The kids are happy, but finding last-minute childcare for children on snow days can be a nightmare (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
After the Arctic blast of snow and ice led to more than 150 school closures yesterday across the south and west of England, Wales and Scotland, the continued freezing temperatures mean there could be more today.
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across large parts of the country, while drivers have been warned of treacherous conditions on the roads.
One of the biggest impacts bad weather can have is school closures, with parents having to make alternative plans at the last minute.
While everyone loved a snow day at school, closures can interrupt work and force changes in childcare plans.
So how can you find out if you child’s school is closed today?
Here’s what you need to know.
More than 150 schools across the UK closed yesterday due to the weather (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Is my child’s school closed today?
The easiest way to check if schools are open is to look on the local authority’s website.
However, your school’s own website and social media may also be able to give you up-to-the-minute information.
How to find out if your school is closed today
To find out, you can search via postcode on the Gov.UK site (for England and Wales).
Alternatively, you can take a look at which schools are closing by area:
Aberdeenshire school closures
Barnsley school closures
Bracknell Forest school closures
Bradford school closures
Buckinghamshire school closures
Calderdale school closures
Cornwall school closures
Derbyshire school closures
Devon school closures
Doncaster school closures
Durham school closures
East Dunbartonshire school closures
East Renfrewshire school closures
East Riding school closures
East Sussex school closures
City of Edinburgh school closures
Essex school closures
Falkirk school closures
Fife school closures
Gateshead school closures
Glasgow City school closures
Gloucestershire school closures
Hampshire school closures
Herefordshire school closures
Hertfordshire school closures
Hull school closures
Kent school closures
Kirklees school closures
Leeds school closures
Leicestershire school closures
Lincolnshire school closures
London school closures
Norfolk school closures
North Lanarkshire school closures
North Lincolnshire school closures
North Yorkshire school closures
Northamptonshire school closures
Northern Ireland school closures
Northumberland school closures
Nottinghamshire school closures
Oxfordshire school closures
Rotherham school closures
Scottish Borders school closures
Sheffield school closures
Shropshire school closures
Somerset school closures
South Tyneside school closures
Staffordshire school closures
Stirling school closures
Suffolk school closures
Surrey school closures
The Highlands school closures
Warwickshire school closures
West Berkshire school closures
West Lothian school closures
West Sussex school closures
Wiltshire school closures
Worcestershire school closures
City of York school closures
In Scotland, you can search for emergency school closures on the mygov.scot site.
In Northern Ireland, check on the nidirect site.
More: Weather
When is the decision to close schools made?
Who else can remember the joy of hearing the words ‘snow day’ as a kid? (Picture: Getty Images)
The decision on when schools close is usually based on the inside temperature, as well as how hazardous the site is, as lots of snow and ice can pose a risk of injury.
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Gov.uk states: ‘Schools must follow the same health and safety law for indoor temperature as other workplaces.’
Currently, there is no legal minimum or maximum in place, though the lowest recommended temperature (for non-physical work) is 16°C.
MORE : Maps show which areas of the UK can expect to be hit with snow this week
MORE : Snow falls across the UK overnight and it could get even colder
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Find out if the weather has closed your child’s school today.
