date weather information, please see the Met Office website and general guidance on taking care during winter weather.
Inform us if your school is closed
We would like to remind you that is a statutory requirement
to inform us if you decide to close your school, eg should
weather conditions change:
Tel: (020) 8825 6564
Email:
schoolsincidentsdesk@ealing.gov.uk
Please confirm:
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your school's name
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name of person leaving message
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contact telephone number
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reason of school's closure
Advice to schools and DCSF guidance
DCSF important notice for headteachers
Keeping schools open in bad weather - please see guidance at below links:Liabilities guidance
In conjunction with Ealing’s Insurance Section we have been asked to disseminate the guidance given by the claims assessors on liabilities and statutory requirements.
Please read the liabilities and statutory requirements guidance (pdf) from Gallagher Basset.
Guidance for schools affected by current weather conditions
Gatekeeping item on severe weather conditions (word)
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inform and update parents via phone message/website/noticeboard with regards to school openings/closures ( please add a date to your messages)
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have plenty of salt and sand on site and scatter sand and salt mixtures on snow, sleet or ice in busy areas
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when the weather improves, sweep up the mixture and dry the doormats
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consider restricting access to essential areas during severe weather
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put up temporary signs about the restrictions
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wet and slippery indoor areas, especially entrances, should be mopped regularly
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each school should have a bad weather plan with these main points:
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have plenty of bottled drinking water, in case drinking water pipes freeze
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make sure your electricity supply can cope with extra heating and other needs
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be able to provide hot drinks and food if the kitchen is out of action
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know where all gas, water and electricity shut-off points are
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contact the school Support Surveyor for help with preparations
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have clear written procedures for closing the school and informing parents and pupils/students
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have clear written procedures to protect the welfare and health of everyone likely to be in school, for example, schools may wish to tell all parents that children with flu should not attend school
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have cover arrangements for staff shortages
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set up emergency communications with parents (phone numbers, emails, website news, notice boards, and so on)
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arrange funding/budgeting for increased costs such as food, fuel, transport and supply staff
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Gritting and salting around schools!
Gritting around schools is a priority in Ealing Council's winter maintenance programme. If the area around your school (eg footpaths, roads and pavements leading up to schools) has not been gritted, please contact the schools incidents desk.
Please add us to your text alerting system
If you have a text alerting system for school staff/parents,
please add the following number to your group(s): 07940 546263.
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