As part of our commitment to safeguarding and in line with guidance from the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Conway Primary School maintains robust lockdown procedures to protect the safety and wellbeing of pupils, staff and visitors.

A lockdown is implemented in response to an internal or external incident that may pose a risk to those on the school site. Lockdown procedures are an important element of our emergency planning and form part of our wider safeguarding arrangements.

Circumstances That May Require a Lockdown

Lockdown procedures may be activated in response to a number of situations, including, but not limited to:

1. A reported incident or disturbance within the local community.
2. An unauthorised intruder entering the school site.
3. A warning regarding a local environmental hazard, such as a smoke plume, gas leak or air quality concern.
4. A major fire in the vicinity of the school.
5. The presence of a dangerous animal in close proximity to the school grounds.
6. Any other situation where remaining safely indoors would be the most appropriate course of action.

Lockdown Alert System

To alert staff to a lockdown situation, the school operates a Blue Silent Alarm System. All staff receive training on lockdown procedures and their responsibilities should a lockdown be required.

Communication with Parents and Carers

In the event of a lockdown, the school will communicate with parents and carers as soon as it is safe and practical to do so. Information will be shared in a timely manner to ensure families are kept informed and reassured.

Parents and carers can be assured that:

• The safety and welfare of all pupils and staff is our highest priority.
• The school will take all necessary actions to protect those on site.
• Updates will be provided as information becomes available and when it is appropriate to do so.

During a lockdown, parents and carers are asked to:

• Avoid contacting the school by telephone, unless absolutely necessary, as telephone lines may be required for communication with emergency services and other agencies.
• Not attend the school site, as this may impede emergency service access or place themselves and others at unnecessary risk.
• Wait for official communication from the school regarding the status of the incident and any arrangements for collecting children.
• Follow all instructions issued by the school and emergency services.

Example Parent Communication

Should a full lockdown be required, parents and carers may receive a message similar to the following:

"The school is currently operating a full lockdown procedure. During this period, external doors will be secured, access to the site will be restricted, and no one will be permitted to enter or leave the premises until it is safe to do so. The safety of our pupils and staff remains our highest priority. Further information will be communicated as soon as it is appropriate and safe to do so."

At Conway Primary School, we regularly review our safeguarding and emergency procedures to ensure we are fully prepared to respond effectively to any situation that may affect the safety of our school community.