School closing early

[Tanith]

Just had a message that the school I pick up from is closing at 2 instead of 3 today. Just in case of black ice, so she says. It's raining at the moment.

Which is all well and good, but two of the younger ones don't get collected until 2.30 today, so I'm going to be over my numbers.

The head of the school is horrible, so she's not going to care about it.

So, what do I do? Parents can't pick up. They work too far away.

Can you just collect them at 2.30 - they must have contingency plans for parents who won't be able to collect?

i'm sure someone else will be along soon to advise you, but, i think ofsted aren't too worried about these things in emergancy situations. i would ring ofsted, let them know the situation and ask them what to do/if its ok. failing that start calling parents.
hth

So how many (& what ages) are you going to have?

leonifay ofsted are VERY concerned abotu it!!!

My friend had her inspection this week and got inadequate in one area because she had to collect an after school mindee early on account of the snow - the inspector tore a strip off her - even tho as my friend argued it was emergency care and the child was 7 anyway so hardly a demanding toddler.....

tanith - either ring ofsted and get special variation for today (they wil do that if you ask and give a good reason) or else tell the school you will be there at 2.35 or as close to it. They have to wait until all children have been collected. Tough shit on the head I am afraid!!

Thanks for your advice. Sorry I didn't reply earlier, it's been manic here this afternoon.

I was all ready to ring up OFSTED with a request for an emergency variation, but luckily one of the parents rang up and said he was collecting his two early and he turned up just before dinner.
If he hadn't, I would have rung OFSTED. I think I'll still email them and check how I'd be covered if it ever happened again.

Katy, I work with DH so we're allowed 6 under 5s and 2 over 5s. Today, because the school was open, I was able to take one of my regulars for an extra day, giving us 5 under 5s until 2.30 when 2 of them go home home, then the 4 after school children collected at 3.
2 of the school children are after school only and they would have stayed at home if the school had been shut all day. Hope that makes sense!

Perfect - I work with DH too (well mine not yours)