Policy Statement

If any trespasser threatens the premises and anyone within them the pre-school ’Lockdown’ procedure will be activated in order to protect everyone in the building. We ensure our policy is in line with the procedures specific to our building, making reasonable adjustments as required.

Procedures

On hearing the Lockdown signal: Three long blasts on the whistle and shout Lockdown.

Staff outside in the playground, without panic but with due urgency will:

• Usher all children inside, unless unsafe to do so when an alternative should be communicated.  (Appendix A, Run, Tell, Hide)

• Check that there are none who missed the signal as they may be in hidden areas of the playground.

• Once inside close and lock door.

Staff inside the building, stay calm and:

• Ensure that staff and children stay in their designated areas. (Toilet area)

• Lock all doors, close windows and close blinds where possible.

• Get register, mobile phone and medication from cupboard.

• Stay away from windows and doors.

• Stay low and keep calm.

• Attempt to keep children as calm and as quiet as possible.

• Do a head count immediately and take the register to make sure everyone is accounted for.

• Inform the police 999.

• Inform Peatmoor school by telephoning the office and giving 3 long blasts with the whistle and shouting ‘Lockdown’ through the door into school before locking it, if safe to do so.

• Do not make non-essential calls on mobiles or landlines.

If in another part of the school: (the library, the hall)

• Go into the nearest classroom.

• If safe to do so go back to the pre-school room.

Remain in lockdown and await further instruction from the emergency service or conformation that the incident has concluded.

During the lockdown:

• Do not open the doors once they have been secured until officially given the ‘all clear’ or you are certain that it is the emergency service at the door.

• Do not travel down the corridor.

• Do not assemble in large open areas.

• Do not call 999 again unless you have immediate concern for you safety, the safety of others or feel you have critical information.

• If the fire alarm is activated, remain where you are and await further instructions from emergency services unless the fire is in your area. In which case, move to the next room/area, do a headcount.

Suggested wording for message to parents if needed:

• Due to an incident we have been advised by the emergency services to secure the premises and stay put until we are given the ‘all clear’. Please do not attempt to collect your child until it is safe to do so. We will let you know as soon as we are able when that is likely to be. In the meantime we need to keep our telephone lines clear and would appreciate your cooperation in not calling unless it is absolutely vital that you speak to us. We will be acting on the advice of the emergency services at all times.

After the Lockdown:

• Co-operate with the emergency services to assist in an orderly evacuation.

• Ensure that you have the mobile phone, your register and children’s details with you.

• Ensure that any staff or children who have witnessed an attack or incident tell the police what they saw.

• Ensure that any other relevant individuals remain available for questioning by the police.

• Inform Ofsted within 24 hours.

Precautions:

Our emergency lockdown procedures are;

• Explained to new members of staff, volunteers and parents.

• Practised regularly, at least once every six weeks.

• Records are kept of lockdown drills.

Lockdown Drills:

We hold lockdown drills every half term and record the following information in our Fire Drill /Lockdown Log Book:

• The date and time of the drill.

• How long it took to lockdown.

• Whether there were any problems that delayed lockdown.

Further guidance

NaCTSO – National Counter Terrorism Security Office 2015. (Developing Dynamic Lockdown Procedures)

Pre-School Learning Alliance Under 5 magazine August 2017

https://www.pre-school.org.uk/responding-emergencies