Preparing for severe weather

Before severe weather occurs

  • Sign up to the Met Office email alert service
  • Check your PIN for the emergency school closures system
  • Update entries on the Schools Emergency Contact and Keyholder Database; login to My School, select 'Staff' then 'Emergency Contacts and Keyholders'
  • Ensure boilers and heating systems are maintained regularly
  • Check that pipes are appropriately lagged
  • Inspect windows and exterior doors for draughts; draught-proof as needed
  • Undertake risk assessments of site and issue specific instructions to staff, or other people, based on them
  • Identify the outdoor areas used by pedestrians most likely to be affected by ice, for example: building entrances, pedestrian walkways, shortcuts, sloped areas and areas constantly in the shade or wet
  • Consider covering walkways e.g. by an arbour high enough for people to walk through (provides shade in hot weather too)
  • Identify which areas of the school site need to be kept clear of snow and ice and ensure that school staff who will usually assist with salting/gritting, or otherwise keeping the relevant parts of the site clear, know what steps to take - including undertaking these tasks safely
  • Consider enlisting volunteers to clear snow/ice when required
  • Acquire protective clothing, shovels etc for those clearing snow/ice
  • Ensure salt / sand / grit stocks are plentiful and order more if needed
  • Set up the arrangements for communicating directly with parents as well as the wider community if closure seems a real possibility
  • Confirm contacts staff, parents, Norfolk County Council transport contact
  • Ensure all the information needed in advance is to hand, including contacts (name, telephone numbers) for those who will collect children if parents are not available
  • Estimate who amongst your staff will be able to get in safely for the beginning of the day and how you will be able to manage the school in those circumstances
  • Ensure the school has an incident management team for severe weather- amend your business continuity plan if necessary.

When severe weather is forecast

  • Check the local forecast as prevention is key. Take action whenever freezing temperatures are forecast. Keep up to date by visiting a weather service website
  • Put a procedure in place to prevent any icy surface forming and/or keep pedestrians off the slippery surface.
  • Remind staff of the schools plans and the expectation that the school will remain open
  • Ensure that someone can get into school to answer the telephone and inform parents who are unaware of any closure
  • Ensure that staff/parents are reminded of the process for receiving information about school opening hours and the arrangements for severe weather
  • Consider leaving heating on a low setting overnight
  • Where curtains or blinds are fitted these should be closed at night to retain heat
  • Doors between areas of differing temperatures should be kept closed as much as possible
  • Radiators should be kept clear of obstructions to enable a proper circulation of warmed air
  • Use grit, or similar, on areas prone to be slippery in frosty/icy conditions. Gritting should be carried out when frost, ice or snow is forecast or when walkways are likely to be damp or wet and the ground temperatures are at, or below, freezing. The best time is early in the evening before the frost settles; if this is not possible, (or additional salt is required) use it early in the morning before people arrive. Salt doesn't work instantly; it needs sufficient time to dissolve into the moisture on the ground. Please remember, if you grit when it is raining heavily the salt will be washed away, causing a problem if the rain then turns to snow.

On the day/s of severe weather

  • Make the decision to stay open, open for limited hours, or close etc. as early as possible; log in to the emergency school closures system as needed
  • Notify parents, pupils and staff by text, phone etc as previously agreed
  • Undertake risk assessments as appropriate
  • Divert pedestrians to less slippery walkways and barrier off existing ones. If warning cones are used, remember to remove them once the hazard has passed or they will eventually be ignored
  • Ensure that you comply with health and safety laws.

Afterwards

  • Review your business continuity plan and revise for next year - email the Resilience Team via businesscontinuity@norfolk.gov.uk or call 01603 222016 for help if needed
  • Update arrangements for calling together the incident management team in the light of any staff changes etc.

Useful Websites

This news item was published : 28 December 2018.

Warning this news item was published over 6 years ago and may be out of date.

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