Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation Policy

Our priority is to minimise the risk to life and to reduce injury by maintaining the physical fire safety of Changing Lives Independent School in ensuring that staff, pupils and visitors do not add to the fire risk and through safe evacuation of our buildings if a fire breaks out. The fire safety policy, procedures and risk assessments at the school are designed to help our community to respond calmly and effectively should fire break out in one of our buildings.

This policy covers the whole site which the school is situated on. This includes the alternative provision (AP), Trafford College and staff who work at Carrington Riding Centre. This policy is applicable to all pupils and staff who are situated on our school site.

There are fire practices at least three times a year to ensure staff members and pupils are familiar with the Emergency Evacuation Procedure, as well as ensuring that staff members are aware of their obligations to visitors and contractors working on site in the event of an emergency fire evacuation.

Staff training is undertaken as part of the initial induction of a staff member and periodically through the Fire Emergency Evacuation Drills, when feedback is provided to individuals on areas for improvement. Formal training on general fire risk management awareness is provided by Educare and is renewed annually.

Form tutors/Class teachers remind at the beginning of each term the key guidelines pupils must follow in the case of the fire alarm sounding:

• Walk towards the designated fire point in an orderly manner.
• The location of alarm points and what to do if they discover a fire.
• The location of the Fire Assembly Point and the roll-call procedures.
• The general procedure is: keep calm, listen to instructions, walk, single file, maintain silence, shoe laces must be done up, do not return to collect personal possessions.

All staff should:

• Be familiar with both fire and emergency radio procedures.
• Know where alarm points are.
• Know where the nearest extinguisher is.
• Know exit routes.
• Be aware of any particular needs if they are responsible for any disabled or temporarily disabled pupils.
• Be aware of obligations to visitors and contractors when applicable.

If they discover a fire, staff are advised to:

• Operate the nearest alarm.
• Immediately vacate premises with your class, collecting your radio as you leave.
• Assist in the evacuation of the building by the nearest available exit.
• Ensure assistance is provided to any disabled or temporarily disabled pupil(s).
• Ensure that one staff member walks behind the class.
• Do not re-enter the building until told to do so by the Fire Safety Officer or SLT.

The General Manager of the site is the designated school Fire Safety Manager (supported by SLT) and is responsible for ensuring that:

• The Fire Safety Policy is kept under regular review by SLT and managers on the school site.
• The Fire Safety Policy is sent to the entire school community, AP, college staff and any other staff who work on the site.
• Everyone in the school (including visitors and contractors) are given clear instructions on where they should go in the event of fire.
• Records are kept of the fire safety training given to staff and what training all staff have completed.
• Procedures and arrangements for emergency evacuation are regularly tested, including the maintenance of escape routes, signage etc.
• Fire risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated.
• Fire prevention measures are followed.
• Fire procedures and risk assessments are reviewed on each occasion that a building is altered, extended or rebuilt, when something is moved around or when there has been a significant incident.
• Records for the installation and maintenance of fire prevention systems and equipment are kept.

• If you discover a fire, either activate the fire alarm or radio for someone to activate the fire alarm.
• As soon as the alarm is sounded, leave the building in an orderly manner; walk, do not run.
• If you are responsible for a class or students, ensure they leave quietly with you.
• If you are in an arena with the horses, the staff member will tie the horses to the fence.
• Follow the designated fire evacuation route.
• Do NOT attempt to fight the fire unless you have had specific training in firefighting.
• If you are trapped in smoke, stay close to the floor where the air may be cleaner and cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth if possible.
• If a door feels hot, do not open it; check for heat by brushing the back of your hand quickly against the handle.
• Never go back for any possessions or for any reason.
• The most senior staff member present is responsible for calling the fire brigade should a fire occur.
• Assemble at the relevant Fire Assembly Point.
• SLT will distribute a print out of the pupil/staff/visitors registers for that day, which will include pupil/staff absences.
• Take the register of your class as soon as you reach the Assembly Point.
• Report anyone who is missing immediately to the Senior Leadership Team and the School Fire Safety Officer who will inform the Fire Brigade. On no account should anyone return to any building until given permission by the Fire and Emergency Services or the Fire Safety Officer.
• Remain at the Assembly Point with your pupils until the all clear is given.

All our new staff (teaching and non-teaching alike) and all new pupils are given a briefing on the school’s emergency evacuation procedures when starting at the school. New staff members and pupils also are given a tour of the school as part of their Induction Programme and Transition Programme.

All visitors are required to sign in on their arrival at reception (this includes all visitors to the site not just to the school). All visitors are issued with a Visitor Badge which must be worn at all times during their visit.

Fire Safety instructions are included on the back of the visitor’s badge. Visitors to the school are always accompanied by a member of staff.

When large numbers of visitors are at the school for open evening etc., a brief announcement is made advising them of the location of the emergency exits that they should use in the event of the alarms sounding.

All contractors sign in at reception, including during the holiday periods. They are provided with appropriate fire safety instructions and staff understand their responsibilities for the safe evacuation of all contractors on site.

Teaching staff

Teaching staff are responsible for escorting their pupils safely out of the building, arena, yard area etc. in silence and in an orderly fashion. They are also responsible for conducting a roll call on arrival at the assembly point, and for ensuring that the name of anyone who cannot be accounted for (and, if possible, their likely location) is passed immediately to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

Senior Leadership Team

SLT ensure this information is passed to the Fire and Emergency service as soon as they arrive. They ensure their staff are aware of the fire evacuation process and undergo an annual fire evacuation practice within their working area. In the event of a fire, they conduct a roll call on arrival at the assembly point, and pass on names of anyone unaccounted for to the Fire and Emergency service immediately.

Fire Marshals

Staff trained as Fire Marshals are deemed "competent persons" who have been trained to provide safety assistance in the event of a fire. They are competent in the use of fire extinguishers, receive regular refresher training, and staff new to the role receive training as part of their induction. They conduct a basic internal building search/sweep of their area to ensure all occupants have evacuated and are accounted for.

Staff, Visitors and Students

Staff must co-operate with the employer or other authorised persons to enable legal obligations to be fulfilled in respect of fire safety measures. No one should maliciously interfere with a fire alarm system, fire extinguisher or block escape routes/exits. Other than during notified tests, all staff, students and visitors must follow the fire evacuation procedures.

• The school adheres to the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2005).
• Fire notices and evacuation signs are prominently displayed.
• Fire extinguishers, fire blankets and smoke/heat detectors are located in every building per professional recommendations.
• SLT are responsible for unlocking the buildings each morning.
• Fire drills are conducted at least three times a year.

• All devices and electrical equipment are tested and inspected at least once a year.
• Non-essential electronic equipment should be switched off at the end of every day.
• The General Manager should check that all kitchen equipment is switched off at the end of the day.