Ensuring Safety and Security in Schools: A Priority for Student Well-being

Category: Recommendation

Children, their parents and administrators deserve to feel safe on school premises. Recent years have witnessed several criminal activities in educational facilities. These crimes included theft, abuse, and other potential hazards. Ensuring safety and security should be prioritised in schools. For that, many school managements have developed different policies, technological programmes, procedures and security measures. Furthermore, schools also involve their teachers to create a safe a secure environment for their students. In this blog, find the remarkable methods the leading schools have adopted and continue to take initiatives for student well-being. 

School area shall remain locked

Sometimes monitoring school premises via CCTV cameras is not enough. It is also important to lock off the unoccupied areas around schools when not in use. Restricting the entry of outsiders into the locked parts of schools is another way to elevate security. School management should exercise a key control device to manage all keys and replicas effectively. The people in charge of locking and unlocking the gates should be limited. The door locks and electronic locking systems are to be checked every 6 months, and changing the locks is a must if there are unaccounted-for keys. 

Monitoring the interior of the school

Schools can implement a signage system indicating that visitors’ presence on the premises is to be registered. It is important to highlight guest check-in areas, the main reception and the security office. Frequent checks are a must to verify all important custodial storage closets, utility systems, and server rooms. In communal areas like playgrounds, cafeterias, halls, and enclosed stairwells, surveillance cameras are to be installed, and security guards are to be posted. Class monitors things happening inside the classrooms, and cameras will record everything they might miss. 

Restricting and managing access points

Doors to the school building should be minimum. One main entry point is enough for school visitors, staff and student use. The other access doors are to be locked, and periodic inspections should occur so no one can open them. Various schools have more than one entry. In such cases, a singing system should be posted, redirecting the visitors to the main gate. These protocols optimise the managing process so that the management can track who’s entering and leaving school premises. Fire code and building capacity standards apply to exits. But, it is essential to ensure these exits are prevented from unauthorised access. 

Perimeters are to be secured

Both inside and outside of the school building shall be considered when it comes to maintaining safety. Designated parking spots and student drop-off zones are critical areas that shall be secured with perimeter barriers as needed. Gates and fences should be included around the school periphery to increase safety whether school hours have ended. Designated student pickup and drop-off zones are needed for carpool drivers, parents and bus drivers. School authorities shall install display signs and clarify regulations that forbid unauthorised cars from entering certain locations. This way, schools will have more access control. 

Classroom security should be increased

While the school is in session, classroom doors are to be locked from within. An automated locking mechanism will aid in the establishment of safe zones and protective areas in the classroom. The doors and windows with glass components should have a type of covering that instantly captures a trespasser’s vision. Proper security information and training should be provided by instructors to the school staff and students. It is the safety instructor’s responsibility to make students understand the significance of these school security protocols. Positive discussion regarding safety and security shall be encouraged to ensure that both students and employees are on the same page. 

Incident reporting protocols are to be implemented

Encouraging students to take an active part in maintaining the safety and security of their school is an integral step toward implementing rigid protocols. Counselling services are to be offered to students where they can express their concerns. School authorities can create anonymous reporting methods for students who may be scared or embarrassed to report an incident. Student feedback is to be collected through hotlines, suggestion boxes and different campaigns. Security protocols are to be updated if there’s any pressing concern going around schools. 

Two-way communication is important

Staff, administrators, faculty and security personnel are linked through a two-way communication technique. Every classroom is required to have an audio system and speaker that will be connected to the security office. Panic button technology is to be employed so that professional security persons are first responders and can respond rapidly to emergencies. 

Conclusion:

Like a residential space, educational institutes also deserve to be secured. And considering various criminal activities that have taken place in the last 10 years, it is vital to enhance school security measures. There are numerous ways to increase school security, from hiring top-notch security guards to implementing digital locking systems and surveillance cameras. Parents are responsible for getting their children enrolled in good schools that offer a secure learning environment. For that, you can look up Skoodos, a leading school search engine that provides access to details of numerous schools with great faculty, facilities and tight security. 

Skoodos always focus on proving the right guidance to emerging students. You can also visit our website to search for best schools for your loved ones.