Emergency Lock Down Policy

Introduction 

In the event of a risk of threat to the setting, staff, children, parents, visitors or the property the below lockdown procedure will be followed.   

A Lockdown will be initiated by a member of staff alerting all practitioners by saying:  

FLYTRAP (Alert phrase)  

Manager to call police immediately – stay on the phone to emergency services if required to do so.   

All staff to follow the below steps:  

• Stop what you are doing  

• All individuals (including children) will remain in the area they are in, if safe to do so.  If the children are outside, staff are to promptly and calmly direct children into the building, if this will not endanger them.  

• Staff will make efforts to close and lock doors wherever safe to do so.  

• All individuals will keep away from the windows and doors and children will be occupied in the centre of the room, so they are not placed at risk or are able to see any situation developing outside. 

• Headcounts are vital to ensure all people are accounted for (registers on ipads, visitor book)   

• Ensure toilets are checked   

• Turn lights off   

• Remain calm 

• Blinds down if able to do so safely  

• Staff members to move the children out of sight and lie face down on the floor in the middle of the room and play a calm game with the children  

• Staff will attempt to minimise noise and movement  

• Be patient  

• Reassure the children at all times  

• Internal communications will be kept to a minimum.  Communication between rooms will be through internal telephones, intercom systems, walkie talkies dependant on setting and equipment provided. 

Once the all-clear has been given by relevant authorities, the manager will issue the all-clear internally. After this time the staff will try to return to normal practice to enable the children not to be disrupted or upset by the events.  

The Management team will notify parents and inform them after the incident. The Ofsted Nominated Individual will be informed of the situation and they will inform Ofsted.    

Staff actions  

• All staff must be told and know the alert phrase and for this to be re-iterated regularly.  

• New staff are informed as part of the induction process and a lock down drill is practiced within the probationary period 

• Settings need to practise the lockdown procedure every 3 months; we have to conduct drills to teach us what to do if there is an emergency  

• We need to practise how to stay safe in emergency situations therefore all need to treat this as a priority, same as fire drills and all teams should have specific responsibilities with lockdown drills ie. One member of staff conducts headcount, one ensures doors locked, one gets the children on the floor.   

• Each setting has different logistics, and it is the lock down wardens’ responsibility to ensure responsibilities of each staff member is clear in the event of a lock down.  

• It is the Manager and Lock Down Wardens responsibility to ensure staff are confident of what to do in the event of a lock down and that staff members knowledge is checked regularly.