Welcome to Ashburnham Community School

Safeguarding and Health and Safety Information for visitors and volunteers

All staff and visitors have a responsibility for safeguarding our pupils. To ensure this, we ask the following:  

• Please sign in at the front of school upon arrival. Our office team will help you.
• Please wear your visitor badge at all times.
• Switch off your mobile phone or device and store it in your bag or pocket.
• If you do need to use your mobile phone or camera enabled device, please do so in an area that is not accessed by the children, which includes corridors. Please ask a member of staff if you need to use an office space.
• Do not take pictures, videos or sound recordings of any pupils unless you have sought permission from the school.
• If you have a concern about a child please pass this on to the child’s class teacher, who will then follow our safeguarding procedures. If they are not available, please speak with one of our Leadership Team (see below).
• If you have a concern about another adult in school, please ask to speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).  

Safe working at Ashburnham

• If a child says something to you that you think could be a safeguarding concern, act as above, and if possible write down what was said immediately. Listen to the child, do not question them or promise them that it will remain confidential between the two of you.
• All volunteers work under a member of staff that they have been assigned to.
• Teachers retain responsibility for children at all times, including the behaviour and the activity that they are undertaking.
• Be respectful, fair and considerate to all.
• Provide a good example and be a positive role model.
• When working with a child or group of children, where possible, ensure that you are not on your own and are visible to a member of school staff.
• Only make physical contact when it is absolutely necessary and appropriate for the child’s wellbeing and safety.
• When communicating with the children, ensure that you are professional and appropriate in your comments. Do not make inappropriate comments to the children.
• We do not tolerate sexist, racist or homophobic remarks.
• Do not exchange emails, text messages, phone numbers or social media contact details with any children.
• Please do not discuss children in communal areas.
• Treat all children equally. Never build a ‘special relationship’ or favour a particular child above others.
• Please do not take uncovered hot drinks into any room with a child.

Senior Leadership Team at Ashburnham

Health and safety guidelines

Arrival

The school office is located at the front of the school at the entrance just off King’s Road. On arrival, you will be asked to sign in and given a visitor’s badge which you must wear at all times. If you do not have a valid DBS, you must be accompanied by a member of staff at all times.

Contractors

Contractors or external visitors attending to carry out maintenance and other works must liaise with our Site Manager to go through the scope of the work and any fire precautions, risks and control measures required.

Security

Please remember to close all access key doors and gates behind you to ensure the security of all children, staff and visitors.

First Aid

If a child you are working with becomes unwell, please alert a member of staff, who will follow our first aid procedures.

If you have an accident or feel unwell, please alert a member of staff  who will direct  you to one of our first aiders. All accidents or ‘near misses’ must be reported to the school office where details will be recorded.

To call for first aid help if you are alone, call  0207 352 5740 and the school office will send a first aider to you as soon as possible.

Fire Safety

On discovering  a fire:

• Proceed to the nearest break glass unit and activate the fire alarm by pushing the button as directed.
• Evacuate the building via the nearest available exit.

On hearing the fire alarm:

• Leave the building immediately via the nearest marked fire exit
• Go to the muster point (in the playground, nearest to the Blantyre Street entrances)
• Report to a fire marshal or member of office staff taking registering visitors
• Do not return to the building until you are instructed that you may do so
• If you are disabled and feel that you may require assistance during an evacuation, please advise the office  staff upon signing in so that arrangements can be made to assist you with your evacuation.

Our Safeguarding Policy can be found here: CP and safeguarding Policy