Tudor Church of England Primary School
St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
Diocesan Multi Academy Trust
Health and Safety Policy

Health and Safety Policy

Prepared by / Mrs Elizabeth Campbell
Headteacher
Approved by the Committee/Governing body / Tudor CE Primary
Signature of Chair of Governors / Rev Robert Hinsley
Date approved / March 2017
Review date / March 2018

Health, Safety and Welfare Policy

The Governors and Headteacher acknowledge that:

  1. Suffolk County Council has the prime responsibility for health and safetyand that the governing body and Head teacher have specific responsibilities to manage health, safety and welfare at the school level;
  2. They have responsibilities
  • to support the published policies and aims of the county council, and
  • to promote continuous improvement in the health and safety performance of the education service;
  1. The Head teacher, as Local Health and Safety Coordinator has principal duty in the school for ensuring the local implementation of guidance, codes of practice and other advice from Suffolk County Council;
  2. This duty extends to ensuring that:
  • working conditions and environment
  • substances used
  • equipment provided, and
  • working methods adopted

do not impair the well-being of any employee, or any other person including clients, contractors, visitors, volunteers and any member of the public who may be affected by the conduct of its work.

All members of staff and Governors are committed to taking all reasonable actions to ensure that these duties are fulfilled.

All staff members have a responsibility to work in a safe manner and to report any conditions that may have health and safety implications in the school grounds or on the school premises.

This document must be made available to all staff in school. All staff members must be aware of the contents of this policy and should report any matters within the policy that should be modified or could be improved.

The school has separate policies for Safeguarding, Fire Safety and the administration of medicines.

Organisation

The Head teacher has responsibility for day-to-day management of health and safety issues and is known as the Local Health and Safety Coordinator. The Head teacher will report to the Governors on a termly basis.

All staff should have regard to their own health and safety and that of others including pupils, clients, visitors and colleagues. They should communicate any concerns to the appropriate person(s) (see below) so that hazards can be assessed and dealt with quickly.

Individual members of staff are responsible for the particular areas as follows:

Task / Job title of person responsible
H&S Policy review / Named Governor or Headteacher
Communication and information management / Named Governor or Headteacher
Critical Incident Management / Head teacher
H&S Induction Training / Head teacher / Deputy
Programmed updating training / Head teacher
Personal safety procedures (also Schoolsafe) / Head teacher
Planned checks (procedures) / Named Governor
Planned checks (equipment) / Bursar/caretaker
Planned checks (premises) / Designated Governor
Incident reporting/investigation / Head teacher
Coordination of risk assessment work / Head teacher
Fire procedures including personal emergency evacuation plans / Head teacher
Locally organised premises maintenance, repair and improvement / Head teacher/Bursar
First Aid (training and equipment) / Deputy Head teacher
Vehicle control and pedestrian safety / Head teacher
Educational visits coordinator (EVC) / Head teacher
Stress and Wellbeing / Head teacher
Safeguarding (Child Protection) Co-ordinator / HT/DHT/AHT/FSP
Supporting pupils with medical needs / Deputy head teacher
Premises Security / Caretaker
Contractors on site / Head teacher / Admin
Outside lettings / Head teacher
Annual/Termly H&S audit / Deputy head teacher/Named Governor
ARRANGEMENTS

Health and Safety Policy Review

The school’s health and safety policy is reviewed, updated and put to staff within the Autumn term annually and presented to the whole Governing Body in Spring term. At each review we formally adopt the policy and renew the relevant signatures.

It is discussed and the views of staff are sought before the policy is agreed.

There are clear links and references between the school's general health and Safety policy and the teaching and learning policies. Subject co-ordinators are responsible for the policy documents of their own subjects. Science, Design Technology, Art and Sport carry specific risks associated with practical work and are the subject of additional guidance and assessment of risk for which co-ordinators of those subject areas are responsible and to which they must respond.

The Governing Body

The Governing Body meets termly to receive a report on an inspectionof the school buildings and site carried out by the Head teacher and one delegated member of the Governing Bodyand to discuss other issues relating to health, safety and welfare. The findings of the governing body are formally recorded and action points are brought forward for review.

The Head teacherpresentsa regular report on health and safety to the whole governing body including any training undertaken.

The Governing Bodyis responsible for reviewing the school’s incident records to identify any patterns or other indicators requiring management attention.

The Governors are responsible for attending the relevant governor training and for keeping up-to-date on the most recent health and safety issues that may be pertinent to the school.

Governors are aware of the school’s website and review the contents on an individual basis.

Communication and Information Management:

The school has a system to ensure relevant Health and Safety information is passed onto the relevant people within the school. Information is passed out in staff meetings, briefings and via the staff information whiteboard.

The Head teacher and Governors are responsible for the routine checking of the Schools Portal for updates to the health and safety pages.

Subject co-ordinators acknowledge their specific responsibility for managing curriculum subject specific information.

A copy of the H&S Policy is kept in the staffroom(in the staff handbook), office( in the staff handbook), kitchen and on the schools shared computer drive.

The policy is reviewed annually whereupon the attention of all staff is drawn to the policy.

There is a notice board for general health and safety information in the staffroom that any member of staff may refer to at any time.

Items that may be viewed on this board include:

  • The school's health and safety policy
  • A copy of the “Health and Safety Law – What you should know” leaflet
  • Poster displays or other awareness raising, etc. campaigns, well-being
  • Incident reporting procedure

Critical Incident Management and temporary staffing absences

The county’s guidelines are followed, Governors regularly review these guidelines, where necessary, and staff are made aware of these arrangements, for example:

  • The named staff member responsible for First Aid
  • The procedure for emergency school closure
  • Arrangements for reporting accidents / incidents

Arrangements made to cover the occasional (but foreseeable) absence of key staff so that first aid provision, medical needs and security are maintained. (This may be due to planned absence, industrial action or ‘emergencies’ of any kind.)

Health and Safety Induction Training

New staffwill receive an appropriate induction training including training that is matched to their specific work and responsibilities.

This includes:

  • Overview of the school’s health and safety policy and organisational structure
  • Tour of the premises
  • Current health and safety priorities for the school – safety policy targets
  • Communication and relationships with other departments, schools within the MAT and Suffolk County Council.
  • General health and safety advice, including the schools own guidance and that from the LA
  • The use of the Incident Reporting form for incidents, hazards, work-related injuries and illnesses and fires.
  • Where appropriate, curriculum specific guidance and arrangements for working with the county subject advisers
  • For certain staff (head teacher, bursar, business manager, caretaker, etc) the arrangements for ensuring the duties relating to asbestos management are fulfilled and that the asbestos survey report is available.
  • Initial advice to women of child bearing age about the need for 'expectant and new mothers' risk assessment
  • Smoking restrictions
  • Fire evacuation and emergency procedures
  • Information on hazards that are specific to the school, and established controls or precautions (for example: a narrow drive shared by pedestrians and vehicles)
  • Trained first aid personnel and first-aid facilities
  • Fire extinguishers and blankets – location and use
  • What to do in an emergency, including fires which start in class (science, design technology and art teachers must pay particular attention to this risk)
  • Specific issues arising from mobility difficulties or other reasons giving rise to the need for Personal Evacuation Plans.

Routine Updating Training

Health and Safety training is undertaken on a regular basis. Staff members are expected to keep records of training received.

  • Teachers, teaching assistants, midday supervisors and named first aiders are trained to the appropriate level and this training is refreshed within the specified limits.
  • Copies of training certificates relating to general health and safety, ‘School Safe’, safeguarding and first aid are kept on file in the school office.

Personal Safety procedures, Schoolsafe and control of violence

  • Schoolsafe training is undertaken at least every two years.
  • Any incidents of aggression, assault or verbal abuse are recorded under the school incident reporting procedure.
  • Guidance on ‘Dealing with abuse, threats and violence towards school staff’ forms part of ongoing H&S training.
  • Visitors to school have to sign in and are issued with a badge.
  • Visitors are clearly directed to use the main entrance to the school. Signs are clearly visible from the outside of the building.
  • Headteacher and caretaker are the main keyholders, and the relevant authorities are promptly advised of changes to the list.
  • Consideration is given to the safety of lone workers and procedures are in place, particularly with regard to locking up.

Planned Safety Checks

Procedures

Arrangements are in place for monitoring H&S issues:
PHSC monitors and considers health and safety issues, undertakes safety inspections annually and may conduct reviews of incident forms.

The Educational Visits Coordinator has oversight of risk assessments undertaken for educational visits.

Staff members on playground duties undertake simple, visual, informal checks of play equipment and outside environments and any issues are reported.

The school site, car park and playing field isvisually checked before school each day by the Caretaker. Outdoor play equipment is subject to a regular visual check.

Equipment

The following equipment is subjected to a formal, programmed and recorded maintenance check:

  • All indoor and outdoor sports and play equipment
  • The school’s water systems- hygiene, temperature and legionnaires disease checks
  • Catering equipment, including ventilators
  • Ladders, stepladders and other access equipment
  • Door closers, running gear and catches
  • Printing and reprographics machines
  • Kiln
  • Electrical equipment

Staff are reminded to undertake a simple and informal visual inspection of any electrical equipment they (or their class) use and any concerns reported to the Head teacher or Deputy.

Premises

  • The whole school site is inspected annually by the Head Teacher and the named governor.
  • Regular visual checks are carried out by the Headteacher / caretaker.
  • Visual checks are carried out before using PE equipment and staff members are aware of the need to keep fire exits and routes clear of obstructions.
  • The Corporate Property Adviser undertakes condition survey reviews, asbestos surveys and ‘walk around’ site visits regularly.

Infection Control Arrangements.

The school has separate policies for providing intimate care, and managing medicines and pupils’ medical needs.

Incident Reporting/Investigation

  • Minor accidents and any treatment given are reported on recording sheets from first aid books kept with first aid kits. A copy of this record is kept in a central file in the school office and a copy is sent home to parents.
  • The Incident Report form and associated guidance booklet is kept in the office and is used to record and report serious incidents.
  • Staff are briefed on when and how to use the form.
  • The Headteacher, or a designated and competent member of staff, signs, and checks every Incident Report form before it is sent to the MAT Area Office.
  • Every incident is subject to investigation as appropriate with a view to preventing recurrence.
  • The school’s Governing Body periodically review the incident history for the school and plan actions to reduce the likelihood of future incidents.

Coordination of Risk Assessment Work

Risk assessments are carried out and recorded, as relevant, for all activities and persons that have an appreciable risk associated with them. These include:

  • Educational visits and trips
  • Lone working situations, including custodian security checks and locking up
  • Certain pupils, particularly those who have special needs, as appropriate
  • Display screen equipment /workstations
  • Manual handling
  • New and expectant mothers
  • Working at height
  • Swimming pool supervision
  • School fetes, drama productions, etc.
  • Pedestrian safety where vehicles may be moving

Risk assessments are reviewed prior to the activity being repeated, or periodically, as appropriate.

Fire Procedures

A fire risk assessment has been completed and is reviewed periodically.

Notices detailing the evacuation procedure and assembly points are placed around the school, as appropriate.

An evacuation practice (fire drill) is carried out once per term.

All fire extinguishers are examined during the annual maintenance check.

Staff are trained in the school’s fire extinguishing equipment use to enable them to escape safely in an emergency.

The caretaker/staff conducts regular tests of the alarm system andother relevant tests. (Recorded in the Caretakers Log book)

Contractors carry out detailed termly checks of the alarm system.

Details of alarm and other tests, evacuation drills and fire precautions training are recorded in the Office log book.

Routine checks are undertaken of all fire exits and doors. Records are kept in a fire precautions Office log book.

Locally Organised Premises Maintenance, Repair and Improvement

The Form 13 procedure is followed for all maintenance, repair and improvement projects.

Relevant staff are aware of the asbestos procedures. The asbestos survey report is available to view at all times in theOffice Log Book in the school office.

Should alterations to the asbestos survey report be necessary, these will be notified to the County Council and MAT after discussion and assistance from the school’s Property Adviser at the MAT.

Cleaning, grounds maintenance and other contractors work to appropriate agreed County standards.

First Aid – Training and equipment

First aid equipment is located at the First Aid Station where a designated trained Member of Staff is on duty at all breaks and lunchtimes.

All staff are responsible for monitoring stock levels in first aid kits and must notify the Finance/Admin. Manager so that stocks of consumables may be replaced.

County guidelines are followed re: the disposal of clinical waste.

Vehicle Control and Pedestrian Safety

Car park arrangement; only official visitors(including delivery vehicles) and staff cars are entitled to use the car park. The Head teacher monitors this situation from time-to-time and users are reminded of the requirements to keep the main gates closed at all times.

Refuse Collection vehicles access the site at around 7.00am and therefore do not pose a risk to pedestrians who may use the site.

Education Visits Coordinator (EVC)

Current county council advice is followed regarding school trips.

The school has a nominated coordinator who has attended the L.A. training.

The school’s policy follows the model provided by the county council.

Stress and Well Being

  • If a member of staff informs the school that they are suffering from stress, then the school assesses risks so that where possible the school will aim to reduce the causing factors, and will provide an opportunity for counseling.
  • Stress management training takes place as appropriate on PD Days.
  • The school also buys into the Local Authority’s wellbeing scheme, ‘Worklife Support’.
  • The school may refer an employee to Occupational Health for an assessment and support if necessary.
  • Any reported cases of stress are recorded in individual files on Return to Work forms so that support can be given by the school.
  • Issues relating to stress, workload and work-life balance are discussed regularly by Governors.

Safeguarding (formerly Child Protection) Procedures

Current County Council guidance is followed and supported by a school policy which is reviewed annually by the Governing Body.