| Date Created | Date 1st Review Date | Date Reviewed | Version | Next Review Date |
| February 2025 | February 2026 | 1 | ||
Purpose
Lockdown procedures should be seen as a sensible and proportionate response to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all staff, pupils, volunteers and other persons who are on the property if an external or internal incident has the potential to pose a threat to the safety of staff and pupils in the school.
Procedures should aim to minimise disruption to the learning environment whilst ensuring the safety of all pupils and staff.
Lockdown procedures may be activated in response to any number of situations, but some of the more typical might be:
Reasons for Lockdown – Whole School
A deliberate threat will require action to minimise the risk of interaction between the threat and pupils, staff and visitors. Threats include when:
- An intruder is seen (or reported to be) within the school grounds.
- An abusive or violent parent/carer is causing trouble within the school grounds.
- A malicious threat has been made against the school.
- An incident occurring close to the school has the potential to cause harm to pupils, staff and visitors (such as the presence of armed Police responding to criminal activity)
Reasons for Lockdown – Part of the School
There are situations where it is safer for some pupils, staff and visitors to remain within school buildings (possibly beyond normal school hours) under ‘Lock-down’ until the threat is lifted whilst other pupils, staff and visitors are evacuated from the school. These may include when:
- An intruder has entered the school building.
- An abusive or violent parent/carer is causing trouble within the school building.
Each person’s primary responsibility in the event of a lockdown being announced is to their own safety. No person should deliberately or recklessly endanger themselves in an attempt to follow these procedures or save the lives of others.
National Emergency Alerts System: should staff receive an alert from the National Emergency Alert system there will be instruction on what to do delivered by the emergency services. The principal will confirm the course of action and staff should follow that direction which may include either to lockdown or evacuate depending on the situation at hand. If a lockdown or an evacuation is required it will be conducted to our Lockdown Policy or our Fire Safety Policy.
Key Personnel
The Lockdown Manager is the key person. This is the Principal. If the principal is not available, a member of the Senior Leadership Team. The Business and Compliance manager will register pupils, staff, visitors and relevant animals to ensure everyone is accounted for. The Lockdown Manager to be advised of any missing people/animals immediately. If the incident involves a pupil, the Lockdown Manager should request the assistance of another staff member. Staff members should not be alone with pupils causing the lockdown situation.
Staff will inform pupils and visitors of the situation whilst trying to minimise the level of anxiety felt by pupils. Subsequent actions include:
- Calling the emergency services and Council’s security section (where appropriate).
- Shutting and securing all doors and windows (including closure of blinds).
- Turning off lights as necessary. Clearing open areas and garden area to get pupils and staff into a classroom.
- Keeping pupils seated (possibly under desks) and away from doors and windows.
- Staff and pupils may need to hide and stay as silent as possible.
- Teachers will remain with pupils.
- Maintaining a calm atmosphere and staying alert to the emotional needs of pupils.
- No pupils will be allowed out of classrooms until the ‘all clear’ is given
- Contacting parents/carers to advise them of situation and anticipated duration. They should be discouraged from collecting children during ‘lock-down’. This may not be achievable.
- Assessing potential medical needs (such as regular medical regimes).
- If a teacher is out of their classroom when ‘lock-down’ is implemented, they will go back if it is safe to. If it is unsafe to return, they will try to contact pupils as soon as possible.
- Pupils and Staff Outside Buildings – If pupils and staff are outside, they will go to nearest classroom or hide, disperse or take cover.
Communication between parents and the school
In the event of a lockdown, any incident or development is communicated to parents as determined by the Lockdown Manager. Parents’ concerns will be alleviated by regular communication of accurate information. This will be done by the Business and Compliance Manager or designated staff member. Parents will be given enough information about what is happening so that they:
Are reassured that the school understands their concern for their child’s welfare, and that it is doing everything possible to ensure his/her safety.
Do not need to contact the school as calling the school could tie up telephone lines that are required for contacting emergency support providers.
Parents do not come to the school. They could interfere with emergency support provider’s access to the school and may even put themselves and others in danger. Wait for the school to contact them about when it is safe to collect their children, and where this will be from.
Are aware of what will happen if the lockdown continues beyond school hours.
Should parents present at the school during a lockdown under no circumstances should members of staff leave the building to communicate directly with them.
Communication between the school and Taxis
In the event of a lockdown, any incident or development is communicated to taxis as determined by the Lockdown Manager. Taxi providers will receive accurate instructions. The Business and Compliance will call taxi providers with instructions.
Emergency Services
Lines of communication will be kept open with Emergency Services as they are best placed to offer advice as a situation unfolds. The school site may or may not be cordoned off by Emergency Services depending on the severity of the incident that has triggered the lockdown. Emergency Services will support the decision of the Lockdown Manager with regard to the timing of communication to parents. In the event of a prolonged lockdown or more severe scenario, emergency services, local authorities and voluntary sector organisations will work together to coordinate practical and emotional support to those affected by any emergency, also referred to as humanitarian assistance. A reception centre for friends and family could be set-up outside of the cordoned area.
‘All Clear’
The Principal will give ‘all-clear’ when it is safe to leave classrooms. External doors will be unlocked.
Lockdown Drill’s
A lockdown drill is undertaken at least once a term and at other times if the principal or Head of Centre deems it necessary. Staff training is undertaken and understanding is checked as part of these drills. With our cohort of pupils we have to approach this very sensitively. Rather than ‘practicing’ a lock down, the students will be spoken to about what we would do in the event of needing to ‘lock-down’. Because of the pupils anxieties, staff need to find ‘softer’ examples as to why we need to lock down e.g. ‘nearby incident’.