Dear Parents and Colleagues,

Not an easy decision to take this morning but there are not enough members of staff able to make it in to open the school this morning due to hazardous conditions.
The school will therefore remain closed on Friday 01/02/2019.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Enjoy the snow. Keep safe and warm.

​See you back on Monday,
Jeff van Zyl and Marcus Link

Dear Parents,

We will be announcing by 7am tomorrow morning whether the school will be open Friday 01/02/2019.

While the weather conditions may be acceptable for driving in some areas, there is the question of whether we will have enough staff on site to operate the school.

I will keep you posted by email and via our website.

(Let's hope enough children dream of building snowmen tomorrow and getting their sledges out...)

Keep warm and have a good evening,
Marcus Link, Business Manager

The school's annual Advent Fair took place on 17th November 2018. The Advent Fair is a tradition which is upheld in Steiner Schools around the world, and it is a key opportunity for people outside of the school's immediate community, to visit the grounds and take part in activities relevant to the Steiner Waldorf approach to education.
 
The fair is a parent-led fundraiser; only with the parents gracious giving can it be possible.  It requires engagement, planning, energy and enthusiasm.  The huge event this year was made possible through the time and care which school families were able to give. As a school we are truly grateful for this astounding effort. 

The Advent Fair featured a selection of beautiful craft stalls, activities such as Advent Wishing Boats, an Advent Angel Garden and a Crystal Cave. It also hosted a selection of work shops including pottery, whittling, damper bread making and a community weaving loom. 

The day raised over £8000 for the school in profit, which is testament itself to the quality of the event and the enormous support the school receives from its parent body. These funds help subsidise the school's educational visits program in a bid to make all school trips accessible to pupils.

The healthy social life, says Steiner, is found when, in the community, the light of each individual is shining. The fairs offer our school community an opportunity to individually shine brightly.  It is a unique and special tradition and one which we should hold on to and build upon year on year.  

Next year will be not only our school’s 40th Advent Fair but also 100 years since Steiner opened his first school, so let’s celebrate this and make it one to remember!

The school will be open as usual on Tuesday 20/03/2018.

There is a yellow weather warning for ice in place for our area into the morning. Please take into account any extra time you may need for your journey to school.

We look forward to seeing you back at school tomorrow!

On behalf of SLT
Marcus Link

19/03/2018 @ 14:35

Good afternoon to all parents, guardians, staff and pupils,

The SLT has assessed the situation and we have decided as follows:
The school will be closed due to the severe weather on 19/03/2018.

We already know that we will not have enough staff at school to meet the minimum required and it is now unlikely that the weather will clear in time for a safe start to the day.

School trips scheduled for Monday will also not take place. Separate messages have gone out about these.

In this decision, we are following other Devon County maintained and independent schools in the area.

We have also cancelled the All School Meeting scheduled for the evening.

As always, we apologise for any inconvenience caused should the forecast and warnings don't turn out to be accurate.

Have fun, keep safe and warm!
Marcus Link, Elizabeth Elsholtz and Jeff van Zyl
at 3pm on 18/03/2019

Good afternoon,

After an exciting extended weekend of wintery weather the school will be open as normal on Monday 5th March 2018.

Our visitors from Hannover had to delay their return journey by two days due to the snow but left homeward-bound this morning. Thank you especially to Almut Woolard and all parents involved in the hosting arrangements for your care and for dealing with matters so supportively.

There is still a larger amount of snow at school which may last into tomorrow so please send children in dressed for the balance of warmer temperatures and fun in the snow!

Please take care in the car park in the morning. I expect it to be very muddy with lots of slush about. Please do not let your children run across the car park and do not let them out of your car without parking properly first. If you would like to drop them off, use the turning circle.

​Thank you.

Welcome back!

Marcus Link
School Business Manager

Good afternoon to all parents, children, young adults and colleagues,

SCHOOL REMAINS CLOSED 02/03/2018
The SLT has just decided that the school will remain closed because we believe this to be in the interest of both the health and safety of all staff and pupils. Many of the smaller roads are likely to be treacherous on Friday 02/03/2018 - it will be difficult for many to get to school and back home safely - and it remains difficult for us to maintain adequate temperatures in some buildings of the school.

Also, and perhaps more importantly, many children have never properly experienced snow and very cold weather. Keep warm and safe and enjoy the weather as much as possible!

NO WORKDAY SATURDAY 03/03/2018
We have also decided together with Workday Coordinator Andrew Stanton to postpone the workday into the next term when we will have three workdays. We will invite volunteer contributions towards a list of much needed jobs around the school which could happen in smaller groups at other times as well. This will be communicated in the near future.

Once again, we apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused should the forecasts not turn out to be correct and wish you a good time enjoying the snow safely.

Warm wishes from the SLT -
Elizabeth Elsholtz, Jeff van Zyl and Marcus Link

Based on the forecasts available to us at this time estimating a 90% chance of heavy snow between 6am and 9am, temperatures below 0C and taking into account other school closures in the area until Friday, South Devon Steiner School will be closed Thursday 1st March 2018 all day. This decision is final.

I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause should the forecasts not turn out to be correct.

Please check the website for any updates for Friday and continue to check the following websites for updates:

• MET OFFICE https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gbvrh0cxc#
• BBC DEVON LIVE UPDATES http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-devon-43129090
  
• A38 TRAFFIC http://trafficcameras.uk/a38/
  
• DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL SCHOOLS CLOSURE https://new.devon.gov.uk/schools/closure/
  

Marcus Link on behalf of SLT
School Business Manager

Other schools in the area have closed early. Our school will be open as usual until the end of the school day today.

It is likely that the school will be closed tomorrow especially due to the expected drop in temperatures which will make some of our buildings difficult to heat to an adequate temperature. Please continue to check the website.

If you need to or would like to pick up your child early today because of weather conditions where you live or because other schools have closed affecting your family please do so by going via Reception.

For more information see the posts below and the various links for updates on weather, news and traffic.

Marcus Link
School Business Manager