During cold spells, local schools are often unable to open. This could be because:
- the conditions are too dangerous for pupils and staff to make the journey in
- schools are concerned that worsening weather may make it difficult to get home
- cold weather causes heating systems to fail
It is the responsibility of schools to inform parents if their school is closing. Schools each have their own methods of doing this - including the school website, school social media feeds, and text messaging.
Schools can also inform parents through local radio, although this is less reliable and dependent on parents listening in at any given time. This should only be used as a back-up.
If you're not sure whether your child’s school is open or closed, please refer to the school.