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Schools: Emergencies

Asked by Jim ShannonDemocratic Unionist PartyDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 24 March 2026UIN 117720

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that all schools are adequately prepared for emergency situations.

Answered by Olivia Bailey

All education, childcare and children’s social care settings should have emergency plans in place. They must also comply with legal responsibilities, including under health and safety law.

The department publishes non-statutory guidance to support settings plan for emergencies within their own local context. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings.

In any emergency, education, childcare and children's social care settings should keep children and staff safe and seek to minimise the amount and length of any disruption.

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