School closures are very rare, but it’s important that families have clear information in case this situation arises.
School may close for one of three reasons:
- Emergency – where the building cannot open as there is no running water, the heating is not working or power failure.
- Planned – Where the school building is closed for elections, industrial action or when utility companies are doing planned maintenance work to gas, water or electric services in the area and all services are to be shut off. Schools are notified in advance of these closures and Headteachers will notify Parents/Carers of these closures.
- Severe Weather – Headteachers will make the decision locally to close where severe weather prevents the school from opening.
How will I find out if Colinsburgh Primary School is closed?
- If the school is to close, Mrs McBain will make the decision as early as possible on the night prior to a closure or on the morning of the day of the closure.
- We will send a Groupcall email and/or text message to notify you of a closure. Please make sure that we have your most up-to-date contact details.
When will I receive further text/email updates?
- You will only receive further messages when the status of the school changes. The first text/email will be sent when the school closes and a further text/email will be sent only once the school reopens. If our school remains closed over more than one day, there will be no further messages sent until the school reopens.
Severe Weather
Keeping informed due to school closures as a result of Severe Weather
- Stay informed over winter by going online at fife.gov.uk/winter, following Fife Council and Colinsburgh Primary’s Facebook page and by tuning in to Forth One and Tay FM and K107 FM
- FAQs for parents are available on fife.gov.uk
- In an emergency, you can call the council on 03451 55 00 11 (faults and repairs) and 03451 55 00 99 (out of hours)
- Be prepared and stay safe this winter. 😊#readyfife#readywinter
If you and your family need some help with the cost of living there’s a range of advice and support on the our.fife.scot/gethelp website. While there you could take a free, online benefit check using the Fife Benefit Calculator, to make sure you are getting all the support you and your family are entitled to.
If you’re unable to access information online? Call our Community Support Line 0800 952 0330 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) our.fife.scot/gethelp
What can Parents/Carers expect in cases of Severe Weather?
- Colinsburgh Primary School and the Education Service aims to maintain service delivery during severe weather and to minimise disruption to pupils and Parents/Carers.
- Where necessary, Headteachers will close their school as early as possible the night before or on the first morning of severe weather, to allow text/email messages to be issued as quickly.
- On very rare occasions, there may be the need to implement a blanket closure that may affect parts or all of Fife. Updates will be provided through the communication channels above.
- Janitorial staff will prioritise the clearing of one pathway per school as an access route for all building users. This may not be your usual route into the school and it may not be the quickest route through the building.
- Where there is heavy snowfall in Fife, resources will be deployed to the worst hit areas and therefore the clearing of playgrounds and car parks will not be a priority until all schools can open.
Please stay safe and warm: make sure that you allow extra time for any journeys made during severe weather, that you and pupils are dressed appropriately for the conditions and are wearing suitable footwear with grips.
My child is transported to school by taxi, will that service still operate?
- Pupils transported in taxis/minibuses, may also possibly experience disruption during severe weather. The operators may not be able to provide transport from some or all the addresses on their route. Operators are expected, as far as possible, to make an attempt to contact these parents/carers to advise them.
