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POLICY INFORMATION

Paint Pots recognises the potentially serious risks to children, staff, and visitors in emergency or harmful situations. An evacuation or lockdown occurs when circumstances dictate that the safety of the children

and staff is better ensured inside current buildings, with doors and windows locked and blinds/curtains drawn.

Lockdown procedures may be activated in response to any number of situations, but some of the more typical might be:

• A reported incident/ civil disturbance in the local community (with the potential to pose a risk to staff and children
• An intruder on our site (with the potential to pose a risk to staff and children)
• A warning being received regarding a risk locally, ie of air pollution (smoke plume, gas cloud )
• A major fire in the vicinity of our setting
• The close proximity of a dangerous dog roaming loose

Management of the situation will depend on the circumstances presented:

• The safety of all personnel is the primary focus in managing the situation – notifications and reporting are secondary to safety issues.
• Remain calm - It is very important not to convey any sense of panic or danger to the children.
• Consider activities that will distract the children such as making a den and having a picnic.
• Move slowly
• Obey instructions
• Do not provoke an incident

Procedure:

1. The senior staff member on site (manager or deputy) will alert other staff calmly and quietly, using the phrase “Lock Down” to initiate lock down. If appropriate, he or she will contact police on 999, making them aware of the situation and that there are children in the He/she will also make the senior management aware of the situation, at the earliest opportunity.