Scruton Station Heritage Education Programme
Risk Management Summary
2017
This Risk Management Summary outlines all the policies, procedures and measures that the Wensleydale Railway has in place to ensure the safety and welfare of all school groups visiting Scruton Station and travelling to other stations with us.
Staff Competance & Qualifications
Virginia Arrowsmith, the Heritage Education Officer responsible for the delivery of the Heritage Education Programme, has 20 years experience in heritage education and is also involved withschool governance. Grahame Shepherd, the Heritage Education Team advisor, is a retired headteacher with a proven track record of leadership in primary education. Four other members of the Heritage Education team are also retired teachers and headteachers and remain involved in school governance at local primary schools. The team are all DBS-checked by North Yorkshire County Council, who serve as the DBS umbrella body for the Wensleydale Railway.
Supervision
The Heritage Education Team will consist of a minimum of six staff including the Heritage Education Team Lead on site at Scruton Station. A minimum of onevolunteer facilitator from theHeritage Education team will supportschools in each group activity on site.
Visiting staff who bring groups to Scruton Station have overall responsibility for the supervision and welfare of their pupils and are in loco parentisfor the duration oftheir visit.Schools are advised to bring a staff:pupil ratio of 1:6 for Years 1-3(Age to 5 to 8), 1:10-15 for Years 4-6(Age 8 to 11) and 1:15 for Year 7 upwards (Age 11 to 19).This is in accordance with the NYCC Children and Young People’s Service Guidance for Educational off-site Visits and Activities, 2013.
Site Safety and Operational Procedures
A full risk assessment of the visit has been produced by the Heritage Education Officer on behalf of the Wensleydale Railway, and this is available to download on our website. This includes assessment of risks and hazards present in the activities to be undertaken at Scruton Station, and for full-day visits, on the train journey and at other station sites (Scruton, Leeming Bar, Bedale and Leyburn).
The Heritage Education Team at Scruton Station have all been fully briefed on Health & Safety and Emergency procedures on site and copies of Fire Evacuation Plan and Procedure for Scruton Station are displayed on site in the Ticket Office and Waiting
Rooms.First Aid kits are available in the office at Leeming Bar Station and in the toilet at Scruton Station and we have trained First Aiders on both sites.
Personal Safety
Teachers, parent helpers, pupil and volunteers participating in activities on site, all have a responsibility for their own safety and that of others in their group. The Heritage Education Team Lead will provide safety briefings at key points throughout the visit. Everyone is expected to follow safety instructions, act responsibly and use common use.
Safeguarding and Child Protection
The Wensleydale Railway has a comprehensive and recently-updated Safeguarding Policy (2017). A shorter Safeguarding Statement, which sets out the principles we abide by to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all staff, volunteers and visitors to the railway, is also available. It follows the guidance set out by North Yorkshire County Council and the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board’s (NYSCB). All volunteers working with schools are required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of the recruitment process.This is done through NYCC, who serve as an umbrella body for the Wensleydale Railway. Volunteers are also asked to ensure they are familiar with the guidance set out in the DfE’s Keeping Children Safe in Education (Part I), 2015.
Insurance
Scruton Station is covered by the Wensleydale Railway’s Public Liability Insurance to the value of £10 million. Staff and volunteers are covered by the Railway’s Employer’s Liability Insurance. Insurance cover is provided by Chaucer Insurance Services Ltd and the policy number is CCC 0790137.
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