On occasions, adverse weather may mean that the school site is unsafe and poses possible health and safety risks to the school community.

We aim to maintain safe access across the school site as far as reasonably practical within the resources available to us.

The school will always attempt to stay open in snowy or other adverse weather conditions with a particular view to facilitating work arrangements for essential workers.

The Headteacher, Chair of Governors and the site team will assess the safety risk to pupils and staff and the Head teacher, taking Local Authority advice into consideration, will take the final decision as to whether the school will remain open or  will close.

The following factors will be taken into consideration when deciding whether to open the school:

• Safety of the children
• Safety of the site
• Warmth of the site
• Risk to staff/pupils travelling to the site
• Forecasted conditions and whether parents will be able to collect children
• Numbers of teaching staff able to be on site

 

Any decisions about any school closure will be made each morning by 7:30am, after a risk assessment and health and safety check of the school site. 

School will remain open unless you have received a communication from the school.

Decisions will be communicated by one or more of the following means:

• App message to staff and parents
• Published on the school website and school instagram
• Message on school answerphone
• Learning activities and tasks published on Google Classroom on 2nd day of any school closure
• Waltham Forest website.

 

Please ensure your child is appropriately dressed for the cold weather.

If we are able to keep the school open, we will ensure the school is safe and that walk ways are clear of hazards. Salting in and around the school footpaths will take place but caution is advised when attending school.

 

In the event of school closure, a member of staff will, where possible, be available on site to ensure that messages and communication are maintained for the first few hours of closure (until 11am); thereafter the school site and office will be closed and unmanned.

• Parents are asked NOT call the school as staff will be busy and cannot answer the phone. Calling the school also blocks the lines for essential calls to be made.
• If conditions deteriorate during a school day a decision may be made to close the school early. An app message will be sent parents to inform them of any changes.
• If you do not hear from the school, and you have checked the school app and website, it is a normal day and we are OPEN

 

Breakfast Club and After School Club

In the case of severe weather or snow we may be unable to open Breakfast Club or After School Club.  In the case of heavy snow you should expect that Breakfast and After School Clubs are closed or may have reduced hours.

 

Please visit the Met Office for updates on cold weather and weather warnings for Leytonstone and our local area.