Publication
Schools and Early Learning and Childcare Services Severe Weather – Be Winter Ready
From Department of Defence; Office of Emergency Planning
Published on
Last updated on
Schools and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings should conduct a pre-event evaluation of what should be, or could be, in place to ensure the opening of the school or ELCs in the event of severe weather. Areas for consideration are maintenance of premises and utilities, salting and gritting and transport to and from school or ELC. Access to a battery operated radio and torches should be put in place.
Schools and ELCs should ensure that every member of staff is clear as to their role and responsibilities during severe weather including in the event of a closure. A member of staff should be assigned to monitor weather conditions and to contact the principal response agencies and school transport services where required.
Included in the school and ELC plans for severe weather should be the proposed responses and roles which will apply in the event of a Red level weather warning from Met Éireann.
Schools and ELCs (in this guidance we refer to them both as “settings”) should ensure to have the relevant contact details of the principal response agencies for their area, including Garda Siochana, fire brigade and local authorities and other appropriate services. Schools and ELCs with school-age children should also have contact details for the transport services serving their setting. These details should be checked regularly and kept up-to-date.
Settings should establish communications with neighbouring schools or ELCs as relevant to ensure, as far as practicable, a unified local response to severe weather events may be implemented. It is noted however that while settings in an area may try to co-ordinate their decisions, the circumstances can vary between individual settings in close proximity and may on occasions lead to different decisions being taken.
Most settings use a text messaging service to communicate with parents and staff. Local radio, the setting’s website or social media may also be useful to alert parents and students to school conditions and closure should this arise.
In the event of severe weather during scheduled state examinations the State Examinations Commission will communicate with schools to put in place alternative arrangements.
The decision to close a school or ELC rests with the setting’s management authority taking into consideration the full guidance and direction available from the principal response agencies, especially An Garda Síochána. Any decision to close is taken in the interest of child safety, having assessed the local risks and having consulted, as appropriate, with school transport operators.
Some of the issues that settings take into account include:
- conditions in the setting itself
- capacity of the setting to ensure the health and safety of children and students
- ability of parents, students, staff and school transport services to safely negotiate local road conditions to reach the setting
- guidance and direction from the principal response agencies
Guidance for schools on time lost due to unforeseen closures as a result of severe weather is set out in circular 0072/2022 which is available at the following link: Standardisation of the School Year in respect of Primary & Post-Primary Schools for the years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 (www.gov.ie).
Guidance for ELCs on force majeure is set out in the relevant Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Youth and Integration ELC provider agreements, which are available at www.ncs.gov.ie/en/information-resources and www.first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/core-funding.
Schools and ELCs should monitor weather forecasts in order to be prepared for any severe weather, which may affect the setting. During periods of severe weather, settings should assess the situation using the above guidance. Settings should be prepared, keep themselves informed and remain vigilant.
In recent years, Met Éireann has introduced colour coded weather warnings as follows:
- Status Yellow – be aware
- Status Orange – be prepared
- Status Red – take action
Settings should respond appropriately to such warnings using the above guidance.
It should be borne in mind that there may also be weather events, which may be fast moving with little warning. For example, consider the case of Storm Darwin in February 2014 where Met Éireann had issued a Status Red alert for the Cork and Kerry regions; however, on that occasion the weather moved rapidly across the southern half of the country affecting a number of other counties.
There may also be Status Orange weather warnings that may require action to be taken because of the particular local circumstances, for example, in areas prone to flooding or areas located on the coast. Any assessment taken by the setting for actions necessary should be guided by local knowledge and experience and by way of advice from the principal response agencies.
All weather warnings of Status Red will require some action on behalf of settings. Schools and ELCs need to assess the potential impact of such weather events taking account of past experiences and in light of advice on the current event from the principal response agencies in their area.
A Status Red weather warning for heavy rain may be particularly relevant if the local area is prone to flooding. A Status Red warning related to ice or snow, which may compact, may cause local issues due to the location of the setting and/or the routes taken to reach the setting.
Schools and ELCs should note in particular Status Red weather warnings where strong winds or storm conditions are forecasted. Due to the high degree of unpredictability as to the impact of the weather associated with such a Status Red warning on local conditions, settings should use the following guidance to assist them in making their assessment.
Status Red weather warning for wind related conditions may be given in advance of a setting opening or it may arise during the day while a school or ELC is underway.
Following consultation at a national level with the Office of Emergency Planning and the management bodies for schools, the Departments of Education and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth's advice to settings is that they should consider not opening where a Status Red weather warning related to wind is forecast to coincide with the period/s during which children, students, staff or parents would be expected to be travelling to and from school or the ELC.
Whether the setting should open later in the day where an improvement to the weather is forecast is a decision, which should be taken in consultation with An Garda Síochána, the local authorities, school transport services or other appropriate agencies based in the setting’s area.
Where the Status Red weather warning related to wind is issued when the school or ELC is already underway with children, students and staff present, the school or ELC management should immediately contact An Garda Síochána, the school transport services or other appropriate agencies for advice on whether it may be safe to undertake journeys from the setting or when such journeys should commence. Consideration should also be taken as to the safety of parents undertaking journeys to the school to collect children and students.
A decision may have to be taken on health and safety grounds based on the advice available to the school or ELC during a Status Red warning related to wind. Settings should plan for such an eventuality by considering how children, students and staff can be accommodated within the setting while awaiting an improvement in the weather.
Contact details for Bus Éireann School Transport Local Offices are available on the Bus Éireann website.
- develop a plan
- know your contact details
- prepare your school or early learning and childcare service
- ensure everyone knows their role
- stay safe!
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