LATEST NEWS: UK Government and Parliament Petition
Every school & college to be obliged to have an evacuation chair & training
The safety of all pupils and staff in schools and colleges is paramount.
Under the Equality Act 2010, schools and educational premises have a duty to make reasonable adjustments where necessary for anyone with a disability. All disabled learners and staff should have a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) in place should they need one, whether they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or not.
Under current fire safety legislation, those who have responsibility for the building need to provide a fire safety risk assessment that includes an emergency evacuation plan for all people likely to be in the premises. This includes disabled people. When a learner with a disability, requiring assistance with building evacuation, is enrolled in a school or college, their PEEP should be developed with them as part of the admissions process.
UPDATE:
Government responded
In response to a petition calling for every school and college to be obliged to have an
evacuation chair and training in its use, which closed on 18 August 2025, the government said: In a school or college, where a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) requires an evacuation chair, it must be provided.
