School lockdown procedures - is this happening everywhere?

[HappyMum123456]

We've received information from DDs school about lockdown procedures and upcoming practise drills. She's in year 6. Is this happening everywhere? I would have lost the plot when I was her age but thankfully she's way more resilient. I've spoken to her and given the example of a dog sneaking into the school grounds (so as not to cause her any alarm) but she's come home today talking about intruders and guns which I'm assuming has come from other kids rather than the teachers.

We had nuclear attack drill in reception in the late 70s.

Mine have had lockdown practice since infants and yes they're taught that it could be guns etc. by year 6 they must be aware of shootings?

Why would a teacher not tell them? They learn about the holocaust in year 6 I'm sure they can cope with a lockdown drill.

Yes it's standard.

Yes it’s normal. All schools have lockdown drills now. The younger kids are told it’s for escaped animals etc and they make it a bit of a game. Older kids know the real reasons (the schools don’t advertise that, but someone outside school usually tells you by year 5).

I’ve got 5 kids ( youngest 9) and have never come across these! Is it just in England??

Yes my dc had this when they were in primary school years ago.

Dd1 is now 10 and did this at nursery

Yes.

Yes. DC had it in primary. (They said it was in case animals got into the playground)

And in secondary too.

Yes, it is part of emergency planning as guided by the Department for Education.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings

Its a "lion has escaped from the zoo" here. Seeing as the school is within walking distance of the school its logical...

But the actual reason is scenarios like intruders, or a belligerent parent. Stuff that happens regularly across the country but isn't newsworthy.

Yes it’s standard.
All schools have to have them alongside their fire drills. It’s a really weird experience to have to do them, I find them extremely stressful and emotional.

We're in England. I've never come across this before.

Yes.

And some schools have had to put it into practice, but not due to intruder.

Children don’t see it any different to fire drill. It’s parents who struggle more with the concept

Planning template. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f6338598fa8f51069100606/Lockdown_template.docx

Yes they’ve done it at primary and secondary schools here. Pleased they are prepared.

Yes we had one today in our secondary.
We lock ourselves in the classrooms with the kids and hide under the tables,
It's just a procedure
Much like afire drill.

I remember having bomb drills in the 80s/ time of the IRA

Nothing new

Schools shouldn’t give out full details of their lockdown policy for obvious reasons.

Yes and my kids (old) primary had to put it into action

No, but we are very rural. Just the usual fire drills.

It’s been a thing for a while but back at the front of everyone’s minds after the Southport murders. This is why most schools will have a practice this term I suspect as although extremely rare, sometimes children need to be kept safe quickly and everyone needs to know the procedure. Obviously, needs to be done in a child appropriate way if possible e.g. escaped wolf, swarm of bees as a reason.

It's standard.
I'm a governor at a primary school and the head teacher reports on fire drills and lockdown drills at the main governors meeting.

They don't tell the kids what's going on. They often pretend there is a dog in the playground.

Standard for several years. When I was at school in the 80s our junior school had a bomb scare and someone firing an air rifle at the huts (not on the same day). Best be prepared.

Yes, when my kids were at primary they had them regularly. They had to implement a lockdown for real once when a man was running around locally with a knife. My son missed it as he was off poorly that day. He was gutted to miss the excitement.

Yes, these do happen. We haven’t had one recently, but with recent tragic events my dc’s school, and the school are work in, plan to do one in the next couple of weeks.