Health and Safety Policy

 

Next Review Date: September 1st 2026

In CEDEC International Schools, the provision of a safe working environment for all members of the school community is paramount. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the management team to ensure a safe and secure environment. In addition, all adults and children should be encouraged on how to keep themselves and each other safe and report safety concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Therefore, this Health and Safety policy aims to address, guide and identify individual and collective responsibilities towards safety.

 

Aims

• To ensure that the working environment is comfortable, healthy, safe and secure for all staff and children.
• To encourage all members of the school community to be aware of safety measures and take responsibility for their safety and that of others while within the school environment. 

Policy Objectives

• Staying vigilant around the school premises for intruders while maintaining a comfortable environment.
• Make available information to members of the school community to avoid hazards and aid their safety.
• Ensure that electrical equipment is maintained appropriately, and ensure a safe environment for storing and transporting items.
• Ensure appropriate fire regulations.
• Ensure safe procedures for the administration of medicines and for dealing with accidents and illness
• Have a procedure in place for reporting faulty equipment and near misses.
• Be aware of the pressures on teaching staff and the possible effects which stress may have
• Provide guidance on personal safety.
• Provide information on emergency procedures.

 

Policy communication to staff members

New members of staff receive accesss to the health and safety information as part of the orientation process.

Responsibilities of individual staff members

All employees, according to their particular roles, are expected to take the initiative on certain matters. The information below is a guide to individual responsibilities.

1.      Know the safety measures and arrangements to be adopted in their own working areas and ensure that they are applied.

2.      Observe standards of dress consistent with safety and/ or hygiene

3.      Keep good standards of hygiene and cleanliness

4.      Know and apply the procedures in respect of emergencies

5.      Report any hazard or breakage in their work environment

6.      Follow health and safety instructions and use appropriate safety equipment and protective clothing

7.      Ensure the safely of tools and equipment in their care

8.      Report any incidents, assaults or ‘near misses’.

Responsibilities of Class Teachers

1.      Set a good example to the children in their care

2.      Supervise pupils and ensure that they know about emergency procedures and safety measures

3.      Ensure that pupils’ bags, coats and belongings are safely stowed away

4.      Make parents/ volunteers aware of safety procedures if they have to visit the classroom/ work area

5.      Give clear instruction and warning as often as necessary

6.      Ensure that pupils are made aware of existing and new health and safety information.

 

Responsibilities of the Management staff:

Those responsible for others should ensure that:

• Members of staff are complying with health and safety regulations
• New members of staff receive health and safety information as part of the induction policy.
• Draw the attention of the Head teacher to any breach of procedure amongst the staff members.
• The Head teacher is informed of any difficulties that occur and that near misses and accidents are reported and recorded.
• They set a good example to staff and children
• They keep up-to-date with new pieces of advice relating to health and safety
• They keep a list of equipment and substances kept in their areas
• They implement existing policies and follow advice and instructions

 

Responsibilities of the Governing Body

1.      Ensure that policies relating to health and safety are in place, accessible and updated regularly

2.      Approve as appropriate arrangements for residential trips.

3.      Ensure that safety standards for purchased goods and equipment are met and that items offered for sale by the school are safe.

Responsibilities of the Head of school.

1.      To ensure that the school meets as far as is reasonably practicable, the requirements of the health and safety legislation

2.      To put into practice and monitor the procedures described in associated policies i.e. first aid, emergency, fire, reporting of defects

3.      To act upon referrals from employees

4.      To ensure staff and pupils comply with agreed procedures

5.      To ensure access to this policy and other health and safety information as legally required

6.      Advise and inform the Governing Body as to health and safety practice, legislation and compliance

7.      To ensure that appropriate logs and records of incidents are completed and acted upon

8.      To ensure employees are updated on policies.

9.      To ensure that employees have adequate training and information to enable them to act upon health and safety recommendations

10. To report matters of health and safety to the governing body 

11. To make sure that fire drills are held at least once per term.

12. To ensure that escape routes are kept clear and monitor on a daily basis

13. Ensure adequate first aid cover is provided 

Responsibilities of visitors 

Regular visitors and other users of the school will be required to observe the safety rules of the school.  The Head teacher will ensure that signs that inform visitors of precautionary measures are visible.

The following procedures/ codes of practice shall be followed within the school:

Defects 

1.      Any member of staff finding a defect in the building, furniture or equipment will take steps to remove the hazard or ensure that the risk is minimised and report the details immediately to his/her Head of Department or Head of School

2.      The Head of Logistics (in collaboration with the Head of campus, if necessary), will take steps to have the defect rectified.

3.      Details of significant defects will be recorded by the Head of Logistics

4.      Any member of staff discarding a faulty item or electrical item must ensure this item is removed from the Inventory

 

Accident reporting

All accidents within the school should be reported and detailed using the Incident Reporting form. Accidents resulting in children's injuries must be reported using the Injury Reporting Form. See First Aid Policy.

If the accident is serious, senior management should be informed immediately and action taken to ensure the location of the accident is still safe to use.

Electricity

Electrical items received or purchased by the school are recorded by the accounts office. All defective items are removed or repaired.

Staff should be vigilant for:

•       Damage to plugs and switches
•       Correctly fitted connectors
•       Coloured insulation of the internal wires not showing at plug or appliance
•       Damage to outer case of equipment
•       Signs of overheating
•       Signs of liquid spillage or entry of foreign materials, ventilation ports not blocked
•       The appliance being used for the purpose it was designed for 

Pupils from Year 6 and above are allowed to connect appliances to power sockets under supervision.

Hazardous Substances (Cleaning and Laboratory Equipments)

Our school is alert to the need to limit the use of any hazardous substance and use alternative substances where possible. A list of all cleaning equipment is kept in the store, where all cleaning materials are kept.

Risk assessments

Risk assessments should be completed whenever there is the possibility that a hazard or danger might be encountered as part of a school activity.

Staff should inform the Head of School, if they notice that any risk assessment appears dated or does not deal with the potential risks encountered.

 

Manual handling

All members of staff should be aware of manual handling activities involved in their day-to-day activities i.e. the movement of bundles of paper, the reorganisation of classroom furniture, the moving of dinner tables, the carrying of books, the movement of audio/ visual equipment and musical equipment.

Children should be taught how to safely move equipment. They should not be required to move heavy objects and should only move awkward objects like chairs with appropriate supervision.

Staff are reminded about correct posture when lifting and carrying equipment. All staff should alert senior members of staff if they feel that an action they are involved with is having an effect on their physical health and well-being.

 

Educational visits

Educational visits are valued in school as it offers an opportunity for hands-on outdoor learning. However, it is essential that these visits are prepared well in advance, precautionary measures taken, and staff members are aware.

The Excursion committee Team Leader for each academic year supports the planning process and offers knowledgeable advice regarding excursion venues. All information and preparation are to be completed by Excursion committee. Pre-site visits are always recommended in order that staff can feel sure about potential risks involved and prepare alternative arrangements in the case of weather changes. Excursion committee members should also consult with colleagues who have previous experience of the venue or children involved. Further details are included in our Excursion Policy.

  

Sports equipment

The sports equipment are inspected regularly. The sports master/mistress is responsible for overseeing this inspection and for keeping a regular check of whether equipment is fit for purpose. Any significant findings must be reported to the Head of Campus.

The PHE rules outlines procedures for safe use of equipment. Careful consideration should be given to the use of apparatus. Staff should be particularly alert to the use of equipment with children with behavioural needs.

 

Adult Identification and Visitor Management

For a safe and easily identifiable environment for all students, staff, visitors, and contractors, all adults on the school premises must visibly wear the appropriate school-issued identification badge and lanyard on full display at all times. All visitors and contractors must be accompanied by staff members at all times.

Identification Categories

The school operates a colour-coded identification system as follows:

Category	Lanyard/Badge Colour
Visitors (including parents and guardians)	Orange
Contractors	Red
Part-time Staff	Green
Permanent Staff	White and Blue

 

Staff Responsibilities

• All staff members are responsible for challenging, in a polite and professional manner, any adult not visibly displaying authorised identification.
• Lost or damaged staff identification badges must be reported immediately to the school administration or security office.
• Identification badges are non-transferable and must only be used by the individual to whom they were issued.
• All adults must sign in at reception/security upon arrival and sign out before leaving the premises.
• Visitor and contractor badges must be returned upon departure.

Supervision and Interaction with Students

• Permanent and part-time staff members (blue, white, and green identification badges) are authorised to interact with students in the course of their professional duties, in line with the staff code of conduct (See staff handbook).
• Visitors and contractors (orange and red identification badges) must not have unsupervised access to students at any time.
• Any supervised interaction between visitors/contractors and students must occur only for an approved school purpose, and with prior authorisation from school leadership where necessary.
• Parents and visitors must remain within authorised areas unless accompanied by a staff member.

• Staff must immediately report any unidentified person, safeguarding concern, or breach of this procedure to the Head of School.
• Failure to comply with identification and visitor management procedures may result in removal from the premises or further disciplinary action where applicable.

Fire

Fire drills are held termly. Individual and collective responsibilities are listed below:

Responsibilities during fire drill

Head teacher/ deputy head teacher	Supervision of evacuation, Evaluation of procedures
Health and Safety Officer	Training and guidance
Secretary	Calling the fire service in the case of large fires
Teachers (class/subject teachers and class assistants)	Evacuating pupils in their care, and taking roll call at assembly point
Office staff	Evacuating visitors, taking visitors roll call at assembly point and checking visitors sign in books.

 

Responsibilities for class teachers (or teaching assistant/ mid-day supervisor if class teacher not onsite)

During the first day of school all class teachers should explain to children what the procedure is should the fire bell sound. This should include information about:

•       Exit to be used
•       Assembly point
•       Action on discovering a fire
•       Keeping pathways clear

Exit to be used – is the nearest available exit. Please also make note of alternative exits should this one be blocked.

Assembly point – is on the front playground standing in registration groups. Where children have been in sets or working in other class groups, they should return to their registration group at the assembly point for the roll call.

Action on discovering a fire – Children must inform an adult in school immediately they discover a fire, and should never try to put a fire out themselves. Adults use the nearest available fire extinguisher for small fires, and alert the secretary in the administrative office.

Keeping pathways clear – children should be reminded about keeping bags out of the way.

Registers should be taken out on to the playground by class teachers and or any case of absence class teachers. Once the register has been checked teachers should let the head teacher know that the class are all present. 

The same procedure will be used in the event of any other emergency where evacuation of the school building is needed.

 

Tests and checks

H. O. D. Logistics	On arrival Exits and routes to remain unobstructed Exit doors unlocked On leaving Electrical equipment disconnected or switched off Exit and windows adequately secured Check extinguishers are in the correct place
(Health and Safety Officer/The HeadTeacher)	Termly Fire drill

 

Lone working and personal security

The School Management does not expect any employee to go into a dangerous situation for which he/ she is not prepared. If you think you may be exposing yourself to danger in entering a building or site you should not do so.

Staff working alone in the building

If you are working alone in the building or in an isolated situation, take the following precautions:

• Tell your Head of Department and the Head of School where you are and what time you will be leave school. Notify someone at home of your expected return time.
• Ensure that entrances are secure – ensure that the main entrance is bolted and that you can get out of another door in case of an emergency without using a key.
• If you are the last member of staff to leave ensure that the door through which you leave locks behind you.
• If anyone suspicious attempts to enter the building or you see or hear anything suspicious contact the security office.
• Always be alert when leaving the building

 

  

In the event of trespassers

Where a person is not immediately recognised as having legitimate reason to be on the school grounds they should be politely asked if they need any help. Assuming the person seems to have a valid reason they should be directed towards the security office where they will be asked to sign in and given a visitor’s badge.

If it emerges that the person has no right to be on school premises then they should be taken to the security office, and asked to leave by the nearest exit and observed until they do so. After this, the most senior member of staff available should be informed.

If an intruder refuses to leave becomes abusive or seems to present a threat to the safety of others the school security officer should be called without delay.

If you feel in anyway threatened do not approach but find a safe place and call the school security. Do not try to physically remove trespassers from the site or engage in arguments with them. Make your point, withdraw and call security.

 

In the event of a break in on site

Remember personal safety is far more important than the protection of property. 

1.      Ensure that if children are still on site, they are placed in secure locations.

2.      Alert the administrative office who should call emergency services and seek assistance.

3.      Monitor the intruders and check their progress

 

In the event of an abusive parent/ adult

Meetings with parents should occur in the reception or the Head of School’s  office, except on days when parents have events(Discussion Day, Parents’ Forum, etc) in the school premises. Make sure any meeting with any adult whom you suspect may turn abusive is conducted in a room that can easily be monitored and with members of staff within easy reach. It may be appropriate to request that an additional member of staff meets with the parent depending upon circumstances.

Should a parent/ adult become aggressive they should be asked to leave the premises in a calm and non-threatening way. It might be appropriate for a member of staff to alert the security officer should the adult refuse to leave or if their behaviour is causing concern in any way. If any incident has occurred an incident form should be completed.

In the event of it being suspected that a pupil is carrying a weapon

As a general rule, the police should be called to deal with any incident believed to involve a weapon. There may be exceptions where the circumstances appear to be wholly innocent and the matter can be dealt with on a disciplinary basis. If in any doubt, call the police.

In exceptional circumstances staff may decide that they need to take action before the police arrive. Where possible, staff should not confront a pupil in the presence of other pupils. Preferably two or more members of staff should divert the pupil or person to a place where no other pupils are present.

Reporting Incidents

Use an incident form to report all incidents, however minor, including all alarm responses and all trespass incidents. In addition, any occurrence where individuals are, or feel threatened must be reported to the police, as it is a serious matter. Use the official incident report form for this purpose and submit to the Health and Safety Officer/Head of School immediately

This policy is reviewed annually or as appropriate.