Oh, the Great British weather! Recent years have seen us have the hottest summers on record, and then some really blustery winters, full of wet or damp days. Don’t forget a couple of years ago it was snowing in March and April!
So we really have to be on our toes, and ready for any eventuality. There’s some documents to help you manage people and premises in cold and hot weather below.
Update to information from DfE
Please follow this link to the Education Hub on the DfE website for advice in extreme heat.
Please see this guidance for EVOLVE Advice on Hot weather guidance for Duke of Edinburgh Award visits, which also can be applied to other school trips.
There is clear government guidance on looking after children and those in early years settings during heatwaves, including the use of ventilation, keeping children hydrated, and avoiding vigorous physical activity, encouraging children to wear loose, light coloured clothing and sunhats with wide brims, to use sunscreen, and providing them with plenty of water.
If the Department of Education advises on challenging weather it is down to individual school leaders to manage their own local circumstances via their risk assessments.
- Schools guidance – bad or wintery weather – PART ONE article published in Education Business magazine, November 2017.
- Schools guidance – bad or wintery weather – PART TWO article published in Education Business magazine, November 2017.
- Managing health and safety in cold weather – SCC guidance.
- Letter to schools – Advice for Schools: coping with severe weather – November 2021
- Heatwave information for schools and early years settings – Public Health England information.
These weblinks might also be of use:
- Emergency planning and response – Department of Education guidance.
- School closures | Suffolk County Council information.
- Severe weather information | Suffolk County Council information.
If you can’t find what you need above, email nina.bickerton@suffolk.gov.uk, safety, health and wellbeing advisor for maintained schools.