Policies and Procedures
Policy 1.8 Extreme Weather
The setting will remain open throughout bad weather unless it becomes unsafe to do so – this decision will be at management’s discretion and a number of factors will be considered when making this decision (e.g. safety of the children, safety of journey to and from the setting, safety of the access to the setting, staff’s safety and emergency services advise).
In the event of extreme weather such as heavy snow, parents will be contacted by 7.15 am via email and on the parents closed Facebook page to advise if the nursery will close. Additionally, updates will be posted on the nurseries Facebook page.
If you wake up to very heavy snow then it is likely the nursery will be shut due to the fact that the road into our entrance is usually too dangerous to drive on. This will be confirmed via email and through the parents Facebook page.
Parents/carers and staff need to be aware that if we can open daily routines may change and in extreme cases, parents/carers may even be asked to stay with their children until a correct staff to child ratio is in place. Parents/carers should note that staff will endeavour to do this at the earliest convenience. In some cases, you may be asked to collect your child at an earlier time to ensure staffs safety getting home.
Staff and children must come to nursery in suitable clothes that enable them to play outside in the snow/all weathers – including appropriate footwear, thermals and spare clothes. Where children are unable to make it safely to the setting then please inform the nursery as soon as possible.
If the nursery is closed for health and safety reasons, full fees for the period of closure will be payable. If the nursery chooses not to close parents must then decide if it is safe to travel from their homes.
Activities on that day will be planned around the exciting weather and be current to the children’s interests and learning experiences, as normal.
Parents/carers must plan in advance and if it starts to snow or the weather declines during the day someone from the emergency contact list may collect the children from the nursery if the parents are unable to do so. A password must be agreed if one hasn’t been supplied on the child’s registration form. Please ensure your emergency contact is up to date.
This policy was initially adopted by The Learning Meadow in January 2019 and is reviewed annually
Dawn Pirie (Owner/Manager)