Emergency Arrangements

Early closure of schools may be necessary as a result of:

 

Adverse weather conditions

 

Failure of electricity supply

 

Loss of water etc

 

Arrangements for this are detailed in Adverse Weather Conditions literature distributed to parents. All families will be contacted by telephone and are asked to ensure that children are collected from the building at their convenience. No pupil will be permitted to leave without permission from a member of their family to so do, or until they have been collected by a responsible designated adult.

 

 

 

In this circumstance advice from the Medical Authorities will be sought and acted upon, likely procedures for the dismissal of children being as above.

 

 

THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL EDUCATION SERVICE GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS OF PUPILS TRAVELLING TO SCHOOL DURING ADVERSE WEATHER

 

1. The decision as to whether a pupil should attempt to travel to school in adverse weather conditions, whether by transport or on foot, lies with the parents. While recognising that education should be interrupted as little as possible, the Education Authority accepts that in severe weather conditions the safety of pupils is paramount.

 2. For pupils using school transport, weather conditions and availability or otherwise of shelter at the pick-up point will dictate just how long a child should wait, and parents are asked to advise children appropriately in relation to prevailing conditions. During difficult weather conditions no pupil is expected to wait longer than twenty minutes past the normal “pick-up” time.

 3. Parents are advised of the different circumstances affecting drivers of contract vehicles and public service vehicles. Drivers of contract vehicles are advised that they should not drop off children where there is any doubt that they may not safely reach home or other acceptable place of shelter. Drivers of public service vehicles, however, must travel by specified routes in accordance with scheduled timetables and cannot make special provision for the individual needs of passengers.

 

In either case, but more especially where public service transport is involved, parents should arrange to have children met at the “drop-off” point, if it is felt that prevailing conditions so demand.

 

4. Where parents are sufficiently concerned about conditions at “drop-off” points, they should contact the school as early as possible.

 5. Parents should advise schools of an alternative address which may be used by their children in emergencies.

 6. Some parents and pupils are often particularly concerned that important examinations may be missed, but this factor should not over-ride good judgement. Arrangements can be made regarding missed examinations.

 7. Schools will advise parents of arrangements which relate to local geographical and transport circumstances affecting each school.

 8. Schools will also establish adequate means of communication with parents and transport operators while ensuring that parents remain familiar with these details.

 9. Local radio stations will issue news and weather bulletins conveying information regarding traffic conditions, school closures etc. While it is recognised that such transmissions may not cover all households, and may be subject to re-scheduling in some circumstances, they will be helpful to many families. Parents are therefore advised to remain “tuned in” to ongoing road weather, or school information updates.

 10. If in doubt whether the school is closed please phone the Highland Council School’s Telephone Messaging Service on 0870 0546999 and when asked key in PIN no 042560 for a direct link to Mallaig Primary School

 

 Radio Stations request that, since telephone lines are always busier at such times, parents should not ‘phone in for advice, but listen to appropriate broadcasts.

 BBC Radio Highland

 

6.55 am – 7.00 am

12.55 pm – 1.00 pm

 7.50 pm – 8.00 pm

4.55 pm – 5.00 pm

 

 In extreme conditions Radio Highland will interrupt Radio Scotland transmissions, usually on the hour, to carry emergency bulletins. Nevis Radio will carry bulletins at roughly ten minute intervals between 7.00 am and 8.00 am and Lochbroom FM at quarter-hour intervals between 7.15 am and 8.45 am.

 

Moray Firth Radio

 

Normally hourly news bulletins and half-hourly summaries will carry local information on weather, roads and conditions affecting schools In severe conditions normal programmes will be interrupted more frequently to carry emergency bulletins.