Policy: Fire Safety

Fire Safety Policy

At Hatching Dragons we make sure the nursery is a safe environment for children, parents, staff and visitors through our fire safety policy and procedures.

The duty manager makes sure the nursery premises are compliant with fire safety regulations, including following any major changes or alterations to the premises and seeks advice from the local fire safety officer as necessary.

The duty manager has overall responsibility for the fire drill and evacuation procedures. These are carried out and recorded for each group of children every three months 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 will 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.

The duty manager checks fire detection and control equipment and fire exits in line with the timescales in the checklist below.  

Fire checklist

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 must be kept in the visitor’s book. These records must be taken along with the register and emergency contacts list in the event of a fire.

No smoking policy

The nursery operates a strict no smoking 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 manager on duty
• Using the nearest accessible exit lead the children out, assemble at

• Close all doors behind you wherever possible
• 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.

For Children Located Above Ground Level:

• The Room leader will take the registers and emergency contacts / evacuation bag plus fully charged mobile (room leader is responsible for ensuring the mobile is charged weekly) and also the room’s walkie talkie
• Room leaders will be at the front and rear of their room cohort and assemble by the evacuation door
• The room leader will undertake a head count before leaving
• Using the evacuation stairs, Room leader at front, Deputy Room leader at the back. Support staff will be on the inside stair, helping children hold on to the banisters to walk down safely
• Room Leader will udnertake head count at assembly point and liaise with the manager via the walkie talkies to communicate head count

For Babies / Pre-mobile Toddlers or those with mobility difficulties

• The Room leader will take the registers and emergency contacts / evacuation bag plus fully charged mobile (room leader is responsible for ensuring the mobile is charged weekly) and also the room’s walkie talkie
• Room leaders will bring out the evacuation cot and coordinate children into the cot
• The room leader will undertake a head count before leaving
• Two staff will manage each evacuation cot through the exits. 
• Room Leader will undertake head count at assembly point and liaise with the manager via the walkie talkies to communicate head count

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 is to:

• Pick up the children’s register, staff register, mobile phone, keys, visitor book and firebag/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 –as above - 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.
• Fire Warden and Manager will ensure hi vis vests are worn so they are identifiable. The hi-vis vest are to be found in the fire evacuation bag.

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.