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  • 24/05/13
  • 5°C to 14°C Sunny spells
  • Preston 5-day weather forecast

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    Saturday 25 May

    Sunny

    Temp

    High15°c

    Low7°c

    Wind

    From West

    Speed13 mph

    Sunday 26 May

    Sunny

    Temp

    High16°c

    Low9°c

    Wind

    From West

    Speed15 mph

    Monday 27 May

    Light rain

    Temp

    High14°c

    Low9°c

    Wind

    From South west

    Speed22 mph

    Tuesday 28 May

    Light showers

    Temp

    High14°c

    Low8°c

    Wind

    From West

    Speed20 mph

    Wednesday 29 May

    Light showers

    Temp

    High14°c

    Low9°c

    Wind

    From West

    Speed20 mph

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The school run is (s)now joke – but fun

White stuff: Youngsters at Westwood School had fun in the snow thanks to their caretaker

White stuff: Youngsters at Westwood School had fun in the snow thanks to their caretaker

Thousands of youngsters had a day off as schools struggled to cope with the snow this week.

Figures released by Lancashire County Council revealed that, while 170 schools closed as a result of the snow, most school battled on with reduced staff.

The majority, 120, were primaries, and there were just two partial closures.

The largest number of closures were in West Lancashire, with 36.

Only one school, Moorbrook Special, closed in Preston, 10 in South Ribble and 28 in Chorley, according to the data. No Lancaster schools closed.

At Westwood Primary, in Clayton-le-Woods, the site supervisor arrived at 6am and spent three hours clearing the entrance and playground so children could get to school.

County Councillor Susie Charles, Cabinet Member for Children and Schools, said: “Closing a school because of adverse weather conditions is a difficult decision, and one which must be taken by the headteacher, in consultation with the governors, based on the best information they have at the time.

“Headteachers are often under pressure, because decisions have to be made early – it’s not something you can leave for an hour or two to see what happens – and they are also very mindful of the disruption that closure can cause to parents.

“However, where there’s potential risk to pupils or staff at school, or in journeys to and from school, common sense has to prevail.

“The county council’s role is to provide guidance in how and when to make a decision to close a school – which can of course be for other reasons as well as weather – and the best means to communicate the decision swiftly to parents.”

 

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