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During an air-raid alert, children at school should follow the school’s preapproved safety plan: stop normal activity, move with staff to the designated shelter, be accounted for, and remain supervised there until the alert ends. Parents should use the school’s agreed communication channel and not try to collect a child from shelter during an active alert. The practical details vary by location and school; this guidance reflects recommendations for Ukraine, not a universal procedure.

Before an alert: know the school’s plan

Parents should ask the school for the details that matter in an emergency:

  • Which shelter pupils use and how staff supervise them there.
  • How attendance is checked after pupils reach shelter.
  • Which channel the school uses to contact families during an alert.
  • How staff will support a child who needs additional practical or communication help.

These are useful questions for understanding a local plan; the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science (MES) guidance does not provide a complete individual-needs checklist. Families should confirm the school’s arrangements rather than assume one set of steps applies everywhere.

MES says each school should tailor its plan to its security situation and capabilities, prepare scenarios and transitions in advance, and ensure the number of people at school does not exceed shelter capacity. Leaders should assess whether the shelter can accommodate everyone safely, including for a prolonged stay, and consider utilities, backup power, internet and communications, and readiness for remote learning. Schools should also decide in advance who makes format changes and how families will be notified. MES guidance on school operations during an air-raid alert

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When the alert sounds: move together and account for pupils

Staff should follow the school’s warning and response procedure, stop ordinary classroom activity, and guide pupils promptly to the designated shelter. The school’s approved plan—not a generic article—must define staff roles, routes, and what to do if a child is separated from the class. Ukraine’s Education Ombudsman guidance describes notifying pupils and coordinating their movement to shelter. Education Ombudsman guidance for parents

After the group reaches shelter, staff should check attendance and keep pupils supervised. Younger children may need additional help moving safely; the Ombudsman’s described algorithm specifically calls for helpers for the youngest classes. Adults should speak calmly and reassure children rather than intensify their fear.

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Parents should follow the school’s established communication channel. Ombudsman guidance says pupils should remain in shelter until the alert ends and should not be released to a parent during an active alert. Do not bypass the school’s procedure by trying to take a child out of shelter.

While sheltered: safety first, learning if conditions allow

An alert does not automatically mean learning must stop, but the timetable is secondary to safety. MES says a school may continue a lesson or offer independent work, reading, consultation, or project work when shelter conditions are safe and appropriate. If conditions do not support learning, staff should prioritize sheltering and supervision.

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MES recommends that schools move to a previously prepared shelter-learning or remote-learning model when alerts recur or total more than two hours during the school day on several consecutive days. This is a recommendation in the ministry’s 14 September 2026 guidance, not a universal legal threshold. Schools should establish decision-making and communication arrangements in advance. MES recommendation on prolonged or recurring alerts

For children who are anxious or restless, calm, age-appropriate activities may help make the wait manageable. UNICEF Ukraine points educators to simple shelter activities intended to help children cope with fear and anxiety; the page describes the resource set rather than establishing a single required activity. UNICEF Ukraine resources for children during emergencies

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After the alert: follow the local all-clear and return procedure

Once the alert ends, staff should use the school’s local all-clear and return procedure, reconcile attendance, and contact families as the plan requires. The Ombudsman guidance discusses returning after an alert, but the precise current procedure depends on the school and local instructions. Parents should wait for the school’s communication rather than assume a particular release time or route.

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What to compare when reviewing a school plan

Plans can differ because schools have different facilities and circumstances. When asking how a plan works, focus on these practical areas:

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  • Shelter fit: whether the space can safely hold everyone present and support a prolonged stay, with necessary utilities and communications.
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  • Decision and communication: who decides when the school changes learning format and how families are informed.
  • Supervision and accountability: which staff supervise each group, how younger pupils are helped, and how attendance is checked.

These questions help families understand the plan; they do not replace the school’s procedures or local emergency instructions. MES quoted Minister of Education and Science Andrii Butenko on 14 September 2026: “Безпека учнів та вчителів залишається першим пріоритетом” (“The safety of students and teachers remains the first priority,” translated from Ukrainian). MES statement and recommendations

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