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Children as young as four have been practising school “lockdown” drills to prepare for school shootings and terror attacks.

Counter terrorism police have been showing pupils how to stay safe in emergency situations by going into locked rooms or hiding under tables.

The lockdown sessions come in the wake of last year’s terror attacks in London and Manchester.

One of the first schools to put the drills into practice is Neyland Community School in Milford Haven , Pembrokeshire , who wrote to parents about the sessions last week.

The letter from the 300-pupil school said: “We unfortunately live in a world where we have to seriously consider such measures.

“A school ‘lockdown’ is a full or partial closure of the building that may be required in the event of a serious incident.

“We had an assembly with our pupils to explain the drill in such a way as not to frighten them.

“We had a trial ‘lockdown’ drill and pupils had the opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns with staff in the school.”

(Image: Google)

One father, who asked not to be named, said: “When we first saw the letter it was obviously quite shocking to hear that your young child would have to take part in something so serious.

“As long as this is done in a way that doesn’t upset or scare the children then I’m happy for them to take part. Their safety is the most important thing.”

Reinwood Junior School in Huddersfield has carried out lockdown drills twice a year since 2016, which sees them rehearsing scenarios like chemical spills, weapons attacks, and bomb threats.

The Wales Extremism Counter Terrorism Unit is advising education authorities and headteachers in Wales about the potential threats facing schools.

Mike Brook, Counter Terrorism Security Advisor (CTSA) with the Wales Extremism Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU), said: “Operation Tinwald is a multiagency approach to school security in Wales.

“In line with UK Government efforts to increase school security in order to protect pupils and staff, WECTU has worked alongside Welsh Government , local education authorities and headteachers around Wales to implement improved security practices and physical measures in our schools.

“The programme aims to raise awareness of all potential threats faced by our schools, from stray animals on the grounds to abusive parents or pupils and various criminal activity, as well as the threat of terrorism.

“CTSAs play an advisory role in the programme. With the assistance of our Schools Community Officers and our crime prevention teams, we provide guidance and information to support headteachers and local authorities to make decisions which suit their schools’ needs.

“The implementation of individual security measures and practices remains the responsibility of education authorities and at the discretion of each school’s headteacher.

“However, all schools have been encouraged to engage with the programme, and to date it has been very well received. We continue to be contacted on a regular basis by headteachers seeking guidance, and we are keen for that partnership to continue in order to ensure security measures and practices remain up-to-date and our schools are as safe as they can possibly be.”

A spokesman for the Welsh Government said: “We have asked local authorities to ensure their schools have appropriate procedures - including lockdown - in place. Further guidance and training is available from the police if required.”

Schools elsewhere across the UK are also asking pupils to take part in similar drills, like in Plymouth.

If you have been contacted by your child’s school about a similar drill, please let us know in the comments below