School should be a safe place for students and teachers. However, there now needs to be a lockdown procedure in place due to the increase in threats of violence, dangerous situations or in case of an emergency.
Lockdown drills should be regularly performed and practiced to ensure all students and staff know what to do in the event of a potential threat.
The Department for Education states that ‘schools have a legal responsibility to ensure staff and pupils are safe.’
The Teacher’s Union (NASUWT) encourages schools to provide a practical approach to various threats including bomb threats, aggressive students or parents, weapons or animals on school grounds, or noxious fumes due to a fire or chemical incident.
If there is a risk inside the school, everyone should be evacuated, however a lockdown occurs when the threat is outside the school and everyone must be locked inside to stay safe.
Different Types of Lockdown
There are two types of school lockdowns that can be enforced depending on the severity of the threat. A partial lockdown is required if a threat has been identified outside the school grounds. A full lockdown is required if the threat such as an intruder is inside the school.
Partial Lockdown
Ensure all students and staff are inside the building.
External gates and doors are locked to prevent intruder entering the school grounds.
A school register must be performed to ensure everyone is accounted for.
No one should leave until it is deemed safe outside.
Call the emergency services immediately and inform them of the situation.
Full Lockdown
Students and staff remain inside the classrooms and offices.
Lock all classroom and office doors from the inside.
External gates should be left open so no member of staff risks their safety.
Students and staff stay hidden and out of sight, by hiding under desks / in cupboards.
Blinds should be closed to decrease visibility.
A school register must be performed to ensure everyone is accounted for.
Call the emergency services immediately and inform them of the situation.
No one should leave the classrooms until it is deemed safe outside.
Having / Making a Plan
Having a school lockdown procedure is vital to keep everyone safe. Making a lockdown plan will vary slightly between schools depending on the location, the school layout and the age of the students and the support required.
The lockdown plan must be a sensible response to a threat that poses a risk to the safety of the staff and students. Here are some important principles to consider:
A lockdown signal should be established which alerts staff to begin the lockdown procedure.
If students and staff are outside, they must be escorted inside quickly and safely.
Everyone should stay inside the classrooms and must not leave until told it is safe.
All external doors, windows and gates should be locked as well as classroom doors if required.
A register must be taken to account for all students and determine if there is anyone missing.
Call emergency services as soon as it is possible and safe.
Students must not leave the building at any time.
Use an alarm system to alert staff if an evacuation is needed.
Staff members may require extra training depending on the roles and responsibilities they have to perform during lockdown procedures to ensure they know exactly what to do to keep everyone safe.
Conducting Regular Drills
The Department for Education (DFE) states that lockdown drills in the UK should be practiced at least once a year. This ensures that all staff and students know exactly what to do in dangerous situations if and when a threat arises.
Staff should also receive separate lockdown training to ensure they know their responsibilities and to practice the system to identify any potential issues and provide feedback on how to make the procedure better and safer.
An inset day is ideal for a practice lockdown with staff to iron out any problems faced to ensure the procedure runs effectively and safely when it is required with students. Feedback may include whether the staff can hear the alarm or lockdown signal, whether the classroom doors can be locked securely, if the blinds can be used and other important features which can be improved to create the safest lockdown plan for everyone.
Once the lockdown plan has been practiced to perfection with teachers, students can then receive regular practices to help them stay calm and safe throughout a dangerous situation.
Establishing Communication Channels
As part of the lockdown plan, internal communication channels must be determined to help all staff members keep in contact throughout the lockdown to be able to relay important information and next steps.
Possibilities of communication channels include:
Two-way radios
Pagers
Internal e-mail
Mobile phone
Texts
The agreed line of communication should be kept open at all times but there should not be any unnecessary calls made to the administrative office or senior management as this could prevent the delay of more important information. The internal communication channel may also include the use of signals or code words to communicate with staff on their devices.
Use of Security Cameras & Access Systems
An effective lockdown plan will incorporate the use of security cameras and control access systems to keep everyone safe inside the school. There should be an onsite control room which will have access to CCTV monitors, alarms, control data and recorders with a PA system and other communication options.
The CCTV will be able to spot an external threat to enable the school to lockdown quickly and safely. It will also help the control room keep eyes on the threat and direct the emergency services to the correct area.
Some access systems will be able to perform automatic lockdown procedures such as locking external doors remotely and sounding the lockdown alarm. The access systems will help perform a lockdown drill safely and efficiently with codes needed to open the doors, mobile app buttons and more features tailored to each school’s unique layout to enhance safety and security.
Implementing a Signal System
A unique signal must be created to signify the lockdown procedure. This should sound completely different to the regular alarms at the school such as the fire alarm. The lockdown alarm should be audible throughout the school buildings to ensure everyone can hear it clearly.
All staff and students should know the lockdown alarm and be prepared to start locking down as soon as they hear it.
Other forms of a lockdown signal may include a voice intercom that relays a coded signal or a staff pager alert. The lockdown alert system provides a range of sounds that are easily distinguishable and should be used to highlight the difference between a partial lockdown and full lockdown.
Counselling for Staff & Pupils
If a serious incident has occurred on school property or even the performance of regular lockdown drills which increases stress, there should be sufficient counselling available for both staff and pupils.
A lockdown situation can cause tremendous stress, anxiety and trauma for anyone involved and so it is vital that there is a counselling service available.
The lockdown practices and real situations can have a huge impact on the children and staff’s mental health and wellbeing and appropriate counselling is known to improve their mental health through talking and learning calming techniques.
School lockdowns in the UK have become an essential procedure for child and staff safety and so it is vital that all schools provide an effective lockdown procedure with regular drills to keep everyone safe.
Sources
Comentários