It's not a requirement to have a severe weather policy, and the DfE doesn't advise on what to include if you choose to have one.
Below we suggest the key topics to cover to help give your school community the information it needs if a severe weather incident occurs.
What to include in your policy
What counts as severe weather
Severe weather includes:
- Extreme heat
- Flooding
- Storms
- Snow
This is set out in the DfE’s emergency planning guidance.
When the school can be closed
Make it clear that during severe weather, you will keep the school open and let as many pupils attend as possible, where it’s safe to do so – but you may need to close temporarily if there’s a risk to safety or the site becomes inaccessible.
Extreme heat makes classrooms unsafe Flooding makes the site inaccessible or unsafe to reach Storms cause fallen trees, debris