At St Margaret's CE Primary School, the safety and well-being of our children, staff and families is our highest priority.  In the event of heavy snowfall, there are several reasons why the school might need to close, including:

• Insufficient staff availability due to travel difficulties or unsafe conditions. 
• Inability to ensure the school site is safe for children and staff - pathways, entrances and playground.
• Disruption to transport services, making it unsafe or impossible for children and staff to travel to and from school.
• Severe weather conditions affecting emergency services or the ability to respond promptly to any incidents.
• Power outages or heating failures caused by the weather, impacting the school's ability to provide a safe and comfortable environment
• Risk of injury from icy or snow-covered surfaces both on school grounds and in the surrounding area. 

Currently, there is uncertainty about the exact track of the incoming storm, and weather forecasts state that snow disruption will vary significantly, sometimes over relatively short distances.  

Should it become necessary for school to close, families will be informed via text and there will be a notice posted on the homepage of our website.  If school is not open as usual, we will aim to post these communications by 7:30am.  However, the decision to remain open or to close is dependent on both staff providing information as to whether they can safely travel to work and an assessment of the school site. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we prioritise safety during this period.