Adverse Weather

Adverse Weather Conditions/School Closure

There may be occasions when the school will have to have an emergency closure, e.g. in severe bad weather or because of electricity/water failure. Parents are

asked to ensure that the school is kept up to date with telephone numbers and emergency contacts - addresses of relatives/friends to whom their child will be sent if they are unavailable. Every attempt will be made to contact parents but this may not always be possible therefore, if the school has to close early, children

will be sent home or to their emergency contact.

Please make certain they know who their contacts are. If the school does not open on a particular morning e.g. due to snow, electricity failure then Moray Firth Radio will be contacted and a bulletin about the school's closure will be made. The 0800 Schools Information line will also be used on these occasions.

Telephone Information Service – Guidance for Parents

Schools now have a dial-in service if there is a risk of closure due to adverse weather. This allows parents to listen to a recorded message from the Head Teacher. When severe weather warnings are received your school will endeavour to keep the system updated. It is an enhancement to the present service and does not replace existing methods of giving out information, such as radio broadcasts, described in the schools Adverse Weather Guidelines. There are other features of this service which may be available for your school. These are described below.

How to use the service.

Dial Highland Council's access number - 0800 564 2272

Now enter your own school's pin number 04 2420

• You have two attempts to enter the pin number and you will be disconnected after a second failed attempt. If this happens, check the number and redial. If

• you still have a problem check with your school.

• You will now hear the school's name. Ensure that this is correct before going on.

• You will now be taken to the MAIN MENU where you will be given 4 options:

Press 1 to hear your school's message about the adverse weather for example whether or not the school is to close or if transport arrangements have been

affected.

Press 4 to enter the pin number for another school within the authority.

Parents may have children who attend different schools. This option allows you to move from one school's messaging service to another without having to dial in

again. Other services whereby parents can leave a message for the school are not being used at present.

The Highland Council Website, Facebook and Twitter

The Council’s website http://www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures will be updated with information for individual schools

The Council’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/highlandcouncil will show updated posts on the latest news of school closures and weather related

problems

The Council’s Twitter page at https://twitter.com/HighlandCouncil will list Tweets of the latest news of school closures and weather related problems.