Supporting children and young people’s health and safety

” Healthand safety in a school is about taking a sensible and proportionate approach to ensure the premises provide a healthy and safe place for all who use them, including the school work force, visitors and pupils. ” (HSE Health and Safety checklist for classrooms – August 2011) Task 1 Factors to take into account when planning healthy and safe, indoor and outdoor environments and services are: •Lines ofresponsibility- The Governing Body, Headteacherand Health and Safety Officer. Employees, for example yourself, caretaker and kitchen manager, visitors such as hirers and contractors. Safeguarding and welfare – Safe recruitment for example, CRB checking, raising awareness ofchild protection, establishing a safeenvironmentfor children to learn and develop. •Age, needs and ability – Assessing the risks and ensuring that equipment is provided and used appropriately. •The safe selection of toys, materials and equipment – Assessing the risks and ensuring equipment is provided and used appropriately. The school setting uses the Government’s Legislation as set down by the HSE as a source for planning healthy and safe environments and services.

Health and safety is monitored and maintained by following the guidance within the setting’s Health and Safety Policy. Risk assessments must be carried out to eliminate or reduce risks with any findings recorded. Any arrangements made must be monitored and reviewed by appointed person’s with the training, knowledge and skills to carry out these arrangements. It is the appointed person’s (Health and Safety Co-ordinator) responsibility to ensure that everyone within the setting is made aware of, read and signed the changed or new policies and procedures.

People within the work setting must be made aware of where of the Health and Safety Policy is kept, up to date training must be provided and copies of risk assessments must be given when necessary, for example when going on school trips, all adults on the trip must read the risk assessment specifies such as the minibus for travelling in, wearing visors, appointed first aiders, trip and group leaders and toilet trips. This ensures the staff are aware of risks and hazards, how to deal with them efficiently and who to report to.

Current health and safety legislation, policies and procedures are followed by employees at the school by reading the Health and Safety Policy and implementing the correct procedures such as the provision of first aid and knowledge of designated first aiders. The reporting and recording of accidents, Fire and Emergency procedures, attending the update of training, the need for parental consent for ” when there is significant risk of injury before children participate in any activity. ” (Livingstone Primary School – May 2011) All Employees will report defective items of furniture and equipment and if able, remove.

Task 2 It is important when managing risks that a balanced approach is taken, the needs of pupils and their rights to learn, explore and play no matter what their age or ability needs to be taken into account. However their health and safety is paramount and excessive risks should not be taken. An example of a balanced approach from my experience is the time when I was on morning playground duty, it came to my attention that the skipping ropes were not being used appropriately. The children had tied the skipping ropes to the climbing apparatus and were using them to swing on and climb.

In my opinion this was an excessive risk because the children were at risk of getting the rope caught around their necks or hurting another child who was using the apparatus appropriately. I immediately removed the skipping ropes and explained my reasons that it was too unsafe and encouraged the children to use them for skipping games. Children aged five or six would not be able to play on playground apparatus that is only suitable for children over 8 years of age because the apparatus ould be too high or have more complex climbing equipment and would not meet their age of development. Age appropriate apparatus and equipment should be available to aid their development. Apparatus/equipment for a child with special educational needs who is over 8 years old would not be suitable if their development age may only be equivalent to a 5 or 6 year old therefore they need access to apparatus/equipment to meet their developing age with approved adaptation and 1: 1 support if necessary. It is a fact of life that accidents, injury and illness happen to all children on occasions regardless. ” (Sited on a Microsoft Power Point, TA Accredited Course – 10 th November 2012) Task 3 Under the Health and Safety Policy, the procedures of the setting in response to accidents and incidents is that every case is dealt with by designated first aiders and is fully and accurately recorded and signed in the accident book that is kept in the medical room. A form is sent home to parents/carers informing them of any accident.

For head injuries parents/carers are informed immediately by telephone and the child is given a sticker to wear stating ‘I bumped my head’ this allows all staff to be aware of the child’s accident. In the event of an emergency the first aider should be summoned to attend the accident/incident to provide first aid and if necessary call for emergency services. Parents/carers must be contacted as soon as possible. In the event of illness parents/carers are contacted immediately to collect their child.

Any medicines that need to be given to a child needs a parent/carer to fill out a form stating the medicine and dosage as well as signed to give permission. Only designated persons should give medicines. Outbreaks of infectious illnesses are reported to all parents/carers via a letter home. Bibliography: •HSE Health and Safety Checklist for Classrooms, August 2011 •Livingstone Primary School, Health and Safety Policy, May 2011 •Microsoft Powerpoint, TA Accredited Course, 10th November 2012

Read also: How Different Types of Transitions Can Affect Children