MINEHEAD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Ponsford Road
Minehead TA24 5RH
T: (01643) 704191 F: (01643) 705693
E: sch.496@educ.somerset.gov.uk
W: www.mineheadmiddle.somerset.sch.uk
CEO: PZ Rushforth B. Ed, Ad Dip Ed, MA
Head of School: D Hartley BA, M Ed
20 November 2015
Dear Parent
SEVERE WEATHER ARRANGEMENTS
Although we generally enjoy mild conditions in this part of the country, there is always the possibility of bad
weather disrupting transport of pupils to school or making conditions unsafe on the school site. About a third
of our pupils travel to school by bus, many from the more exposed parts of West Somerset and many pupils
use their bicycles. Our first priority is to ensure the safety of our pupils. We will use local radio to inform parents
if the school is closed (information about these stations is overleaf). There will also be a message on the school
answer machine (but please be aware we only have 3 telephone lines so they can get busy). If we have your
mobile number we will also use our computer system to text you to say if the school is closed (but please do
not rely solely on this method as we have found in the past that it can take a while for texts to reach their
destinations.) There will be a message posted on the school website under ‘Urgent Messages’:
www.mineheadmiddle.somerset.sch.uk
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Pupils Travelling to School by Bus
It is the bus contractors who will decide whether conditions are safe enough to collect the children. In
making their decision they will make use of their considerable local knowledge, together with information
from the Police and Local Authority Highways Department.
Parents should tune in to local radio stations, frequencies overleaf, for up-to-date information about any
changes in local transport arrangements or go to the County Council’s website for up to date school and
transport news: www.somerset.gov.uk/badweathertransport. County Transport will also send a text
message to mobile and landline numbers. To register your number please call Taunton & West Somerset
Transport office on 01823 355666.
Should there be any doubt in your mind as to whether your child’s bus will run, the information will be
available at the relevant telephone number on the list overleaf. Please avoid ringing the school if at all
possible. We have 3 telephone lines but they quickly become jammed if everyone calls.
If the bus is to run, pupils should make their way to the usual pick-up points, provided this can be done
safely. They should then wait for a reasonable length of time to allow for any delays which may have
occurred before considering returning home.
Deteriorating Conditions During the School Day
We have a well-practised plan of action when weather conditions seem likely to deteriorate during the
school day.
We use information from bus contractors, local Police and the telephone weather service to make any
decisions about sending children home early.
If road conditions threaten to become unsafe, buses from those areas will come into school immediately.
Pupils will be summoned from their classes to return home early in those circumstances.
Parents should ensure that their child(ren) know what to do if they have to come home early.
Pupils from areas where conditions are not unsafe will remain in school as normal.
Pupils not Travelling by Bus
The school policy is to open unless to do so might put the children at risk of injury. Many staff live in
Bridgwater and Taunton and there may be occasions when we cannot open the school because we
don’t have enough adults to ensure everyone is safe. Pupils are expected to make their way in to school
unless parents consider it is unsafe to do so.
These events are very rare indeed and we hope that this winter will pass safely for all our children and parents.
Please keep this letter safely for reference.
Yours sincerely
Mr Billy McNeilly
School Transport Co-ordinator
SCHOOL TRANSPORT ROUTES TO MINEHEAD MIDDLE SCHOOL
2014 – 2015
COMPANY
Ridlers
(01398) 323398
ROUTE
NO.
ROUTE DETAILS
RD457
Wheddon Cross – Timberscombe – MMS (WSC)
C306
Blue Anchor/Carhampton – MMS (WSC)
C319B
Porlock – MMS
C308
Battleton / Brushford / WheddX / Timberscombe MMS (WSC)
C317B
Luccombe/Wootton Courtenay – MMS (WSC)
Upton Coaches
(01398) 371271
C312A
Luxborough / Withycombe MMS (WSC)
Allerford Minibus
(01643) 862222
C289D
C496B
Oare, Porlock MMS (St Dub/WSC)
Watchet – MMS(WSC)
County Council Website
Mini Bus
C330A
WheddX/Dulverton/Cutcombe
Radio Stations:
BBC Somerset
Heart Somerset
The Breeze Radio
FM 95.5 & Online
FM 102.6 & Online
FM 100.8, 102.4 or 107.4
County Council Website:
http://www.somerset.gov.uk/badweathertransport
Taunton & West Somerset Transport Office:
01823 355666