Somerset Council is required by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to develop plans to manage business continuity in the event of a range of disruptions to services. By extension, Local Authority schools have the same obligation.
No-notice disruptions are, by definition, impossible to predict. The Business Continuity Plan deals with the ones most likely to occur:
- Loss of premises (through fire, flood etc.)
- Loss of utilities (electricity, gas, water, fuel)
- Failure of IT and telephony
- Staff shortage
The impact of any serious disruption may manifest itself in terms of: delivery of education, safety/welfare, financial consequences; reputation damage; environmental consequences.
Further guidance on Business Continuity Plans in schools and educational establishments is available in the Department for Education document: Emergency planning and response for education, childcare, and children’s social care settings – GOV.UK
An emergency grab bag should be created to hold key information that will support the school in the event of an emergency/business continuity disruption. Depending on the nature of the disruption, this pack should be kept in a location that can be accessed at all times.
Suggested grab bag contents include:
- Business Continuity Plan School BC Plan Template
- Key contacts
- Asbestos management survey report
- Asbestos plan (in colour and laminated)
- Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan (FEEP) Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan Template
- Hi-Vis jacket, first aid kit, spare keys
Learn more:
Business Continuity Template School BC Plan Template
Dealing with major incidents and updating your Contingency Plan Template
