Emergency Closure Procedures

Information for Parents/Carers: Emergency Closure Procedures for Extreme Weather 2025-26

Please keep the following information to refer to as needed.

 

If you don’t see a message on the website by 7:30am saying otherwise,  the school is open for business as usual.

Only travel to school if it is safe for you to do so.

In the event of extreme weather conditions that may restrict staff and pupils travelling to and from school, the following procedure will be followed to ensure the safety of children, parents and staff.

 

School Closure

 

• You will be alerted to an OJS school closure through the Arbor school text messaging service and our school website: https://www.oatlandsjunior.co.uk
• We will contact North Yorkshire Council and Your Harrogate Radio (broadcast from 6:30am-9am each half-hour). Oatlands Junior School will then be listed on their websites as closed.

Open with Delayed Start to the Day at 10am

• You will be alerted to an OJS school closure and advised of a 10am start, through the Arbor school text messaging service and our school website: https://www.oatlandsjunior.co.uk
•  A further text message will then be issued at 9.30 saying which classes are open and which are closed. Please ensure your child comes to school in appropriate foot ware (wellies), coats, gloves etc and to bring shoes to change into for indoors. We will give the children the opportunity to play out in the snow, if weather conditions allow.
•  We will contact North Yorkshire Council and Your Harrogate Radio (broadcast from 6:30am-9am each half-hour). Oatlands Junior School will then be listed on their websites as open with a delayed start at 10am.
• Travel to school if it is safefor you to do so. It is desirable that children are accompanied to school in bad weather, to ensure their safety on the way to school.
• Children who arrive at school accompanied by a parent/carer at the normal start time will be required to return home and wait until the situation is assessed, in normal circumstances by 9:30am.
• Children who arrive at school unaccompanied by a parent/carer at the normal start time will be required to wait in the main school hall until 9:30am, when a decision is made about which classes are open and closed. Parents of children in closed classes will then be contacted to collect their children from the school reception.

Early Closure (worsening weather conditions; boiler not working)

• If the school needs to close early, you will be asked to come and collect your child via our Arbor school text messaging service and our school website: https://www.oatlandsjunior.co.uk
•  Oatlands Infants School will be informed.
•  Children will remain in school until safely collected.
•  You must report to the school reception and sign your child out.
•  Should school be closed for more than one day, children are welcome to complete any of the Snow Day activities from the menu on our website.
•  Please can parents / carers update school as soon as possible if there are any changes to contact details and numbers. Thank you.

Information for parents ~ updated January 2026