Lockdown Policy & Procedure

What is a lockdown and when would we carry it out?

 

A lockdown procedure is a standard health and safety procedure, similar to a fire drill.

 

Our lockdown procedure would be used when there is a threat to the safety of children, staff and others in the nursey, and when it is safer for everyone to remain in the nursery than evacuate. The aim is to keep everyone safe by confining them to a secure place of safety.

 

Situations where our lockdown procedure may be used include:

 

• An incident related to terrorism.

• A potentially dangerous person or animal on the nursery site.

• A disturbance or dangerous situation in the local community that could affect the nursery.

• A nearby chemical incident or other risk of air pollution.

 

Our lockdown procedure is as follows:

 

• The manager or deputy will call out ‘lockdown, lockdown’ and asses the type of incident, directing staff to either stay inside or hide.

• All children and staff should gather in their nearest place of safety and security, if necessary, out of sight, preferably together in one place.

• If children are outside, staff will direct them immediately inside to the nearest room.

• If we need to stay inside, staff will direct children to the nearest suitable room.

• If we need to hide, staff will gather all children and adults together in the meeting room if possible, which has a lockable door and conduct a headcount, checking that all children and staff are accounted for.

• If it is not possible to gather everyone in one place, staff will find the safest place in the room they are in and take individual headcounts. The toilets, kitchen, disabled toilet may be used to hide.

• If safe to do so, staff will secure doors and windows, and pull the blinds down.

• The register, nursery mobile, medication trolley and first aid kit will be taken if safe to do so.

• The emergency services will be called and their advice followed.

• Parents may be notified about the lockdown and advised not to attempt to collect their child or phone the nursery until advised.

• Lockdown will remain in place until the all clear is given by the emergency services.

• The management team and emergency services will risk assess and decide whether children should be collected or if the nursery session can continue and parents will be notified.

• The building will be checked before re-entry to ensure it is safe and suitable.

• Usual security collection procedures will take place if children are to return home.

• A report will be made following implementation of any lockdown procedure and we will assess our polices and risk assessments if necessary.

 

Instructions for parents in the event of a lockdown

 

In the unlikely case that Whytebeams should need to use a real-life lockdown procedure, please take note of the following points:

 

• Parents will be informed that the nursery is in lockdown via the school’s website or by email.

• Keep calm and know that staff and the emergency services are doing all they can to keep children safe.

• Parents should not attempt to call or come to the nursery, as this may hinder the nursery’s effort to contact and work with the emergency services.

• Parents should not discuss the event on social media, as this may spread false information and create panic.

• If the lockdown continues beyond nursery hours, any changes to collection arrangements in this circumstance will be posted on the nursery website or by email.

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