Outcome 1: Know the legislative and policy framework for health and safety.
1.1 Describe how current health and safety legislation, policies and procedures are implemented in your setting
At the start of the day the children are made to line up in the school playground. When the whistle is blown at 8.55a.m the teachers will come onto the yard to collect their classes. The children are then in turn taken into the building. Some children will have attended breakfast club and they will be supervised in the hall then led out on to the yard ready for their teachers to collect them. Unless a child is particularly upset or distressed, or there is a need to speak to the teacher, parents are not permitted to enter the school with the child. When all of the children are safely inside and the parents have left the yard all gates are locked and only the front gate and door remains open. When the children have hung their coats up and entered the classroom the register is taken. If a child has not arrived by 9.15 the parents are sent a text asking where they are and why they are absent. When the children go out for morning break the gates remain locked and members of staff accompany them, no child is allowed to talk to anyone along the surrounding railings of the school even if they know them. At lunch time there are midday assistants in the hall to supervise the children and also out on the yard. After lunch the register is taken again. At the end of the day children are returned one by one to their parents or authorised person/s. The school must be informed if anybody unfamiliar is to collect the child. The school has a list of which children are to attend after school club or other after school activities. If during the day a child has to leave the school e.g. dentist or doctor’s appointment they must be signed out at reception and back in when they return in case of fire. If during the day a fire drill takes place the children are evacuated via the nearest fire exit and gather at the assembly point in the playground. The teacher will then take the register again to ensure everyone is safely out of the building. There is a copy of the fire evacuation procedure in every classroom. All visitors to the school must report to the front reception and be signed in and must sign out. During normal school hours all exterior doors and some internal are kept locked as are all external gates, apart from front main entrance. All hazards that could cause injury to yourself or others should be reported e.g. spillages, equipment with defects. Staff should ensure that none of their actions cause any injuries to themselves or others. All safety equipment that is provided should be used at all times. Gloves must be worn when handling materials during scientific activities. All equipment must be safe and age appropriate, equipment should carry recognised standards of safety signs. The children’s act 1989 requires that all children are cared for and are kept safe.
Any medicines that need to be administered are only to be done so by first aiders. Any injuries that occur during the school day to children must be entered into the accident book and a signature obtained from the child’s parent/carer. Serious injuries must be reported to the health and safety executive. Minor injuries may be cleaned, but no lotions or creams may be applied. All hazardous cleaning substances are kept under lock and key in the caretaker’s room or kitchen cleaning substances are kept locked in kitchen cupboard.
Health and safety act 1974
The Governors and the head teacher are responsible for implementing this policy