At The Tots' Clubhouse, we aim to provide clear information in the event of an emergency lockdown, ensuring the safety of all children, staff, and visitors.  This policy covers perceived threats in the local area, unauthorised persons on site (with and without threat), and extreme emergencies including terrorism, satisfying our additional insurance conditions.

The Tots' Clubhouse is committed to the safety and security of everyone on our premises. A lockdown will be initiated when it is safer to stay inside the building than to evacuate. Or when it is safe to remain outside the building, in the case of during outdoor play.

This policy outlines the specific procedures staff must follow to secure the building or outside area, and manage the situation until the threat has passed or emergency services take control.

Known Person — Safeguarding & Custody Dispute (No Immediate Physical Danger)

Applies when an estranged parent, non-custodial relative, or individual barred by court order (e.g., Prohibited Steps Order, Non-Molestation Order) arrives to collect a child or enter the nursery, but is currently non-violent.

• Deny Entry & Protect the Child: Do not allow the individual past the external door or secure lobby. Under no circumstances is the child brought to the reception area or alerted to the person’s arrival.
• Alert & Reporting: The staff member greeting the person alerts the Manager or Deputy Manager immediately. 
• Management Intervention: The Manager and Deputy speak to the individual - reiterate that only individuals named on the authorised collection list or agreed via the established password/court order protocol can collect. Explain calmly that the nursery is legally bound by parental consent records and court documentation.
• Contact the Primary/Resident Parent: While one manager speaks with the visitor, the second manager contacts the parent/carer with primary care or parental responsibility to notify them.
• Escalation Pathway: If the individual refuses to leave the premises after being asked, staff advise them that the police will be called to resolve the boundary dispute. If they still do not leave, call 101 (or 999 if tensions escalate).

Known Person — Hostile, Aggressive, or Impaired (Direct Threat)

Applies when a parent, carer, or known individual arrives displaying physical or verbal aggression, severe intoxication/impairment, or attempts to force entry/abduct a child.   

• Internal Lockdown: Immediate site security.Staff initiate an immediate lockdown. All external and internal doors are locked immediately. If the individual is inside the lobby/reception, internal doors into the playrooms are locked and deadbolted to compartmentalize the threat.
• Dial 999 Immediately: Emergency services. Call 999. Inform police: "We have a hostile, aggressive adult attempting to breach our early years setting / attempting unauthorised child removal".
• Isolate and Shield Children: Safeguarding priority.Children in adjacent rooms are moved out of line-of-sight and away from any observation panels or internal glass partitions. Keep rooms quiet.
• Non-Engagement & Boundary Control: Staff safety guidance.Staff do not physically grapple or fight with the individual unless in direct defense of life. Maintain locked physical barriers between the individual and the children/staff.
• CCTV & Log Maintenance: Continuous situational awareness. Track the individual's actions and location via CCTV and maintain an active timeline of events for arriving police officers.

Known Person — Impairment at Regular Collection

Applies when a parent or authorized collector arrives visibly intoxicated, under the influence of drugs, or otherwise medically/mentally unfit to safely supervise a child. Do not release the child: Under the setting’s duty of care and safeguarding responsibilities, you cannot release a child into the care of someone unable to keep them safe.

• Dual-staff presence: Two senior members of staff (Manager/Deputy) speak with the collector privately in an office or quiet entrance area, away from other parents and children.
• Contact alternate authorised collector: Offer to contact another person with parental responsibility or an emergency contact from the child’s registration file to arrange safe transport and collection.
• Police escalation: If the impaired individual becomes combative, insists on taking the child, or attempts to drive away with the child, call 999 immediately.   

Court Orders & Injunctions Folder: Maintain an active, confidential register of all relevant court documentation (Child Arrangements Orders, Non-Molestation Orders, restraining orders) in the main office, with key details summarized for room leaders and managers.

• Password System: Require a verified security password and photographic ID for any substitute collectors, even if they claim to be a close relation (e.g., grandparents, aunts/uncles).   
• Statutory Reporting: If a known-person lockdown or 999 call occurs, notify Ofsted within 14 days (as a significant event under the EYFS framework), record a notification to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) / Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) if safeguarding thresholds are met, and log an incident report for your insurance carrier.

Persons visiting local businesses with perceived threat

This applies when staff observe or are informed of an individual in the vicinity whose behaviour suggests a potential threat, even if not directly on the nursery premises.

• Initial Observations & Reporting: Manager, Deputy Manager and Level 3 staff are informed.
• Monitoring: Staff observe CCTV to monior activity and movements.
• External Communications: Police informed of concern.  Landlord informed of concern.
• Statutory Notifications: LA and Ofsted informed, as necessary.
• Implement Lockdown: Lockdown and enhanced security implemented.

Unauthorised Person - No Threat

This applies when an unknown individual breaches the perimeter but does not immediately display aggressive or threatening behaviour (e.g., a lost delivery driver, a confused member of the public).

• Initial Observations & Reporting: Manager, Deputy Manager and Level 3 staff are informed.
• Monitoring: Staff observe CCTV to monitor activity and movements.
• Initial Approach: Manager and Deputy Manager approach the unauthorised person to understand their needs.
• Resolution and Removal: Manager and Deputy Manager respond and remove the unauthorisation person.

Unauthorised Person - Threat

This applies when an unknown individual breaches the perimeter and displays aggressive, armed, or otherwise threatening behaviour. This procedure also covers extreme events such as terrorism, fulfilling our specific insurance requirements.

Immediate Lockdown: Staff immediately trigger the lockdown signal upon observing a threatening unauthorised person. All staff execute the General Lockdown Procedures (moving children out of sight, away from windows, underneath or behind tables, locking internal doors). If necessary, other safe areas of the building will be used to ensure the safety of all staff and children.  Where children are learning outside, they will remain in the secure outdoor area until it is safe to move them into the building.

• Reporting & Alerts: The Manager, Deputy Manager, and Level 3 staff are informed as the lockdown is initiated.
• Emergency Services Contacted: The Manager or a designated staff member in a safe location immediately calls 999, clearly stating the nature of the threat, the location, and that the Nursery School is in lockdown.
• Remote Monitoring: Under no circumstances should staff approach the threatening individual. Designated staff in a secure location monitor the situation via CCTV to relay information to emergency services.
• Maintain Lockdown: All staff and children remain in their secure locations in absolute silence. The lockdown is only lifted upon direct instruction from the Police or emergency services.

Post-Incident Procedures
Following any lockdown event, The Tots' Clubhouse will undertake the following actions:

• Communication: Parents/carers will be informed as soon as it is safe and practical to do so. Initial communication may be brief to confirm safety, followed by a full explanation once the situation is resolved.
• Support: Emotional support and counselling will be arranged for children, staff, and parents as needed.
• Review: The Management team will conduct a thorough review of the incident, the effectiveness of the lockdown procedure, and identify any areas for improvement. Policies will be updated accordingly.
• Reporting: A formal report will be submitted to Ofsted, the Local Authority, and our insurance provider as required.

Dated: 20 September 2026 Review date: December 2028