Heatwave help: Keeping disabled children safe and schools prepared in 31 °C + temperatures

3 mins read

Thursday 10 July 2025

Tags: news for professionals, heatwave help, Advice in hot weather, Keeping children safe in hot weather

With forecasters anticipating temperatures of up to 31 °over the next few days, it’s important for parents, carers, and schools to take extra care to protect disabled children, who may struggle with the heat and keeping hydrated due to medical conditions, medications, or sensory issues.

What schools and early years settings should do

Schools have a legal obligation and duty of care to ensure that all pupils, including those with complex needs or EHCPs, are kept safe and supported, this includes during hot weather. Government guidance for England recommends schools and settings implement the following measures:

  • Pre-cool buildings by opening windows overnight or early morning, then closing them when outside temperatures rise.
  • Shade windows using blinds or curtains (while maintaining ventilation).
  • Turn off electrical equipment and lights not in use to reduce internal heat.
  • Use mechanical, oscillating fans when indoor temperature is below 35 °C, but avoid if hotter, as fans may worsen matters.
  • Limit outdoor activities, in particular when temperatures exceed 30 °C.
  • Relax uniform rules to allow loose, light-coloured clothing, and removal of blazers and jumpers.
  • Ensure children wear wide-brim hats and apply broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30+, UVA-rated) when outside, reapplying every 2 hours and after swimming or towelling.
  • Provide plenty of cool drinking water, encouraging more fluid intake than usual.

In addition schools should also:

  • Adjust school timings, move lessons or breaks to cooler parts of the day.
  • Use cooler classrooms, rearranged to avoid direct sun exposure.
  • Increase cross-ventilation by opening doors and windows where safe to do so.

Practical tips for families

  • Use cooling sprays, or cold flannels at home.
  • Keep rooms shaded and well-ventilated and use frozen water bottles in front of fans.
  • Encourage fluid intake via fun cups, syringes, straws, or water-rich foods.
  • If your child has an EHCP, this is also an opportunity to request a temporary or permanent reasonable adjustment, citing this government guidance, should your child suffer in the heat due to medication they take, a medical condition that they have or sensory difficulties they may experience.

Watch for signs of heat stress, exhaustion, and heatstroke. Provide immediate response by moving vulnerable children to cooler areas, sponge spraying, applying cold packs to neck/armpits, and if needed, calling NHS 111 or 999.

You can also sign up to Weather-Health Alerts via UKHSA and the Met Office for actionable heat alerts.

For more information about how to cope in a heatwave: