At The Churchill School, we are committed to providing a safe, supportive environment where every pupil can continue to learn and thrive, even during periods of adverse or extreme weather. As a school serving the Hawkinge community, we aim to remain open wherever possible, recognising the important role we play in supporting families and maintaining continuity of education.

This guidance outlines our procedures during severe weather conditions.

Our Commitment to Staying Open

We follow Department for Education guidance, which encourages schools to remain open wherever it is safe to do so. We understand the importance of keeping the school open for pupils’ education and to support working families.

However, the safety of pupils, staff, and families is always our priority. During periods of severe weather, we will work closely with the Local Authority and Highways teams to monitor road conditions in and out of Hawkinge, helping to reduce the risk of the community becoming isolated.

The Headteacher will make the final decision on whether the school remains open or closes, based on:

• Staff availability to safely operate the school
• Safety of the school site
• Road and travel conditions, particularly routes in and out of Hawkinge
• Wider local advice from the Local Authority and Highways

Pupil Attendance During Bad Weather

If the school remains open, there is an expectation that pupils should attend.

We understand that some families may face challenges due to location or travel conditions. If this applies to you, please inform the school using normal absence procedures. Each situation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Procedures for School Closure

If closure becomes necessary:

• The Headteacher will assess conditions and make a decision as early as possible
• We will aim, where possible, to provide limited provision for children of critical workers
• Parents will be informed via Arbor, the school website, and the Kent Closures website (www.kentclosures.co.uk)
• We recommend signing up for alerts and monitoring local radio stations for updates

Managing Closure During the School Day

If severe weather develops during the school day:

• A decision may be made to close early
• Parents will be contacted and asked to collect their children as soon as possible
• Staff who travel furthest will be released first
• Remaining staff will supervise pupils until all are safely collected
• A first aider and safeguarding lead will remain on site until closure is complete

Educational Provision During Closure

Due to the often short notice of adverse weather, full remote learning may not always be possible.

However, pupils are encouraged to continue their learning through:

• Reading regularly
• Accessing online platforms such as Times Table Rock Stars and Emile
• Completing work uploaded onto the School App

Where advance notice of closure is possible, teachers may provide additional optional learning activities.

How Parents Can Help

You can support the school during adverse weather by:

• Sending children to school with appropriate clothing (warm layers, waterproofs, hats, gloves, and suitable footwear)
• Providing spare clothes where needed
• Having a clear plan for early collection if required
• Keeping contact details up to date

Your support helps ensure the safety of all pupils and staff and enables us to continue operating as effectively as possible.