On Discovering a fire:
Any member of staff who discovers a fire should sound the alarm immediately and the school will be evacuated following the procedures stated below.
Any pupil discovering a fire should inform the nearest member of staff immediately, who will immediately sound the alarm.
Fire Fighting:
Members of staff should only consider fighting a fire after the school has been evacuated and if doing so does not put themselves at risk. The emergency services should always be called. No-one should re-enter the building until the all clear has been given.
Evacuation routes:
A list of the shortest evacuation routes is displayed in each classroom and all work areas within the three buildings of the school.
These clearly state the nearest evacuation route from each work area.
Site plans are displayed in each staffroom, clearly indicating fire exits and assembly points.
Staff are made aware of alternative routes should the normal route be inaccessible.
These are reviewed half termly following fire drills.
Fire drills include scenarios such as:

Lunch / break time evacuation

Obstructed route

Missing child
Missing Child:
If any child is identified as missing a senior member of staff should be informed immediately.
The Head Teacher / Deputy or H & S Officer will re enter the building to locate the child unless prevented to do so by fire or there is a risk of danger.
Partial Evacuation:
Due to the three individual sites of the school, evacuation of the whole school may not always be necessary.
When an emergency arises requiring the evacuation to the whole school it is the responsibility of the office staff or a senior member of staff to inform all departments immediately.
Evacuation Procedures:
Nursery Site:
When the alarm bell rings, (a continuous electric bell), Nursery children will exit the building, via the fire exit doors, under the supervision of the Nursery Nurse and any adult assistants and assemble on the school field, facing away from the building.
Nursery Nurse to lead children to the assembly point, teacher to guide children from the rear.
The class teacher is responsible for checking the building and collecting the registers and any special medical items.

Reception, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two Sites:
When the fire alarm rings, (a continuous electric bell),children should vacate the building immediately, in a silent , single line via the designated fire exit (BLUE DOT
SIGN).
The teacher should check that the normal escape route is clear and then direct children out of the classroom, closing the door behind them. Classroom assistants , if present should lead the children to the playground. Teacher to guide class from the rear and close all doors.
All should assemble at the designated fire assembly point in the playground, facing away from the building.
Children should remain in silence until permission is given to re – enter the building.
During Assembly:
Instructions will be given to each class by the teacher conducting the assembly.
Fire exits will be used as appropriate bearing in mind the location of the fire.
If class teachers are not present during the assembly they should return to the hall as soon as the alarm is sounded to help with evacuation procedures unless the position of the fire prevents them from doing so. In such a situation they should exit the building by their nearest fire exit and help with supervision at the assembly point.
Evacuation from Key Stage One Hall:
All classes to exit hall via fire exit door in library and outer door near toilet area and assemble in the playground.
Evacuation from Key Stage Two Hall :
All classes to exit via fire exit door at front and rear of the hall and assemble in the playground.
During Break times:
When the alarm is sounded the duty teacher will signal the children to line up in their designated assembly area in silence. Know that if they are in the building (e.g toilet/ cloakroom areas) they must leave the building by the nearest fire exit. They will be joined by their class teachers and normal procedures will follow.
During Lunchtimes:
The midday assistants on duty will instruct the children in the playground to line up in the designated assembly area.
The teachers on site will return to the hall to help supervise evacuation unless the position of the fire prevents them from doing so.
The teacher/s in charge of each department is /are responsible for checking and ensuring that the building has been completely evacuated. If this person is in charge of a class his/her first responsibility is to his/ her class. Once they have been taken to the assembly point the site should be checked accordingly.

Wet Play and Lunchtimes:
During wet playtimes and wet lunchtimes the normal procedures should be followed.
If the whole school is evacuated, arrangements will be made for pupils to assemble in
St.Augustine’s Church or Gearies Junior School hall if necessary.
Office Staff:
It is the responsibility of Office staff to contact the emergency services and bring the following items with them as they vacate the building:

Class registers

Contact numbers for parents/ carers

Mobile phone

Special medication (eg. Epipens, inhalers).
These are kept in a central place in the office for quick access.
Fire and Rescue Services:
The Fire and Rescue Services will be met on arrival by a senior member of staff and informed of details of the incident, identify the location of the fire and notify them of any hazards in the building.
Training needs of staff are reviewed annually
Outdoor to indoor evacuation:
In the event of an emergency situation outside the school building (e.g during lunch or morning break or a PE lesson etc) the outdoor area will be evacuated as follows:
 if an outdoor emergency arises the person who identifies the emergency will inform staff in outdoor areas immediately to ensure that any pupils are returned to a safe area
 staff member/s on duty will indicate to pupils in usual manner (whistle, hand bell etc) that they should line up as quickly as possible and return to the building.
 emergency services will be informed as appropriate

all staff will then be informed that the outdoor area must not be used until further notice
Outside Normal School Hours:
In the event of fire the alarm will be raised according to the above procedures.
When the building is occupied outside school hours, for example a PTA event, the nearest ground level fire exit doors will be used and the assembly point will be in the school playground. Arrangements will be made to ensure that large Gates can be opened for fire /ambulance access.
For events when children are in our care, or in an activity run by an outside organisation, a register will be kept and checked should an evacuation be necessary.
All outside organisations are informed of the school’s fire regulations and evacuation procedures.

Staff working in school out of school hours (e.g holidays, INSET days etc) should record their name in a book in main entrance area and sign out when leaving so that there is a record of those present.
They should also inform the caretaker that they are on site. The most senior member of staff in school at the time should check that everyone is present when an evacuation takes place.
Security Alerts and Site Evacuations.
(e.g. bomb scares).
An incident becomes a critical incident when it constitutes a serious disruption arising with little or no warning on a scale beyond the coping capacity of the school operating under normal conditions and requiring the assistance of the Emergency Services and / or Redbridge County Council and others.
An incident will be declared to be critical following consultation between Senior staff and the Chief education Officer.
Examples of incidents impacting on the school could include:

Death or serious injury as a result of violence, accident, self-harm and / or sudden or traumatic illness

Major fire

Building collapse

Riot and / or civil disorder

Natural and man – made disaster

Terrorism

Missing person(s)/abductions
Fire detection and alarms out of action due to a fault.
All alarm systems are regularly checked by the caretaker and Handyman.
Faulty systems are reported immediately and rectified as soon as possible.
In the unlikely event of a fire or emergency during this time staff will be informed of alternate arrangements (i.e. continuous ringing of the school bell to signal evacuation).
Critical Incident Plan:
The following plan has been constructed to:
Enable the school to cope with the impact of an incident in order to ensure an effective and appropriate response and in order to enhance
References:

Critical Incident Plan

School Security Policy

School Health & Safety Policy

Staff Handbook