At Seven Steps Childcare, the safety of the children in our care is our highest priority. We have established comprehensive procedures to manage various emergency situations at our premises in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Fire safety and general responsibilities

Mrs. Joanna Lemon is the designated lead on fire safety and is responsible for taking charge during any emergency evacuation. Her responsibilities include:

• Raising the alarm and identifying the correct assembly point.
• Ensuring the safety of all children and confirming everyone is present after evacuation.
• Collecting the register, keeping records of attendance, and calling emergency services.
• Implementing, recording, and reviewing regular evacuation practices to ensure their effectiveness.

Emergency resources and documentation

We maintain an Emergency grab bag on a hook in the front porch inside the main front door. This bag contains an Emergency evacuation folder which holds:

• Emergency contact details for parents and carers.
• Contact details for relevant utility services (gas, water, electricity).
• Information for our agreed alternative safe place (The Castle Hotel).

Evacuation procedures

In the event of an emergency such as a fire, gas leak, or flood, we follow these steps:

• The Alarm: We will sound the alarm by loudly saying "Fire."
• Gathering: Children will immediately stop what they are doing and walk to the lead adult.
• Movement: Everyone will join hands in a line. We will lead the children to the nearest safe exit, carrying any young children who are not yet walking.
• Containment: If safe, we will close the door to the room where the fire originated to slow its spread.
• Essentials: We will only stop to collect the Emergency Evacuation Folder and a mobile phone.

Assembly points

• Assembly Point 1 (Front): Located on the grass next to the railway wall across from the house (what3words: after.remark.grew).
• Assembly Point 2 (Back): Located on the stones at the end of the garden by the washing line (what3words: prep.gossip.helps).
• Assembly Point 3 (Contingency): In cases of extreme weather or long wait times, we will relocate to The Castle Hotel on Castlegate (what3words: melon.season.medium).

Specific emergency protocols

Gas leaks

If we smell gas, our goal is to prevent ignition. We will open windows and doors, avoid using electrical switches or matches, and evacuate the building before calling the National Gas Emergency Service.

Water emergencies

The internal stopcock is located behind the washing machine in the back kitchen. In the event of a major leak or burst pipe, we have direct contact details for Northumbrian Water and private emergency plumbers.

Electricity failures

In a power cut, we use the national 105 line. We maintain emergency lighting (torches) and keep fridge/freezer doors closed to preserve food safety. Large appliances are turned off to prevent them from restarting unattended when power is restored.

Intruders and security

For threats outside the building, we implement a dynamic lockdown by locking all doors and windows and moving children to a pre-identified safe room. If a suspicious package is found inside, we evacuate immediately, moving at least 500 metres away before calling 999.

Practice and preparation

Children in our care regularly participate in evacuation drills. These practices are carried out on different days and at different times to ensure that everyone is familiar with the procedures, regardless of the activity they are engaged in. All practices are recorded in an evacuation log.