Council Tax and business rates phone lines

The telephone service for Council Tax and business rates will be unavailable on Friday 4 October. You can still contact us online to tell us of any changes in circumstances, make a payment arrangement or make a payment. Our telephone service will resume on Monday 7 October.

School closures

Schools will always do everything they can to avoid closing at short notice. Headteachers and governors appreciate the difficulty and inconvenience caused to families when schools close unexpectedly.

In some circumstances such as a heating failure, staffing issues or poor winter weather, teachers may not be able to get to school and have no option but to close. Decisions are often made very early in the morning giving you little time to make other arrangements.

How do I find out if a school is closed?

Some schools have their own texting service and will let parents know individually if the school is closed. If you are unsure whether your school provides this service, please contact them directly.

Please be aware that schools often take calls to their switchboard early in the morning especially in the winter. You may find it difficult to get through so please be patient. They will answer your call as soon as they are able.

The Derby Telegraph website will often carry lists of school closures as will certain radio stations.