Fire and Emergency Evacuation Procedure - Early Years

SCHOOL AIMS:

• To ensure a supportive, happy and secure environment for learning.
• To encourage the physical and emotional wellbeing of each individual.

RATIONALE:

In order to provide safe care and protection for all at Discovery Bay International School, it is essential that we have clearly understood and practised procedures relating to possible emergencies. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Critical Incident Policy.

PURPOSES:

1. To develop a set of safe procedures to be applied in the event of possible emergencies due to Fire.
2. To clarify the roles of all staff at Discovery Bay International School in the event of a Fire.
3. To establish the requirement of regular practising of these procedures.

GUIDELINES:

General

• Examples of a Fire Alarm being sounded include: Fire, bomb threat, explosion, gas, chemical or natural hazard. On Fire Service advice, the assembly area for Early Years is the car park.
• An information sheet for students and teachers and a clearly marked escape route is displayed in every classroom and appropriate places around the school.
• All students should be instructed, by class teachers as appropriate, in the proper escape routes, assembly area and behaviour, i.e. students should walk down staircases in silence, accompanied by their teacher where possible to the assembly point, and line-up in class groups. Staff discovering a fire should assist anybody in immediate danger, evacuate students and raise the alarm. Staff discovering a gas leak should follow the procedures outlined in “extraordinary circumstances” section of this policy.

Precautions

Rehearsing the procedure regularly is essential. A rehearsed routine will override panic in an emergency situation.

• Corridors and staircases must not be obstructed by bags and other clutter.
• Fire doors are labeled with signs “Fire door to be kept closed”. These signs must be obeyed.

Fire Alarm Procedure

1. The warning signal will be the continued ringing of the electric or hand held bell, or by word of mouth. The person responsible for raising the alarm will contact any office staff so that emergency services can be notified, if the alarm system has not already done so.
2. The EYFS Administrator will activate the online/mobile device panic button which will make SLT at other campuses aware of the incident. Facilities Manager and the Principal or his delegate will respond immediately to the call.
3. Teachers will advise the students to immediately evacuate the buildings via the safest exit, to make their way quietly to the assembly area (See Appendix A).
4. All EYFS staff must be in possession of the necessary gate keys.
5. The priority is the rapid, orderly exit from the building of all students and staff.
6. Leave all bags and belongings behind.
7. Where possible, switch off all lights, air conditioners and close windows.
8. EA leaves last, closes the door, but does not lock the door, after checking all students are out.
9. Walk, do not run.
10. The lift in the EYFS campus must not be used (students with injuries should be accompanied by members of staff).
11. There must be silence so that instructions from teachers can be heard.
12. Unsupervised students should go immediately to the assembly area where they should join their class.
13. The nurse will accompany any sick students from the medical room to the assembly area.
14. A print out and hard copy of the electronic register will be brought to the assembly area by the EYFS Administrator. It is important that teachers know how many students are in their class at all times.
15. Delegated staff will check toilets and other areas to ensure that all individuals have left the building (see Appendix B). The school nurse will bring the First Aid kit. The Facilities Manager will inspect and secure all other buildings. (Secure includes where possible; electrical equipment off and doors closed).
16. Upon arrival at the assembly area teachers will check their class roll. (Do not call the roll, visually match names entered as present with actual students.). Class educational assistants must stay with their assigned classes.
17. YGLs must cross check to ensure unattended student groups are covered, and also to report any apparently missing teachers to the Head of EYFS & Primary or PLT member on site.
18. On completion of the roll check, class teachers to raise the ‘head count board’ to inform Year Group Leaders all is present (including fire buddies). Head of EYFS & Primary or PLT member on site is aware of any missing students or staff.
19. General staff and contract staff, report to the EYFS Administrator who will be stationed next to the gate. The EYFS Administrator will also check visitors against the visitors’ book and check staff that are off campus.
20. Visitors should report to the EYFS Administrator.
21. Head of EYFS & Primary or PLT member on site will be made aware if there are any missing staff or visitors who are unaccounted for.
22. The Head of EYFS & Primary or PLT member on site will have the responsibility of advising the emergency services, and inform the Principal.
23. The Head of EYFS & Primary or PLT member on site will liaise with the Principal via mobile phone regarding any students, staff or visitors who appear to be missing. The EYFS Administrator will give this information to the Chief Fire Officer at the front of the school.
24. Teachers should continue to supervise their students until the Head of EYFS & Primary or PLT member on site dismisses them in an orderly manner.

Extraordinary Circumstances

• If a fire bell rings as students and staff are entering the school in the morning or when students are returning from a trip or sports activity off site, students and staff must remain outside of the campus.
• If the fire bell rings after the regular school day, all staff and visitors should assemble in the car park where a register will be taken by the Head of EYFS & Primary or PLT member on site or the EYFS YGLs. If the fire bell rings during activities such as extra curricular activities, school shows and music lessons it is the responsibility of the adult leading the activity to escort the students to the assembly area.
• If there is a fire alarm during the school holidays but during normal working hours, when only a skeleton general staff are on duty, staff should follow the normal fire drill procedures; the visitors’ book and staff in attendance rota should be taken to the normal assembly point to account for all persons in the building.
• If it becomes clear that the school so assembled is endangered by the fire and the fire service is not present, the Head of EYFS & Primary or PLT member on site or EYFS YGLs present will direct teachers to evacuate the campus by taking their students to a designated safe area external to the school. The emergency evacuation area for the EYFS is balcony area next to Wing On department Store.
• All staff and supply teachers should be aware of the location of the following items in the Early Years campus:

1. Fire extinguisher.
2. Fire blanket.
3. Fire bucket.

In the event of any other Emergency:

• The Head of EYFS & Primary or PLT member on site or person(s) delegated will inform teachers of the action to be taken.

In the event of Evacuation:

• The Head of EYFS & Primary or PLT member on site, or person(s) delegated will inform teachers of the action to be taken.
• No student is permitted to leave the custody of the teacher responsible unless the teacher is absolutely sure that the person collecting the student is entitled to do so. In any case of doubt, refuse release until verification can be established. In the case of Civil Emergency it is probable that the students are safer at school, while under our direct care, during the initial stages of the emergency.
• All drills and actual emergencies are to be recorded by the Principal or delegated person, in the Emergency Log Book located in the main office.

Evaluation

• On an annual basis (in September), the Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) and back up personnel meet to clarify roles and procedures. Dates for test fire drills will be decided – one per term.
• After each test drill, CIMT will review, particularly the effectiveness of short-term response, suitable location for school to assemble and deciding upon any appropriate change of action for the future. This may include professional instruction for staff and updating parents at information evenings.

Critical Incident Management Team (See also Critical Incident Policy)

External relations coordinator: Marc Morris

Organisation coordinator: Rose Ting

Student needs coordinator: Jason Broderick

Staff needs coordinator: Hannah Tait

In their absence/s, the following staff have been designated as a backup to fulfil their roles:

External relations coordinator: Ruth Brislen-Patel

Organisation coordinator: Alisdair Rendell

Student needs coordinator: Anna Christiansen

Staff needs coordinator: Simon Oakley

CONCLUSION:

In all emergency situations the teachers and support staff have a critical role to carry out to ensure the safest possible care and protection of all of our students. Knowledge, understanding and practice of the above procedures will hopefully provide the necessary safe care and protection of our students.

Created: 23.06.07

Last Reviewed: 26.04.24

Marc Morris

Principal

Appendix A

Assembly areas: EYFS campus Car Park

Appendix B