Terrorist Attack/National Emergency

In light of the incidents occuring around the world and in the light of escalating tensions worldwide, we now feel it is necessary to have an updated procedure in place on what to do in the event of a terrorist attack or a national disaster.

The care and security we provide to your child is paramount. As an Ofsted Registered Childminding setting, we will do everything within our power to protect, comfort and support your child in the event of a Major Incident, National Emergency or Terrorist Attack.

If we are involved or caught up in the incident we will comply fully with the instructions from the emergency services and constantly reassure the children in our care.

If you are caught up in an incident we will continue to look after your child until you are able to return or a person nominated is able to collect them. This can include overnight care if necessary and where possible. It may therefore be good practice to provide me with additional supplies of nappies and spare nightclothes during times of high alert.

We understand that during major incidents the mobile phone networks are often not available and even landlines can be cancelled to free up communication systems for the emergency services. We will however attempt to contact you on a regular basis and ask that you try to do the same. We will keep up to date on the situation using any media source available to us, radio, television, Internet etc. We will endeavour to protect your child from information or images that may alarm or distress them. If you wish we can have a pre-planned excuse that we can use to explain your delay in arriving.

All members of staff have completed training in the Governments “Channel Awareness Module” regarding terrorism.

We hope that we never have the need to put this procedure into practice but are happy to discuss with you any aspects of this policy.