STIRLING’S WORK since the tragedy has led to a booklet on preparing for and responding to an emergency. Should Crisis Call sets out what should be contained in a school’s contingency plan.
Among crises are the death of a child, parent or teacher. Margaret Doran, head of school services, says that schools should have strategies for recognising and addressing grief. The key is to listen to children. “Each child is unique and will respond in different ways throughout life if it is an event on the scale of Dunblane.”
The booklet points to “the paradox that when we should expect less of our staff who have been involved in a critical incident, the reality is that we require more of them”.
In the aftermath there has to be a balance between supporting staff and ensuring that professional boundaries are recognised. “This assists staff in prioritising the needs of children.”
