Exit protection for students with learning disabilities

[Lynne]

Hi. I work in a school for students with severe learning disabilities and associated behaviours. These students' disabilities mean that they are never unaccompanied by an adult. We have one teenage student who rushes towards any exit, often causing injury to others. She will rush out of the fire exit and will climb the fence on the other side. She will also rush out of the classroom door and run off. Because of the risk to her and to others, can we put a simple mechanism on the fire door such as a spine key or a bolt that could be easily operated by an adult in the case of a fire but would stop her from getting out? Also, can we turn the keypad on the door of the classroom around so that the keypad is on the classroom side rather than the corridor side, as it is everywhere else. This would stop her exiting the classroom constantly. The combination number is the same as every other door in the building and is never changed so all the adults know it but the students don't. How do we evidence justifying this decision?

[Tom Sutton]

I cannot see any reason why you cannot turn the keypad on the door of the classroom around so that the keypad is on the classroom side rather than the corridor side providing the door will open on the operation of the fire alarm and manual override device (green box) is installed in accordance with BS 7273 part 4.

As for other methods suggested by you I will need time to consider.