My Scout headquarters has an external compound which is accessed from the HQ via a rear door and has a side gate and double gates leading to a garage.  The compound needs to be locked for security reasons.  We occasionally use the compound for our youth members and currently unlock the compound, which we have to remember to lock back up later, and  monitor the gate  to ensure we have an escape route whilst maintaining the correct safeguarding level.  What we'd really like to do is to have a system that would allow us maintain full security and provide an escape route that will maintain safeguarding requirements but be easier to operate rather than unlocking and locking a gate.

The usual method is to have a pedestrian gate with an escape fastening on the inside surrounded by a plate to prevent manipulation from the outside.