I would like to remind you about how we deal with any severe weather which may affect the school.

Each day of any severe weather, especially snow, I as Principal, will make an assessment about whether it is safe and practical to open the school to students. This decision will be made early in the morning, in enough time to inform you if the school is to be closed to students.

If the school is closed at the start of the day a statement will be put on the school website www.snhs.kirklees.sch.uk and on the council website www.kirklees.gov.uk/schoolclosures. You can check on weather and gritting updates at www.kirklees.gov.uk/winter or follow at twitter.com/kirkleeswinter. There will also be a message on the school telephone answer machine. A brief message will be sent out at twitter.com/snhsacademy

In addition, the Local Authority will advise all local radio and TV stations, asking them to make announcements concerning closures.

If the school has to close during the day, the buses will be arranged if at all possible. Again, announcements will be made. Parents should consider any domestic arrangements in this event.

The decision to close the school may have to be made during the school day as the weather worsens. If this is the case then, as well as all the above communications, we may also send a text message to parents.

If you normally collect your son/daughter by car, please ensure they have some way of getting home or make alternative arrangements. This may involve the student going to a friend’s house or a neighbour or relative who lives nearer to the school.

The school website (and Twitter) is the best way to check if the school is closed. The website is updated immediately when a decision is made to close the school and will include information on subsequent days. Information will also be communicated to parents via MyEd and text message.

Please be assured that I only decide to close our school in exceptional circumstances where the safety of our students is the primary concern. On occasion, this may be due to the availability of teaching staff who travel some distance to reach school, rather than purely conditions for students getting to school.

Obviously we always do our best to keep the school open and it is only in very severe conditions that we have had to close. This has rarely happened but it is still helpful to have arrangements in place to meet this eventuality. However, let me assure you that if any child has a particular problem getting home the staff will do their very best to assist.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.