At Buttercups Nursery School we take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children, staff and others on the nursery premises in the case of a fire or other emergency through our fire safety policy and emergency evacuation procedures.
The manager/designated fire marshal alternates each day dependent on which member of the Senior Management Team is on duty. The Fire Marshal is updated and displayed clearly each day on the reception window.
We ensure the nursery premises are compliant with fire safety regulations, including following any major changes or alterations to the premises. The manager/designated fire marshal ensures we have all the appropriate fire detection and control equipment (e.g. fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire blankets and/or fire extinguishers) are in working order and seeks advice from the local fire safety officer as necessary.
They also have overall responsibility for the fire drill and evacuation procedures. These are carried out and recorded each month or as and when a large change occurs, e.g. a large intake of children or a new member of staff joins the nursery. These drills are planned to occur at different times of the day and on different days to ensure evacuations are possible under different circumstances and all children and staff participate in the rehearsals.
All staff receive fire safety and evacuation training (including as part of induction) to help them understand their roles and responsibilities. This includes the steps they must take to ensure the safety of children, for example keeping fire doors free from obstruction, how to safely evacuate the children and where the evacuation meeting point is situated. Each room has a specific evacuation plan, which includes information such as evacuating non-mobile babies and using alternative exits depending on where the fire may be situated.
The manager/designated fire marshal checks fire detection and control equipment and fire exits in line with the timescales within the checklist below.
Fire checklist
| Who checks | How often | ||
| Escape route/fire exits (all fire exits must be clearly identifiable) | ALL STAFF | DAILY | |
| Fire extinguishers and blankets | SMT | MONTHLY | |
| Evacuation pack | SMT | WEEKLY | |
| Smoke/heat alarms | SMT | MONTHLY | |
| Fire alarms | SMT | MONTHLY | |
| Fire doors closed, in good repair, doors free of obstruction and easily opened from the inside
|
ALL STAFF | DAILY |
A deputy fire marshal is appointed to over see this role when the fire marshal is absent.
Registration
An accurate record of all staff and children present in the building must be kept at all times and children/staff must be marked in and out on arrival and departure. An accurate record of visitors is kept in the visitor’s log via Octopus 365. These records are taken out along with the register and emergency contacts list in the event of a fire.
No smoking/vaping policy
The nursery operates a strict no smoking/vaping policy – please see this separate policy for details.
Fire drill procedure
On discovering a fire:
- Calmly raise the alarm by breaking the alarm glass
- Immediately evacuate the building under guidance from the SENIOR STAFF
- Senior Staff to ensure they put on their yellow high vis jackets located on the back of the office chairs.
- Yellow high vis jackets are on every evac door and the first member of staff to reach the evac door will need to put this on.
- Ladybirds and Bumblebee Room – Using the nearest accessible exit, lead the children out, assemble at the grass area nearest the kitchen window by the arrow sign.
- Butterflys, Grasshopper’s and Dragonflies – Using the nearest accessible exit, lead the children out, assemble at the grass area behind the cars in the staff car park by the green sign
- Close all doors behind you wherever possible
- When evacuating babies use the evacuation cots.
- When evacuating children or adults with mobility difficulties they may need to lifted this will be assessed by a risk assessment when they start with us.
- Do not stop to collect personal belongings on evacuating the building
- Do not attempt to go back in and fight the fire
- Do not attempt to go back in if any children or adults are not accounted for
- Wait for emergency services and report any unaccounted persons to the fire service/police.
- Nursery Cook to wear yellow high vis jacket located in the kitchen and once they have left the building they will stand in the road and stop traffic.
If you are unable to evacuate safely:
- Stay where you are safe
- Keep the children calm and together
- Wherever possible alert the manager of your location and the identity of the children and other adults with you.
The manager/fire marshal is to:
- Pick up the central children’s register, where applicable, staff register, nursery mobile/phone, keys, visitor book and fire bag/evacuation pack (containing emergency contacts list, nappies, wipes and blankets)
- Telephone emergency services: dial 999 and ask for the fire service
- In the fire assembly point area – Assembly point by the second tree on the grass area to the left of the building check the children against the register
- Account for all adults: staff and visitors
- Advise the fire service of anyone missing and possible locations and respond to any other questions they may have.
Remember
- Do not stop to collect personal belongings on evacuating the building
- Do not attempt to go back in and fight the fire
- Do not attempt to go back in if any children or adults are not accounted for.
This policy is updated at least annually in consultation with staff and parents and/or after a fire evacuation practice and/or fire.
