BEECROFTACADEMY& THE BEEHIVE SURESTART CHILDREN’S CENTRE

SMOKING POLICY

Adopted by the School’s Governing Body

1. / Introduction
1.1 / From July 2007 the law in England with regard to smoking has changed. All ‘enclosed’ and ‘substantially enclosed’ public places must be smoke free. This includes schools and children’s centres. Premises will be considered to be ‘enclosed’ if they have a ceiling or roof and – except for doors, windows or passageways – are wholly enclosed either on a permanent or temporary basis. ‘Substantially enclosed’ covers a building which has a ceiling or roof but also has an opening in the walls which is less than half the total area of the walls.
1.2 / The dangers to health and safety of cigarette smoking have been known for several years. Research has shown that the individual who smokes faces a higher risk of heart disease and lung cancer as well as the risk of exacerbating other health problems. More recently the issue of passive smoking has been highlighted. Clinical research has shown that non-smokers subjected to passive smoking have a 50% greater chance of developing lung cancer. It is also apparent that exposure to cigarette smoke can be detrimental for those who suffer from asthma.
1.3 / The Governors are mindful of the research and their duty to provide and maintain a working environment for its employees that is safe and without risk to health. Employers are increasingly seen as responsible for the risk to health of non-smokers exposed to tobacco smoke generated by others. This policy is based on the legal requirement for the school and the children’s centre, as an agent of the Council, to ensure that ‘where people come into contact with other people’s tobacco smoke then the Authority has a legal duty to protect individuals from the possible effect to health from exposure to smoke’.
2. / Smoking Policy
2.1 / Smoking (this includes E-cigarettes / vapourisers) will not be permitted within the school or children’s centre buildings. This is a total ban on smoking in all rooms within the school and the children’s centre. In this way the Governors will discharge their duty to mitigate the effects of passive smoking.
2.2 / Employees will be encouraged to stop smoking where necessary with the support of occupational health.
2.3 / The Governors have considered the introduction of a ban in the grounds of the school as well as the buildings. An area where staff or visitors can smoke could have a detrimental impact on pupils and, on balance; the Governors have decided not to permit smoking in the grounds of the school or the children’s centre.This is in line with the strong recommendation of the Council that smoking should be banned in all school and children’s centre buildings and grounds. This recommendation is also supported by the trade union and professional associations, and by Occupational Health.
2.4 / The policy has been implemented since1st September 2007.
2.5 / The Senior Leadership Team of the school has the responsibility for ensuring that staff do not abuse the smoking arrangements laid down in the school’s policy.
2.6 / All staff will be given a copy of the school policy in respect of smoking at their induction. Attention will be drawn to the ban on smoking in both the buildings and the grounds of the school and the children’s centre.
2.7 / Breaches of the organisation’s smoking policy will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
2.8 / In circumstances where the employee is unable to function without frequent smoking breaks because of their addiction to nicotine, and this is interfering with work, advice on employment related issues can be obtained from the HR Services Team and help and information on overcoming any of these difficulties from the Occupational Health Adviser. Occupational Health will be able to provide support and help to those having difficulty in giving up smoking (see below).
2.9 / For further guidance see Bedfordshire County Council’s information circular ‘H/07/28 Smoking in the Workplace’.
Further Help and Advice
Schools are advised to seek assistance from their HR Adviser before instigating any formal procedures.
Any member of staff who would like help to stop smoking can telephone the Occupational Health Adviser for information and help. General Practitioners and Practice Nurses will also be able to give help and advice and there are also external agencies who can help people to stop smoking e.g. National Helpline telephone number 0800 002200 (free phone) between the hours of 12 noon and 7.00pm. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) 0171 7395902. The NHS Smoking helpline is 0800 1690169.

Mr. A. Haywood (Apr 2015)