Heat Wave Guidance
Whilst relatively rare, heat waves can have an impact on children’s health and
the way they learn. This guidance sets out some of the things which schools
should consider when planning for a heat wave during the summer term.
A Heat Health Watch operates in England and Wales from 1 June to 15
September each year, monitored by the Met Office, Department of Health and
the Welsh Assembly. The Heat Health Watch comprises four levels of
response based on maximum daytime and minimum night-time temperatures:
Region
North East
North West
Yorkshire and Humber
East Midlands
West Midlands
East of England
South East
London
South West
Wales
Threshold Temperatures
Day (max degrees C)
28
30
29
30
30
30
31
32
30
30
Night (min degrees C)
15
15
15
15
15
15
16
18
15
15
These temperatures could have a significant effect on health if reached on at
least two consecutive days and the intervening night.
Level 1: Green – summer preparedness and long-term planning
This is the minimum state of vigilance during the summer. During this time
social and healthcare services will ensure that all awareness and background
preparedness work is ongoing.
Advice: If you want more information about hot weather and your health,
please visit www.nhs.uk. If you are concerned about your health or somebody
you care for, please contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, www.nhsdirect.uk or
your local pharmacist.
Level 2: Yellow – alert and readiness
Triggered as soon as the risk is 60% or above for threshold temperatures
being reached in one or more regions on at least two consecutive days and
the intervening night. This is an important stage for social and healthcare
services who will be working to ensure readiness and swift action to reduce
harm from a potential heat wave.
Advice: Heat waves can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very
old or those with chronic diseases. If you want more information about hot
weather and your health, please visit www.nhs.uk. If you are concerned about
your health or somebody you care for, please contact NHS Direct on 0845
4647, www.nhsdirect.uk or your local pharmacist.
Level 3: Amber – heat wave action
Triggered when the Met Office confirms threshold temperatures for one or
more regions have been reached for one day and the following night, and the
forecast for the next day is greater than 90% confidence that the day
threshold will be met. This stage requires social and healthcare services to
target specific actions at high-risk groups.
Advice: Heat waves can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very
old or those with chronic diseases. If you want more information about hot
weather and your health, please visit www.nhs.uk. If you are concerned about
your health or somebody you care for, please contact NHS Direct on 0845
4647, www.nhsdirect.uk or your local pharmacist.
Level 4: Red – emergency
Reached when a heat wave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects
extend outside the health and social care system. At this level, illness or death
may occur among the fit and healthy and not just in high-risk groups.
Advice: Stay out of the sun. Keep your home as cool as possible – shutting
windows during the day may help. Open them when it is cooler at night. Keep
drinking fluids. If there is anyone you know who might be at special risk, for
example an older person living on their own, make sure they know what to do.
If you want more information about hot weather and your health, please visit
www.nhs.uk. If you are concerned about your health or somebody you care
for, please contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, www.nhsdirect.uk or your local
pharmacist.
(From the Me Office Heat Health Watch page http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/heathealth/)
Preparation
In terms of preparation and planning, schools may wish to consider the
following:
Hydration:
 Children should be encouraged to bring chilled water into school in a
named bottle and should be able to re-fill them at appropriate points
during the day
 Children should be encouraged to drink fluids after break and lunch
and should be able to take their water bottles out to PE lessons
 Children without water bottles should be given additional opportunities
to drink


Attention should be given to Muslim pupils if Ramadan and a heat
wave coincide
Schools should discourage children from bringing in ice drinks due to
the length of time it takes for ice to melt
Uniform:
 Thought should be given to the appropriateness of school uniform in a
heat wave and the possibility of introducing a summer uniform or giving
permission to wear PE uniform. NHS guidelines suggest light, loosefitting cotton clothes
 Agreement should be reached about the removal of jumpers or blazers in
hot weather
 The use of hats is also recommended by the NHS and where appropriate,
children should be encouraged to wear them outside
 The suitability and safety of foot wear, such as flip flops and mules, should
be discussed
 Children should be encouraged to apply sun cream before school,
particularly if they have PE. Thought should be given to children with skin
conditions and allergies and to the potential child protection issues,
particularly at infant schools, of adults applying sun cream to children
Health issues:
 Consideration should be given to children with health conditions,
particularly:
-Children who have had chemotherapy
-Children with asthma and diabetes
-Children with heart conditions
-Children with skin conditions
 Children who are carers should also be considered and schools should
ensure that they are aware of potential health risks to the people for
whom they care
 Children should be discouraged from sitting in full sunlight, particularly
during the lunch break
 Schools should consider the possibility of providing shade, eg gazebos,
during break times
PE/physical activity:
 Where possible, PE should be rescheduled to earlier in the day during
heat wave conditions
 Pupils should be allowed to take their water bottles to PE lessons and
consideration should be given to the provision of water during PE
lessons for those children without water bottles
 Opportunities must be made for children to drink and re-fill their bottles
after PE lessons
 During heat wave conditions, schools should consider the desirability of
children playing football or other active games, especially during the
lunch break. Appropriate alternatives should be suggested where the
decision to disallow football is made
 Thought should be given to the temperature on the playground,
particularly at lunch time and during PE lessons. Where possible,
children should be encouraged to play on the school field rather than
the playground
Curriculum:
 Opportunities should be provided within the curriculum for children to
learn about health issues associated with heat waves and how to keep
themselves and vulnerable friends and relatives safe in hot weather.
This can also include reminders about the dangers of playing in rivers
or ponds
Exams:
 Thought needs to be given to pupils who are sitting exams during heat
wave conditions. This could include:
-Ensuring curtains and blinds are kept closed and that lights work
correctly
-Ensuring adequate ventilation
-Ensuring that jugs of water are available
-Being aware of the health needs of particular pupils
School trips:
 Thought should be given to issues raised by school trips during heat
waves, particularly for trips where children will be active, in the sun all
day or going to London, where temperatures are higher. Teachers
leading day trips must consider:
-Temperatures on buses and coaches, particularly in the afternoon
- Provision of water during the day
-Health needs of particular children (parents of vulnerable children
should be encouraged to attend trips where possible)
-First aid kits should include cool packs
-Mobile phones should be fully charged
-Thought needs to be given to the type of activities occurring
between 11am-3pm and how much time will be spent out-of-doors
-Where possible, a First Aider should attend the trip
 Teachers leading residential trips should consider the above issues
and in addition should also:
-Ensure they understand the particular needs of children with
specific health issues
-Ensure all children who require them have sufficient medication for
the trip
-Give thought to the ventilation and bedding in the accommodation
and any security issues if children leave windows open
-Ensure that children are sufficiently hydrated and apply sun cream
regularly
Sports Days:
 Thought needs to be given to how to run sports days in heat wave
conditions. Arrangements could include:
-Having the event in the morning
-Ensuring water is provided after each event
-Providing shade for pupils who are waiting to compete
-Ensuring children have sun hats and have applied sun cream
-Providing refreshments for parents
-Ensuring that first aiders are working and available
Communication with parents:
 Schools should remind parents of their policies with regard to heat
waves during the summer term and send out reminders, where
possible, when the probability of a heat wave is announced
Classroom temperatures:
 There is no maximum limit for working in hot conditions but the DCSF
provided guidelines in 2009 that ‘heat stress and dehydration can be
serious problems at temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, so that
should be regarded as the maximum reasonable temperature for
prolonged periods of time in school classrooms. However more
sensitive children may experience problems at much lower
temperatures’
 Schools should consider ways of lowering temperatures in the
classroom, through opening windows and doors and providing blinds
and fans
 Attention should be paid to health and safety issues if fans are provided
 Consideration should be given to security issues if classroom doors are
left open
 Thermometers can be provided to monitor classroom temperatures
 Thought should be given to outdoor working (in the shade) or rotating
classes to work in cooler areas of the school
 Consideration should be given to putting up external shades and using
reflective paint, particularly around south-facing windows (NHS)
 Consider the use of indoor plants and bowls of water to aid evaporation
in classrooms (NHS)
 Some schools in other regions have closed early at the end of the
summer term in previous heat waves. The guidance is to remain open
where at all possible and to seek Local Authority guidance and support
if temperatures become a significant issue. Changing opening hours, to
open and close earlier, may be one solution
Long term planning:
 Concrete and bricks raise local temperatures but trees, bushes and
ponds help to reduce them. Thought should be given to improving the
outdoor design of your school to lower the temperature within your
grounds
 Schools where classrooms or other areas of the school regularly
becoming very hot should discuss the issue with the Local Authority for
guidance on ways to reduce the temperature
Example of guidance provided to parents from Gatton School:
http://www.gattons.wsussex.sch.uk/Information/hot_weather_guidelines_for_paren.htm
Heat Wave Plan for the UK:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heatwave-plan-for-england-2013