Heavy snow closed five schools as teachers struggled to get to work.
Hundreds of pupils could not attend classes when snowfall cut off a number of roads.
Schools included Arundel RC Primary School, Arundel, Clapham and Patching School, Clapham, Northchapel County School, Petworth, Camelsdale First School, Fernhurst, and Graffham First School, Midhurst.
A West Sussex County Council spokesman said teachers, including Graffham's headteacher, could not get through the hazardous conditions at Duncton Hill, along the A238.
Other closures included the B2141, at Harting Hill, near Chichester and the A29 near Arundel.
The spokesman said: "We are sending gritting machines fitted with snow ploughs to all the sites to clear the roads.
"We had 11 gritting machines out last night in the western area because we knew the snow was coming.
"The snowfall on these three hills was particularly heavy."
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