Following my email last week about Martyn’s Law, we carried out our first lockdown drill today, trialling it at lunchtime as this is the time when most children are outside. We may pick different times of the day and different circumstances in the future e.g. during a Sports Day practice would be a good opportunity next term.
I'm pleased to say it went really smoothly today. The children were brilliant.
We communicated to the children that the same things apply as in a fire drill: they need to walk not run, they should not go to fetch belongings, they should be quiet when they get in so that the register can be taken and staff can receive communication about the reason for the lockdown and whether any further actions are necessary.
The lockdown drill isn't just in relation to Martyn's Law.
For example, we may be bringing the children indoors because of air pollution, a reported incident / civil disturbance in the community near our school or because a swarm of bees or a dangerous dog are on site.
In the event of a full lockdown we would communicate with parents via text message as soon as is practical, giving as much information as we are able. Emergency Services would support us in determining what and when to communicate. Parents should then wait for an update about when it will be safe to collect children and where this would be from. Pupils would not be released to parents during a lockdown.
It would be important that parents do not contact the school office as this could tie up the telephone lines that may be needed for communication with emergency services. Similarly, parents should not come to the school as this could interfere with the work of emergency services and, depending on the circumstances that triggered the lockdown, it may be that in coming to school parents could put themselves or others at risk.