HYDE PARK SCHOOL, Marble Arch CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLAN Statement In the event of an emergency at Hyde Park School, the safety of everyone in the school community and preservation of life will override all other considerations. It is the duty of all staff to study and make themselves familiar with the school's emergency evacuation and follow-up procedures. As part of the regular review of safety and risk assessment this emergency policy will be kept under continual review by the Head of Pre Prep and other members of the Senior Leadership Team. The Aims of the Plan The aims of this plan are to: identify those members of staff with specific responsibilities before, during and after an emergency Key Roles provide guidance on school routines aimed at reducing the risk of fire and other emergencies provide details of emergency evacuation procedures provide details of how all parents are to be contacted promptly in the event of an emergency or school closure provide guidelines for dealing with unwelcome intruders confirm security procedures when school buildings are not in use confirm arrangements for dealing with the media after an emergency incident. Staff Involvement All staff should be involved in the formulation of the Crisis Management Plan (CMP) but the specific individuals will have key roles to play (see below). The most recent CMP is discussed with staff on an annual basis at a staff meeting A hard copy of the CMP will be distributed to all staff and new staff will be shown the Crisis Management Policy as part of their induction. It will also be saved on the R drive on the school network. Crisis Management Plan MA/R.Policies, Procedures, Inspections/1.12.15/KAD Page 1
Staff training Bereavement counselling (external agency) Staff will be instructed not to talk to the media Key Roles Head of Pre Prep Mrs Karen Dapson Copy of CMP to be kept at home Communication with parents Headmistress Mrs Hilary Wyatt To be notified of any situations Copy of CMP to be kept at home Response to media Group Business Manager Mrs Lisa Maynard Responsibility for Health and Safety Copy of CMP to be kept at group offices Director of Minerva Education Mr Tommy Milner MacDonald Overall responsibility for health and safety but not on site (To be informed of any incidents) Types of Emergency Fire Flooding Terrorist attack Fatality or major accident whilst on school trip Fatality or major accident within the building Pandemic Workplace violence Intruder with weapon Death of a child whilst at school Death of any member of school community whilst at home Missing/abducted child Suspect package Preventative Measures Regular fire drills; at least once a term Fire risk assessment All internal doors closed when not in use or where appropriate fitted with automatic door closers The school is fully insured for both buildings and public liability Risk assessments are carried out as and when necessary Crisis Management Plan MA/R.Policies, Procedures, Inspections/1.12.15/KAD Page 2
Coded gate system and intercom fitted Burglar alarm fitted All visitors are entered in the visitors book, wear a visitor s badge and where appropriate accompanied around the school with a member of staff External lighting One main entrance to the site: this is the only entrance at ground floor level Regular head counts on school trips Observing adult: child ratios as laid down by national standards All staff DBS and List 99 checked All flammable or hazardous chemicals are locked away Staff valuables secured in lockers All rubbish removed from site regularly The cleaning staff will ensure that the building is secured before setting the alarm All staff must ensure that exit routes are kept clear at all times Procedures in the Event of a Fire Whenever the school bell is rung the school evacuation drill will be carried out to its conclusion. No time will be wasted debating if the alarm is a practice or not. All visitors will be issued with a copy of the evacuation procedures. No attempt will be made to tackle a fire unless it is very minor and poses no significant threat to the occupants of the building. Staff Responsibilities In the event of an evacuation, school personnel will have the following specific responsibilities. Where named individuals are not available, an appropriate senior member of staff will deputise. The Head of Pre Prep or the most senior member of staff in school will call the fire brigade or police as necessary and be available to meet and brief the emergency services on arrival. It is the responsibility of one of these members of staff to ensure that pupil contact details are taken from the office along with a mobile phone. The Fire officer will identify the area where there is a fire and provide this information to the Head of Pre Prep. Teachers and nursery staff with direct responsibility for pupils will immediately ensure their safe evacuation to the designated place of safety ensuring that all children s medication is brought with them. The designated place of safety is St George s Fields entrance or if this is not possible then children and staff should assemble in the large garden area inside St George s Fields. The school registrar will collect the class lists and absence reports from the designated central location and distribute them to the teachers and nursery staff. Class teachers and nursery staff will check the class lists and absence reports and immediately communicate the names of any pupils who are unaccounted for to the Head of Pre Prep or most senior member of staff. Any contractors working on site will stop work immediately and assemble with the permanent staff. The registrar will check the visitors' book and staff signing out book to ensure that all visitors to the school are accounted for. The computer system is automatically backed up remotely Crisis Management Plan MA/R.Policies, Procedures, Inspections/1.12.15/KAD Page 3
Staff are to ensure that doors are closed behind them Routine Precautions The Fire Alarm System The school does not have an electronic fire alarm system but regular fire drills are carried out to ensure that the bell is audible in all areas throughout the school. Stuart Hewer is the fire officer at The Long Garden and is responsible for maintaining written records of all testing and service procedures Evacuation Routes Evacuation route ways and exit doors will be signposted and kept clear at all times and it is the responsibility of all staff to abide by this procedure. Members of staff will ensure that they are familiar with alternative escape routes in case the designated primary route is impassable Fire Drill A practice fire drill will be held during the first 2 weeks of every term without prior notice. This may be followed by another practice to correct any faults in the first. Firefighting Equipment Firefighting equipment is located throughout the school and is serviced annually by an external contractor Fire extinguishers will be used mainly for the purpose of clearing a safe pathway to an exit and staff s main focus should be on evacuating the building rather than extinguishing fires. Other Emergencies In the event of any other form of emergency in a classroom or some other area in the school staff will inform the Head of Pre Prep or next most senior member of staff immediately so that appropriate action can be taken. In the event of an incident occurring outside the school grounds but which affects the school community or premises The most senior person will call the police or The school will be called by the police Once we are in contact with the police, we will follow police instructions. We will prepare to evacuate the premises in case this is necessary. Crisis Management Plan MA/R.Policies, Procedures, Inspections/1.12.15/KAD Page 4
We will also prepare to remain in the school with all gates secured. We would contact the St George s Fields estate office to ensure that the main gates were locked. If the children need to remain in the classrooms and not evacuate the building we will ring the classrooms to alert staff that this is the procedure to follow. If the phone system is down then a whistle will be blown once. A whistle is located in each classroom and the staff room alongside the fire bell. We would remain inside until informed by police that the emergency was over; we would signify the end by either telephoning the classrooms or blowing the whistle twice. We will hold an annual drill. Contacting Parents in an Emergency The registrar will contact the relevant parents using Primary Contact and if this is not possible then the registrar at Elvaston Place will be contacted to do this on our behalf. Evacuation of the Building Individual members of staff will ensure the safe evacuation of all pupils for whom they are responsible, to the previously designated place of safety St George s Fields entrance. If it is impossible to assemble outside St George s Field entrance, we should go to the large garden area inside St George s Fields. If we have to move completely away from Albion Street and the surrounding area, we would walk to Hyde Park and ensure that the following items are taken: First aid kit Note book and pen Nappies Wipes Mobile phone Money Medication In the case of a large-scale emergency, fire or fire drill, the following staff will evacuate the building with an Emergency First Aid Bag: Mrs Karen Dapson (KAD) Emergency First Aid Bag situated in the medical room under the bed. The Emergency First Aid Bag is not to be used unless there is a large-scale emergency and in the above named staff s absence the following staff will take the first aid bag with them. It is their responsibility to be aware of where these are situated; Mrs Caroline Pulbrook (CJP) Mr Stuart Hewer (SDH) When an alarm sounds, pupils will be marshalled in an orderly fashion following the nearest available escape route and, if possible, all windows and doors should be closed as they exit the building. Crisis Management Plan MA/R.Policies, Procedures, Inspections/1.12.15/KAD Page 5
Pupils and staff will assemble outside St George s Fields entrance. On arrival, names will be checked against the class lists and absence report If someone is missing the building will not be re-entered under any circumstances. The information will be given to the most senior member of the emergency services so that a search can be instigated. Nobody will re-enter any building until given express permission to do so by the senior officer of the emergency services. If weather conditions are inclement a decision to move pupils to other local buildings will be taken only after the role call has been completed. The buildings available for emergency occupation are at our other school: 24 Elvaston Place. Maintain security of the building. If appropriate and safe, allocate a member of staff to stand at the gate and question all unknown individuals. Unwelcome Intruders All visitors to the school will be required to wear an identification badge. Any non-member of staff found in school without a badge will be challenged and accompanied to reception. If an intruder refuses to co-operate, staff will inform the most senior member of staff immediately. The police will be called as a matter of routine if an intruder refuses to co-operate with school staff. In the event of a hostage-type situation the members of staff involved will try to remain calm, avoid confrontation and concentrate on the welfare of pupils until the police or other emergency services can be summoned. On no account will any member of staff attempt to use force to attack or evict an unwelcome intruder. Building Security During holiday periods and at weekends all security doors will be locked for the welfare of staff and security of the buildings. Staff will check with the Head of Pre Prep or most senior member of staff if they need access when the buildings are secured. It is the responsibility of all members of staff who enter the school when it is secured to familiarise themselves with available emergency exits and to ensure that they do not compromise the security of buildings. Dealing with the Media It is probable that some media interest will follow an emergency incident. Any media requests for information will be directed to the Head of Pre Prep or Headmistress. Crisis Management Plan MA/R.Policies, Procedures, Inspections/1.12.15/KAD Page 6
No members of staff, or pupils, will give interviews or express an opinion or comment on any written or printed material without the express permission of the most senior member of staff in school. After immediate danger has passed 1. Formal debriefing meetings for all staff, pupils, parents and anyone else affected 2. Key staff to provide written report of incident 3. Arrange counselling as appropriate for affected parties 4. Repairs to school building as quickly as possible Review of Emergency Policy As part of the regular review of safety and risk assessment this emergency policy will be reviewed annually by Head of Pre Prep and other members of the senior management team. Crisis Management Plan MA/R.Policies, Procedures, Inspections/1.12.15/KAD Page 7