Severe weather and closure of schools
Whenever possible St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School & Footsteps Nursery will remain open. However our paramount concern is the safety of our community, our pupils, parents and staff, many of whom travel a distance into school each day. During severe weather conditions, we make every effort to keep the school open for as many children as possible. However, in some circumstances, following completion of a risk assessment, we may decide that it is necessary to temporarily close the school. Reasons may include:
- Too few staff members can reach the school
- Advice is issued against travelling
- Risk of injury to pupils, staff or visitors due to the weather conditions
- A failure of the school’s heating systems
In such circumstances we will always attempt to give parents advance notice, but due to the unpredictable nature of some weather events this may not always be possible.
The Headteacher, in consultation with the chair of governors, is responsible for making decisions to close a school. If it is necessary to close the school, we will communicate information as early as possible via the following:
- ParentMail – Email system
- WhatsApp Parent Representative Group
- School website – look for scrolling banner at top of home page
- Twitter feed
- Bracknell Forest website
- Local radio stations: BBC Berkshire, Heart FM and Reading 107
Closure of the school can also happen during the school day. If this is the case, then we will notify all parents . Please contact the school office if another adult will be collecting your child.
Decisions to close the school are never taken lightly, but unfortunately may sometimes be necessary for the safety and wellbeing of the school community.
