Text alerts for school closures
Parents are being encouraged to sign up to a free text alert system meaning they can find out quickly if their child’s school is closed over the academic year.
If a school is shut for the day, a text message will be sent to subscribers who sign up to the free service.
Bad weather is the cause of the majority of unplanned school closures and parents are being encouraged to sign up to the system ahead of the winter months.
During the heavy snowfall last February more than 7,000 texts were sent out over two days.
The subscription, which lasts until 27 July, allows for the fact that children and young people switch schools in August. Parents who signed up to the scheme last year are being reminded to re-subscribe this term.
Anyone can subscribe to the system, which runs through the Warwickshire County Council website.
To access the service, users have to get a log in at the ‘Me@WCC’ page.
They will then be given the option to sign up to receive alerts relating to particular schools.
Once a headteacher tells the council that they are shut, through the normal emergency closure line, the closure information is put on the website, which automatically triggers a text.
John Betts, Head of Resources for Children, Young People and Families, said: “The system has been extremely popular with parents as it enables them to get quick, reliable updates if a school is closed through bad weather. We have experienced some very severe weather in Warwickshire over the last year and we hope that the system will help us to spread the word if there are closures.”
To subscribe, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/schoolclosure