Statement of intent
Frederic Chopin Polish School CIC in Bath (FCISS) will endeavour to be open without disruption. Where disruption is unavoidable, all involved at Frederic Chopin Polish School CIC will be kept informed and Frederic Chopin Polish School CIC will reopen at the earliest opportunity.
Aim
In the unlikely event that Frederic Chopin Polish School CIC has to close at times other than scheduled in the normal opening hours and dates, the policy will be applied to ensure that all involved at Frederic Chopin Polish School CIC has a clear understanding of the procedures which will take place.
Methods
An emergency / short notice closure will be implemented in the following circumstances:
- When the building is unusable through accidental or malicious damage
- Flooding
- Bad weather
- The breakdown of the heating system.
- When the building is unusable due to required maintenance work. Where possible we will endeavour to negotiate scheduled work to be carried out during times of closure.
- When an outbreak of illness within Frederic Chopin Polish School CIC community requires closure in line with Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Ofsted guidelines.
- When illness levels within the staff body mean it is impossible to maintain the correct ratios of suitable adults to children.
- When an emergency occurs during a session which requires FCISS to close early.
In the event of any of the above incidents occurring which requires Frederic Chopin Polish School CIC not to open on a given session, the School Management or School’s Director will make contact with the families of the children/young people affected for that session in advance of the day where practical.
Where this is not practical, the School’s Director or School Management member will be asked to remain at the building until such time as it can be determined that all the affected families have been made aware of the situation.
The School’s Director and School Management will be responsible for informing the relevant authorities of the unexpected closure depending on the circumstances of the closure.
Parents/carers will be informed about how they can find out when Frederic Chopin Polish School CIC will reopen and other pertinent information according to the circumstances of the closure. This may include asking them to nominate a preferred contact number/email address, or holding a special meeting to keep parents informed.
Emergency closure after a session has started
In the event of an emergency closure after the session has started, parents and carers will be informed by telephone that they are required to collect their child as soon as possible.
If the closure is due to sickness, the children/young people and all staff who are unaffected will remain on the premises until all children/young people can be collected.
If the closure is due to an emergency which requires the building to be evacuated, the children/young people will be safely evacuated according to the current Fire Drill procedures. Contact information for all the children/young people will be taken out of the building alongside the daily register.
Once the building is evacuated, the School’s Director and School Management will ensure the relevant authorities/emergency services are called.
The children/young people will then be taken to a place of safety until such time as they can all be collected by parents/carers. The School’s Director and School Management will contact the parents/carers of the children/young people present. All staff will remain with the children/young people during this time.