A new online notification system has been launched to keep parents up to date about unplanned school closures.

The system has been introduced by Essex County Council to allow parents and guardians to access information about school closures faster and more effectively via the internet.

All Essex schools will be able to complete a simple reporting process either on the day of the closure or the day before. Once completed, a notification will then be added to a live feed on the emergency school closures page on the council’s websiteThis feed will continue to update as notifications of school closures are received. The page will refresh at 6pm each day and closure lists for the next day will then go live.

Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for education and lifelong learning, said: “School closures are always a last resort and we appreciate the inconvenience they can cause.

“For that reason, I am delighted that we have launched this new service, which will allow us to notify parents and guardians promptly and effectively.”

As well as the council’s new notification system, schools have been asked to provide information to parents about other ways they will communicate closures.

If parents suspect their child’s school is closed but it is not listed on the website, they are advised to contact the school directly.