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		<title><![CDATA[Merstone School News Feed - Latest News]]></title>
		<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk%2Fnews%2F%3Fpid%3D12%26amp%3Bnid%3D1</link>
		<description><![CDATA[School closure Friday 9th January 2026.

Due to the snowfall this evening and the weather forecast for the rest of the night, we have made the decision to close the school to all pupils on Friday 9th January 2026.

This decision has been taken to ensure the safety of pupils, families and staff, particularly in relation to travel conditions and safe access to the school site.

We would like tomorrow to give children the chance to enjoy the snow safely where possible. Being able to notice and appreciate the world around us is an important part of supporting positive mental health and wellbeing and we hope children will be able to make the most of this opportunity.

More information sent via Class Dojo&nbsp;

Kieran - Executive Head Teacher

&nbsp;

Arrangements for Emergency Snow/School Closure

At Forest Oak School and Merstone School it is of paramount importance that school remains open where possible but accepts that it may be necessary to close due to circumstances beyond our control.

Reasons may include (but this list is not exhaustive):

&middot; Severe weather including snow, flooding or storms

&middot; Accommodation problems, for example loss of power supply, heating failure or fire damage

&middot; Disruption to staffing levels due to strikes or a severe sickness outbreak

Factors involved in deciding to enforce a school closure will be based on:

&middot; Access to school &ndash; road conditions (obstacles such as snow, ice, flood waters, availability of transport)

&middot; Breakdown of essential school services &ndash; loss of heating, power, water or severe damage to the school building caused by a storm or other event)

&middot; At times when weather conditions are so severe the Principal may consider that the Health and Safety of the pupils and staff are best served by closing the school.

&middot; An advanced severe weather warning to close the school for the following day.

The decision to close school will be made by the Executive Head in conjunction with the Chair of Governors and the Local Authority will be informed.

Procedure for informing parents/carers

&middot; The school website www.forest-oak.solihull.sch.uk or www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk will have the closure information on the Home Page and this will be updated throughout the enforced closure.

&middot; An announcement will also be made on local radio stations.

&middot; A message will be sent on Class DoJo

Should it be necessary to close school early, school will ensure that as many parents/carers as possible are telephoned/receive a text message and/or email. Transport will be contacted and whenever possible, will transport pupils, normally on transport, home. However, on occasions, parents/carers will need to make arrangements to collect pupils from school.

It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that mobile telephone numbers and email addresses are kept up-to-date with the school office.

Staff will be available to supervise pupils who cannot go home early. The safety of pupil&rsquo;s will be considered at all times.&nbsp;Any further notices will be updated via the school website and via text message/email/Class Dojo.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office.
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		<pubDate>Thu, 5 Mar 2026 09:34:37 GMT</pubDate>
		<lastBuildDate>Thu, 5 Mar 2026 09:34:37 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<item>	<title><![CDATA[ March Family Hub Timetables ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=12</link>	<description><![CDATA[<p>Have a look at the Family Support Team page for the family hub timetables over March.&nbsp;</p>
]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 5 Mar 2026 09:34:37 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=12</guid>
</item><item>	<title><![CDATA[ School Hall gets a makeover ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=11</link>	<description><![CDATA[<p>A busy half term break! Thank You to this wonderful group of people.&nbsp;</p>
]]></description>
	<enclosure url="https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/_site/data/images/news/11/list-1243.jpg" length="88222" type="image/jpeg" />
	<pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:53:21 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=11</guid>
</item><item>	<title><![CDATA[ Uniform Swap Shop ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=10</link>	<description><![CDATA[<p>Thursday 25th June.</p>

<p>3pm - 6pm.&nbsp;</p>

<p>BRING IT! SWAP IT! LOVE IT!</p>
]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 08:14:05 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=10</guid>
</item><item>	<title><![CDATA[ Thursday 19th March 2026- Coffee Morning ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=9</link>	<description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center"><strong>Do you need more information on occupational therapy? Pop along to a monthly meeting.&nbsp;</strong></p>
]]></description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 9 Feb 2026 09:45:11 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=9</guid>
</item><item>	<title><![CDATA[ Useful Links ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=8</link>	<description><![CDATA[<p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm"><strong>Links for:</strong></p>

<p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm">Hubs and Activities in Solihull&nbsp;<a href="https://www.solihull.gov.uk/children-and-families/solihull-family-hubs/hubs-and-activities">https://www.solihull.gov.uk/children-and-families/solihull-family-hubs/hubs-and-activities</a></p>

<p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm">Cinema Card:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ceacard.co.uk/">https://www.ceacard.co.uk/</a></p>

<p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm">Disabled Person&#39;s&nbsp;Bus Pass&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-disabled-bus-pass">https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-disabled-bus-pass</a></p>

<p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm">Family Fund: Helping Disabled Children&nbsp;<a href="https://www.familyfund.org.uk/">https://www.familyfund.org.uk/</a></p>
]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 5 Feb 2026 10:13:19 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=8</guid>
</item><item>	<title><![CDATA[ Merstone Family Support Newsletter ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=7</link>	<description><![CDATA[<p>February 2026&nbsp;</p>
]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 5 Feb 2026 10:13:41 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=7</guid>
</item><item>	<title><![CDATA[ Plastic Tubs for Charity ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=6</link>	<description><![CDATA[<p>Macmillan Cancer Support&nbsp;</p>
]]></description>
	<enclosure url="https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/_site/data/images/news/6/list-Tubs.jpeg" length="59624" type="image/jpeg" />
	<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:47:10 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=6</guid>
</item><item>	<title><![CDATA[ Returning to school after the holiday ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=5</link>	<description><![CDATA[<p>Please enter an introduction for your news story here.</p>
]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 4 Nov 2025 08:56:58 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=5</guid>
</item><item>	<title><![CDATA[ Forest School ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=4</link>	<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2025 13:18:40 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=4</guid>
</item><item>	<title><![CDATA[ School to re-open tomorrow on Friday 10th March 2023 ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=3</link>	<description><![CDATA[<p>Dear Parents/ Carers,</p>

<p>It is planned that both Merstone School and Forest Oak School will re-open to pupils and staff tomorrow on Friday 10th March 2023.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

<p>Donna Luck</p>
]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jul 2023 11:07:15 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=3</guid>
</item><item>	<title><![CDATA[ School wil remain closed today on Friday 10th March 2023 ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=2</link>	<description><![CDATA[<p>Merstone School and Forest Oak School will remain closed today on Friday 10th March 2023 due to weather conditions.</p>



<p>Sorry for any inconvenience.</p>



<p>Donna Luck</p>
]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jul 2023 11:04:36 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=2</guid>
</item><item>	<title><![CDATA[ Start of Summer Term News & Prom Fundraiser Flyer (Bonnylou Band ) Event on 09/05/23 ]]></title>
	<link>https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=1</link>	<description><![CDATA[<p>For further details please click on link for newsletters or copy the following path in your web browser:</p>

<p><a href="https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/merstone/UploadedDocument/57b608d9-b854-473a-ad54-9c39e9124ad1/prom-fundraiser-event-bonnylou-band-on-09.05.23-flyer.pdf">Prom Fundraiser Bonnylou Band</a></p>
]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jul 2023 11:03:33 GMT</pubDate>
	<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.merstone.solihull.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&amp;nid=1&amp;storyid=1</guid>
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