Amber Heat Health Alert (11am on 22/06/26 to 11pm on 26/06/26) – Information for Schools and Early Years Settings
We are writing to raise your awareness that a Heat Health Alert (Amber) has been issued for the East of England. The amber heat health alert is in effect from 11AM on 22/06/2026 until 11PM on 26/06/2026 across the East of England. The amber alert has a matrix score of 13. This means:
Significant impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:
- a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups
- likely increased demand on all health and social care services
- internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
- the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
- indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings
- issues managing medicines
- staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport)
- increased demand for power exceeding capacity
- other sector starting to observe impacts (for example, travel delays)
- water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning
Whilst this is a national alert primarily focused on health and social care, it is important that schools and early years settings take appropriate steps to manage the risks associated with hot weather. The DfE has produced guidance for those who manage or work in schools or early years settings and offers advice for looking after children in these settings during hot weather.
Where a child has complex health conditions or clinical vulnerability, advice should be sought from their clinical team and shared with relevant staff. Further information about supporting pupils with medical conditions at school is available from the DfE.
You can see all the weather health alerts currently in place across England on the UKHSA data dashboard.