REMINDER: Adverse Weather & School Closures
Extreme Weather & School Closure
We would like to remind you of what happens if there is extreme weather e.g. snow.
We will always endeavour to open, even in bad weather, however if the weather is extreme, careful consideration will also be given to the safety of children, their families and school staff travelling to and from school.
In the event of adverse weather we have three options:
- to open school as normal
- to open school with a later start time and/or earlier finish time
- to close school completely all day
A decision will always be based on the best information available, including the latest weather information and official advice from the local authority and emergency services.
Account is also taken of what neighbouring schools are doing – and it is often the case that there is a flurry of calls between Headteachers very early in the morning to help us decide what to do.
Information will be shared via our 'Parentmail' service with texts AND emails being sent out to explain what is happening.
It is therefore very important that we have up-to-date contact information!
We will also share information on our website: www.st-johnfisher.org so please keep checking it.
If we are starting later, closing early or not opening at all, we will notify Sheffield City Council, who will then post the information on their website and send out alerts to all the parents/carers who have signed up for them.
We will also notify BBC Radio Sheffield and Hallam FM who make announcements 'live' on air and post updates on their websites.
We will not notify the local authority or radio stations if we are opening as usual however.
Please assume we are open as usual if:
- there is nothing on our website
- you receive no texts or emails from school
- you receive no alerts from school or the local authority
- you see nothing on the local authority, Radio Sheffield or Hallam FM websites
There is no need to phone school to double-check.
Late Start
If we are opening later we will share the revised start time via text, email, website, website alert, Radio Sheffield and Sheffield City Council.
Typically, a later start time will either be 9.30am or 10.00am. This means that children can arrive right up to the stated later start time without being marked as ‘late’ in the register.
Children can also be dropped off before and will be looked after by school staff in school. They will not be looked after by JPAC staff unless they normally attend the JPAC clubs.
JPAC staff will contact their customers separately and directly with information about arrangements for before, and after-school care. Queries about JPAC services should therefore be directed to the JPAC team rather than school staff.
Early Finish
Sometimes when we are open the weather conditions can deteriorate during the school day to a point where we may be forced to finish early.
If this happens, we will notify parents/carers via text, email, website, website alert, Radio Sheffield, Hallam FM and Sheffield City Council.
Parents/carers will then be asked to collect their children either at a specific time or as soon as possible.
The timing of an earlier finish will always depend on the weather conditions and on the best information available to us at the time.
As staff remain with children until they are collected, we ask that all pupils are collected promptly.
Please note that if you are not informed that school is finishing early via all the means at our disposal then you can assume that school will be closing at the normal time. No need to call school in order to double-check.
Phoning School
In the event of extreme weather, we would be grateful if parents/carers would:
- read the text messages and emails sent out; or
- check the school website for information; or
- check the BBC Radio Sheffield, Hallam FM and Sheffield City Council websites for information; or
- listen for announcements on Radio Sheffield and Hallam FM
It can be challenging if the phone is clogged up with people calling school to confirm information that has already shared by all the means outlined. As we always aim to get information out to parents and carers as quickly as possible, please help us by only phoning school if it is important or an actual emergency.
Registering for Alerts
Parents and Carers can also register for automatic alerts from school website and Sheffield City Council.
Both are useful for general reminders as well as for specific things like a school response to adverse weather updates.
If you would like to sign up for Council alerts and updates please follow this link:
https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/schoolclosures.
To sign up for alerts from school please follow this link: http://www.st-johnfisher.org/home/
You will then need to scroll down to the bottom right-hand corner of the Home Page until you get to the 'Subscribe' section. All you need to do is insert your email address and tick the box(es) indicating the class(es) you would like to receive alerts for.
Thank you.
