School Closure Procedure

Procedures In the Event of a School Closure

The Dojo app, email system and text message system allow the school to communicate with parents keeping them informed during emergencies or advising of any last-minute changes. It is therefore imperative that parents provide school with a telephone number for emergency contact and an email address.

Severe Weather

• In the event of adverse weather or hazardous travelling conditions the school will always seek to remain open with closure always considered as the last resort. School would only close if there is a risk to students and staff and it is considered unsafe to open. 
• We recognise that conditions may prevent staff and pupils from travelling to school and whilst there is an expectation that staff and pupils should make every reasonable effort to attend, personal health and safety should not be compromised.
• If the school has to close due to severe weather this will be announced as soon as possible via the following,
• School website www.lightyearseducation.co.uk
• Dojo App
• Email
• Light Years School Facebook and Instagram accounts
• Hampshire County Council website 

Emergency school, college, children’s centres and nursery closures in Hampshire | Education and learning | Hampshire County Council

• We will make all practicable efforts to keep parents informed as to the situation with school during adverse weather conditions, as we appreciate that such conditions and uncertainty places considerable difficulties upon parents and carers.
• We appreciate that during bad weather children may arrive later than normal. Parents and carers should endeavour to contact the office to report that they are on their way if they are likely to be delayed.
• Parents and carers acting on the assumption that the school will be closed without gaining confirmation or failing to inform the school of the circumstances that prevents their child coming into school risk their child being registered as an un-authorised absence. Where the school is officially closed, all absence is counted as authorised absence.

Closure During School day

• Should weather conditions deteriorate during the day when students are already at school and it becomes necessary for students to leave school early, parents and carers will be notified by via text message, Dojo and email, the school website will be continually updated during this time. We will also endeavour to ring those parents who do not use mobile phones or the internet.

Other Reasons for Closure

These procedures will also be instigated where school has to close due to other issues such as failure of utilities (water, electricity or gas), breakdown of major equipment (e.g. boiler) or other emergencies.