Emergency Closure of the School

PROCEDURES FOR CLOSURE OF SCHOOL

We would only close the school if we were unable to meet health and safety requirements. This would include breakdown of heating or water. Closure would also be necessary if we were unable to provide adequate supervision because of high staff absence in bad weather. A number of staff live outside of Edinburgh and may be unable to reach Ferryhill even if local weather conditions do not appear too bad. A decision to close the school is agreed with the City of Edinburgh Council.

IF SCHOOL IS UNABLE TO OPEN

If the school is unable to open in the morning, an announcement would be made on Radio Forth. An announcement may also be made on the council website. We would make use of the text messaging service if staff were in school to operate this. If pupils have already arrived at school we will follow the procedure for the school being forced to close during the day.

IF SCHOOL IS TO CLOSE DURING THE DAY

The school would only close during the day if there was an emergency, or if severe weather meant that children/staff were unable to make a safe journey home eg. forecast of heavy snow. If the school had to close during the day an announcement would be made on Radio Forth. We would send a text message asking parents to collect children from the school. We would then contact parents of remaining children by telephone to agree arrangements for going home from school. If we were unable to contact parents we would telephone the emergency contact. We would not send children home unless we had spoken to parents or the emergency contact, however it might be that we would make emergency social work arrangements for children if we were unable to arrange any other alternative.

SCHOOL RE-OPENING

We will always re-open as soon as possible. Any announcements regarding re-opening would be made on Radio Forth, using the school/council website, or using the text messaging service.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION

If an emergency caused us to evacuate the school building we would walk our pupils to the nearest available school. The procedure for ‘school closing during the day’ would then be followed.

TRAVEL TO AND FROM SCHOOL

Parents are responsible for a child’s travel to and from school. We will clear the entrance areas to the school but in some weather conditions the pavements around the school may be dangerous for travel.

Please keep us informed of any change to your telephone numbers.