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Little Wonderland Nursery Ltd

Fire Safety Policy and Procedure

Policy Statement

Fire safety is a live safeguarding priority. The setting takes all reasonable steps to prevent fire and to protect children, staff and visitors through robust prevention, clear procedures and regular rehearsal. Arrangements are designed to ensure that every adult knows what to do and every child experiences a calm, predictable and safe response.

 

This policy is underpinned by the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, the Health and Social Care Standards, and associated health and safety legislation. Fire safety is treated as a dynamic process that is reviewed, practised and strengthened regularly.

 

Children are supported in an age-appropriate way so that evacuation procedures feel reassuring rather than frightening. Parents are informed of fire safety arrangements through induction, policies and displayed information.

 

 

Roles and Responsibilities

Fire Marshal

The Designated Fire Marshal has day to day responsibility for fire safety management.

This includes:

  • Organising and recording fire drills
  • Ensuring fire safety checks are completed
  • Maintaining training records
  • Liaising with fire safety contractors and the Fire and Rescue Service
  • Ensuring actions from drills or risk assessments are followed through

 

Fire Marshal
Name: __Stacey Sneddon________________________

 

 

Deputy Fire Marshals

Name: Lauren Peat 

One or more Deputy Fire Marshals are appointed to support and act in the absence of the Fire Marshal.

They:

  • Lead evacuations when required
  • Support room leaders during drills and emergencies
  • Ensure procedures are followed consistently

 

 

Owner / Director / Governing Body

The Owner, Director or Governing Body holds overall accountability for:

  • Compliance with fire safety legislation
  • Ensuring adequate resources are available
  • Termly governance oversight and audit
  • Acting on learning from drills, incidents or inspections

 

 

All Staff

Every member of staff has a responsibility to:

  • Keep fire exits and escape routes clear
  • Challenge hazards immediately
  • Follow evacuation procedures exactly as trained
  • Supervise children calmly and safely during drills and emergencies
  • Ensure visitors and contractors follow instructions

 

Fire safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Training and Induction

Fire safety training forms part of induction for all staff, students and volunteers.

Training includes:

  • Understanding fire risks and prevention
  • Evacuation procedures and assembly points
  • Responsibilities during an evacuation
  • Room specific evacuation plans
  • Supporting babies, non mobile children and those with additional needs

 

Refresher input is provided regularly through staff meetings, supervisions and scenario based run throughs. Deputy Fire Marshals receive additional guidance to support leadership during evacuations.

 

Equipment, Maintenance and Testing

Fire detection and control equipment is installed and maintained in line with statutory requirements and risk assessment.

This may include:

  • Fire alarm system and call points
  • Smoke and heat detectors
  • Emergency lighting
  • Fire doors
  • Fire extinguishers and fire blankets

 

All equipment is serviced by competent contractors at required intervals. Any defect triggers immediate action and, where necessary, temporary control measures until rectified.

Fire Safety Check Schedule

The following checks are completed and recorded:

  • Escape routes and exits clear and signed checked weekly
  • Fire doors in good repair and unobstructed checked weekly and after any works
  • Fire alarm call points and sounders weekly test recorded
  • Smoke and heat detectors checked weekly
  • Emergency lighting checked monthly and on annual service
  • Fire extinguishers and blankets visual monthly check and annual service
  • Evacuation pack complete checked weekly

Fire Risk Assessment

A suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment is completed by a competent person and reviewed regularly to identify hazards, reduce risk, and keep children, staff and visitors safe.

  1. Identify fire hazards
  2. Identify people at risk
  3. Evaluate, remove or reduce risk
  4. Record findings and plan actions
  5. Review and update

 

The assessment:

  • Covers all areas of the premises
  • Specifically considers non-mobile children, children with additional support needs and adults with mobility or sensory needs
  • Includes visitors and contractors
  • Produces a clear action plan with priorities and timescales

Findings are shared with staff and embedded into training and supervision. Fire safety is treated as a living cycle of assessment, action and review.

Registration and Accountability

Accurate registers of children and staff present are maintained at all times. Visitor records are kept at the entrance.

During evacuation:

  • Each room takes its register on the iPad and emergency contacts
  • Accountability is confirmed immediately at the garden gate prior to moving on to the assembly point. 

Fire and Emergency Evacuation Procedure

All staff follow this procedure without deviation. The priority is safe and rapid evacuation. No one attempts to fight the fire or re enter the building.

 

 On Discovering a Fire

  • Raise the alarm immediately by activating the nearest call point
  • Shout “Fire” to alert others
  • Do not attempt to extinguish the fire

On Hearing the Alarm

  • Evacuate immediately via the nearest safe exit
  • Staff lead children calmly and swiftly
  • non walkers are carried safely
  • Children and adults with mobility needs are supported along planned routes
  • Manager/Deputy Manager collect registers (on iPad) and emergency contacts
  • Doors are closed behind you if safe to do so
  • Do not collect personal belongings
  • Do not re enter the building

 

Assembly Point

All persons assemble at the designated fire assembly point:

 

Fire Assembly Point Location: Rear of car park. 

 

Staff immediately call registers and report to the Fire Marshal.

Fire Marshal Actions

The Fire Marshal:

  • Collects the central register, mobile phone and visitor log. 
  • Calls 999 and requests the Fire and Rescue Service
  • Confirms accountability of all children, staff and visitors
  • Reports any missing persons to the Fire Service with last known location

 

 

If Evacuation Is Not Possible

  • Remain where it is safe
  • Keep children together and calm
  • Contact the Fire Marshal with your location and details
  • Await Fire Service instructions

 

Contingency Arrangements

If the Building Cannot Be Re Entered

  • Parents and carers are contacted using emergency details
  • Collection is arranged at the assembly point or secondary location
  • Staff remain with children until all are collected
  • A same day debrief is held and actions agreed

 

If the Alarm Fails

  • Shout “Fire” repeatedly
  • Initiate manual evacuation
  • Call 999
  • Alarm system is isolated until tested and repaired

Fire Drills and Learning

Fire drills are carried out at least termly and additionally after:

  • New cohorts of children start
  • Staffing changes
  • Building works or layout changes

Drills are deliberately varied to include different times of day and routines.

 

Each drill is recorded and includes:

  • Time taken to evacuate
  • Accountability checks
  • Any issues identified
  • Actions agreed

Learning is shared promptly with staff and embedded into practice.

Monitoring and Review

Fire safety records are kept ready for inspection.

Leadership carries out regular audits that review:

  • Fire logs
  • Servicing certificates
  • Training records
  • Drill outcomes

 

Actions are assigned, tracked and reviewed. Where a fire, serious alarm activation, or related incident meets notification thresholds, the Care Inspectorate will be notified within the required timescale. This policy is reviewed termly or sooner if legislation changes, incidents occur or improvements are identified.

Policy Created by: Stacey Sneddon - July 2024

Reviewed - 10th July 2025

Reviewed - 23rd July 2026. 

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