Fire and Safety Policy

FIRE AND EMERGENCY POLICY

This document details the fire and emergency procedures (including evacuation) for the premises of BUCKRIDGE PRIVATE SCHOOL. Staff should ensure that they are familiar with these procedures and act upon the requirements.

Aims:

It is the overall aim of BUCKRIDGE PRIVATE SCHOOL to minimise the risks to staff, pupils and visitors which may arise from a fire or other emergency. This will be achieved by ensuring precautions are taken to avoid fires occurring and by ensuring that procedures for minimising the effects of an outbreak of fire and evacuating the premises, or for evacuating where necessary, are in place.

FIRE OR OTHER EVACUATION

Roles and Responsibilities

Responsible Person – this is the Executive Head, who has the overall responsibility for fire safety management at the schools. The responsible person can delegate operational management to the Fire Safety Coordinator.

COMPOSITION OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE

Fire and Site Safety Coordinator – Maintenance Manager-   Sir Wade

Deputy Safety Coordinator - Vice Principal – Sir William

Fire Marshals – all teaching and non-teaching staff.

Fire Drill Procedures and Exit and Assembly Points:

In each classroom there is guidance on the emergency plan (A and B) of the school showing the evacuation routes and assembly points.

Designated Assembly Point

Soccer Field

Evacuation Routes

Evacuation routes will be kept free of obstruction. Sufficient notices are displayed at appropriate places.

Responsibility of all Staff:

All school staff (including consultants, contractors and others working on the school site) are responsible for maintaining a high standard of fire precautions in areas under their control or influence. In particular staff should ensure:

that they are fully aware of the fire evacuation procedures (displayed in every room)

that fire exits are kept clear and fire Siren call point and firefighting equipment are not obstructed

that the presence of inflammable materials is kept at a reasonable level and that inflammable materials are stored appropriately

that the pupils for whom they are responsible are made aware of the fire evacuation procedure

that classroom doors are shut when classrooms are not in use

Fire Marshals

All staff will act as fire marshals. Teachers are responsible for ensuring children leave the classroom quickly and safely. Support staff will be responsible for checking individual cubicles, toilets bathrooms and group areas before following the teachers outside. Office staff are responsible for collecting the registers (if they have been sent to the office), the visitor and pupil signing in/out books, the medication and the first aid bag.

If staff encounter any other persons they should be instructed to evacuate immediately. All visitors and members of the general public should be ushered via an exit to the assembly point.

The SMT have the responsibility for checking the safety of the premises including keeping escape routes clear, completing visual checks around the school site, dealing with hazards either identified by them, or reported by another member of staff, pupil or contractor

Staff Absence

Should any member of teaching staff be absent, their duties in evacuating the pupils in their care from the building will be undertaken by the assistant administrator.

Action when the fire alarm sounds:

Teachers to check all pupils exit the classroom, sickroom and any other areas used for gathering.

Pupils should form a line and leave quietly and calmly by the nearest exit.

All windows and doors to be closed

Registers to be taken outside by the class teacher and checked by the Administrator to ensure all pupils are present.

Visitors book to be taken outside by office staff who will check all visitors and staff are accounted for 

Pre-school staff will evacuate also and will communicate with the HOD to check if all pupils and staff are there.

Staff room, office area, staff toilets to be checked by office staff

Office staff to summon fire brigade (unless it is a fire drill)

No one is to re-enter the building until the all clear sign is given. (a continuous siren bell)

Lunch and Break Time

If the fire Siren sounds at lunchtime then the HODs are responsible for ensuring evacuation of pupils and checking registers at the assembly point. Support staff on the premises but on lunch break will gather at their usual working points to be accounted for.

Disabled Persons

Pupils with disabilities will leave the building with the support of their register class teacher.

In the event of a visitor needing support the teaching and/or support staff working with this individual will provide support.

All of these groups will need to make their way via the nearest safe exit to theassembly point.

Action on discovering a fire:

Raise the alarm without delay( three short burst) – anyone discovering a fire should activate the Siren. Inform the school office of the location of the fire if they are not already aware.

School office to call the fire brigade

Report directly to assembly area as set out in the evacuation plan.

It is the school’s policy that all staff and pupils leave the school immediately without attempting to fight the fire. Firefighting equipment should only be used when the fire is blocking your only means of exit

Upon arrival of the fire brigade, the Maintenance Manager and the Vice Principal will liaise with them and hand over any relevant information – any person unaccounted for,  location of the fire (if known), areas containing flammable or toxic material (cupboards and containers ), location of the nearest water supply and access points into the buildings

If there is no risk of injury, mains services such as gas or electricity should be turned off.

The mains isolator for electricity can be found in the main electrical board at the back of the admin block and at the VP’s residence

Roll call

At the assembly point children will line up in classes according to Phases. Each teacher will call out their register and double check numbers to ensure that no pupil is unaccounted for. Staff and visitors will be checked by the office staff.

Fire Drills

Fire drills are carried out at once per year and logged in the fire log book by the Maintenance Manager.

Visitors and Contractors:

All visitors and contractors should report to the office and sign in and out using the visitors’ book. Contractors working on the premises should be made aware of the fire and emergency procedures that apply.

Fire Training

Onsite training will be provided regularly for all school staff in fire safety and the school fire procedure. All staff will have the fire procedure explained to them, together with information on the location of the Siren, escape routes and alternatives exits and assembly point. Fire safety training will be an element of the induction of new staff.

Fire Log Book and other records

The Fire Log Book is stored by the Vice Principal and records of evacuation issues and their resolution and training are logged by the VP as they arise.

Records of regular testing of fire exits, alarms and visual inspection of fire extinguishers carried out by the Maintenance Manager are recorded in the Fire Log Book. 

Records of firefighting equipment checks and other tests for safety compliance are kept by the Vice Principal

Equipment testing

Siren test: The Maintenance Manager will carry out a daily visual check of the siren for fault indicators.

Firefighting equipment: a monthly visual inspection of firefighting equipment is carried out by the Maintenance manager, and this is recorded in the Fire Log Book. The equipment is tested annually by Fire Master Services and records are kept in the Safety file by the Vice Principal.     

EVACUATION

In the case of an intruder or other incident requiring lockdown in buildings and classrooms, the procedures are as follows:

If lockdown becomes necessary the office will telephone the Executive Head on her mobile first. If possible, according to the situation calls can be made to all members of staff who can pass on the information to the other classes nearest. Or situation allowing a burst of six (6) siren bells will be rung.  Upon hearing this the teacher in the lesson must check that all children are present by a headcount and all children must remain in class until further instructions are received.  All windows and doors must be secured. Desks near the door or entrance must be pushed again the door to block any attempt by anyone trying to get inside.  A Siren ringing six short times signifies to teachers to get the learners back into the building as quickly as possible if they are outside. If they are in the class already, they should stop whatever they are doing and squat beside/ behind their desk. Communication to the Executive Head once the situation has normalised and permission sort to sound an all clear Siren bell which shall be a continuous long siren bell that signifies that the danger is gone.

Fire Regulations

1. The fire alarm is a burst of three (3) Siren bell- (long enough to be heard but at short intervals than the normal lesson bell)

 2. On hearing the bell, immediately vacate the buildings (according to evacuation plan A or B) and do not attempt to bring any personal belongings

3. Class teacher/adult to ensure, where possible, that all windows are closed and the door is closed upon exit. Close doors and windows when vacating the class.

4. Walk in single file to the fire drill assembly point (see school plan).

5. All administration staff and kitchen staff to evacuate immediately and assemble on grounds

  6. Administration staff to communicate between themselves in order to figure out those registers that are not with the class teacher. Signing in and out/ clock in books to be taken by administrative staff to the assembly point so that any pupils who have gone home and staff and visitors can be checked and accounted for.

Notes:

Support teachers should be made aware of the fire regulations. Regular fire drills will occur throughout the year at a range of times during the day.  All fire drills and checks to be logged by the Maintenance Manager.