Health and Safety Policy

KILBRIDE NATIONAL SCHOOL

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Health and Safety Policy

The staff of Kilbride National School have completed a review of the Health and Safety Issues in the school. A new and revised Health and Safety Policy has been formulated after consultation with the whole staff and the Board of Management.

The staff of Kilbride National School place huge importance on health and safety issues in the school. The staff holds a firm belief that this policy will protect and provide safety for each and every child in the school. This policy promotes the holistic development of every child in the school.

The following are very important procedures to note and follow

Children who are ill should not attend school. On the child’s return, an absence note is required.

If a child is sick at school, the parents/guardians of the child will be notified and the child will go home. If the parents/guardians cannot be contacted, the next number on the contact list will be notified. If in the event that no one can be contacted, the child will remain at school.

Written notification to the class teacher is necessary if a child is to remain inside at break times.

The school staff is not insured to administer medication to children. Medication including medicines, tablets, inhalers etc. This list is exhaustive. If vital medication is needed, this must be brought to the attention of the principal. A letter outlining the details and administration of the medication must be given to the Board of Management.

It is a teacher’s right to decline the administration of medication. In this situation it is the parent’s responsibility to ensure the administration of medication.

It is very important that parents/guardians notify the class teacher and principal of any physical disability, allergy or illness that their child may have.

It is important that parents/guardians check their child’s hair regularly for head lice. If a child has head lice, it is important for parents/guardians to notify the class teacher. Any discussion with a teacher is strictly confidential. However, the teacher will have to inform the parents/guardians of the children in the school that there are head lice in the school. A note will be sent out and parents/guardians will be asked to check/treat their children’s heads.

Parents are requested to fill in a Health and Safety Form and Child Collection Consent Form at the beginning of the academic school year.

Please Note: Only those names on the Child Collection Consent Form are permitted to collect children from school.

Kilbride National School Healthy Eating Policy

Kilbride National School promotes healthy eating at lunchtimes. The goal of the healthy eating policy is to encourage children to eat food that is high in fibre, low in sugar and salt.

Children are encouraged to eat and drink plenty of the following lists of food

Fruit
Vegetables
Bread
Cheese
Yogurts
Chicken
Lean meat
Cereal Bars
Milk
Fruit juices

Forbidden food and drink

Crisps
Fizzy drinks
Popcorn
Peanuts (in case of allergies)

Research has shown that junk food can cause children to be giddy and hyper. As a result, children do not work as well at school.

Children are allowed one treat day. Friday is treat day. This treat day works alongside Golden Time. It is to be seen as a reward from home for good behaviour in school. The following treats are allowed to be brought in on a Friday only:

Small bar of chocolate
Small packet of sweets
Biscuits
Buns
Cakes

No chewing gum is allowed in the school.

Smoking

Kilbride National School has a strict no smoking policy. The school and its grounds is a designated non-smoking area. The principal must be notified if anyone is seen smoking in the school or on the grounds.

Fire Safety

In the event of a fire, the children will leave the school through a specified
- The Main Assembly point is at the entrance to the staff car park.
- Miss Parke’s class exit the office door.
- Mrs Mc Ardle’s class exit through the kitchen-playground door.
- Miss O’Carroll’s group exit the playground door.
- Mrs Murphy’s class exit the main front door.
- Miss Kealey’s class exit the playground door.
- The Principal Teacher takes the roll book with her to the fire assembly point.
- The Principal Teacher calls the Roll for the classes on reaching the fire assembly point.
- Pupils return to the school premises only when the all clear has been given.
The Principal will bring the Roll Book and contact numbers outside and check that all children are present.
The Principal or vice-principal will ring the fire brigade and notify all parents/guardians immediately.

Road Safety/Car Park

Attention has to be paid to the following points concerning road safety outside Kilbride National School.

It is important for every road user to be especially conscious of road safety on the approach roads to the school and particularly at the school.
It is important that every parent/guardian ensures that their children are fully aware of the Safe Cross Code and that they understand it and use it.
It is important that every parent/guardian ensures that their children are conscious of road safety whether they walk, cycle, are driven or come by bus.
All parent/guardians/carers are informed of collection/drop-off procedure at the Infants Day.
Children are taught the dangers of the car park in September.
In the interest of safety, parents/guardians/carers must obey all signs upon entering the school grounds.
Parents/Guardians need to take extra care when driving at the school.
Cars are advised to drive slowly on entering school grounds when collecting/dropping-off children.
Parents/Guardians must park in designated parking spaces.
Parents/Guardians are asked to check that no child is walking in front of, along side or behind their car.
In the morning, parents/guardians/carers are advised to accompany children to and from the school premises.
The Junior and Senior Infant children are brought outside to the playground at 1.30pm by the class teacher. The children are handed over to their parent/guardian/carer by the teacher.
Children are not allowed to run/play in the playground or carpark when being collected. All children are taught safety rules, and should these rules be broken, they will lose Golden Time. Once the child is handed over to their parent/guardian, the parent/guardian assumes full responsibility. If a parent does not supervise their child or collect their junior child from the yard, they will be asked to meet with the teacher to discuss this issue. This meeting will be recorded and kept on file in the office. If the issue continues to arise, a letter will be sent to the parent from the Board of Management.
If a parent/guardian wishes for their child to be collected by another person, they must contact the class teacher via telephone or letter to inform her of the alternative arrangement.
The children in 1^st-6th class are advised to walk out to the car park by their teacher at 2.30p.m. They are advised to wait on the path until they are collected by their parent/guardian.
If a P.E. lesson is taking place outside, please note that parents are not permitted to enter the playground or stand in the grass areas.
Parents/Guardians are asked not to park on the opposite side of the road to the school, thereby forcing a child to cross the road.

Accident Procedures

The staff of Kilbride National School view Safety as a massive priority and of utmost importance.

The children are supervised at all times – in the classroom, on the yard and on school trips.
The amount of adults required to accompany children on school trips depends on the numbers going.(Minimum 1 teacher is to 10 children)
Teachers will bring a first aid box and contact list on school trips.
The staff of Kilbride National School are vigilant and try as best they can to pre-empt any accidents from occurring.

However, accidents do occur despite supervision.

Cuts or Open Wounds

Should a child fall or have an accident that results in an open cut/wound, the following shall be adhered to:

If a child receives a minor cut to the hand or leg, the cut will be cleaned using saline solution or cooled boiled water. No cream or plaster will be applied in case the child is allergic to them.

Important Note

A plaster will only be applied if the parent/guardian signs the relevant consent form stating that the child is not allergic to the plasters.
If a child receives a cut considered serious. The parents/guardians of the child will be notified immediately. If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, the next number on the contact list will be notified. If in the unlikely event that no one can be contacted, a non-adherent dressing (example gauze) will be put on the cut and the school will take the appropriate action.
As the child’s welfare is Should the child show any undue signs of distress following the incident, the school shall immediately contact the parents/guardians.
Should a child fall and complain of an injury to a private area, two teachers will request that the child goes to the bathroom to check if they have a cut. If the child says that they have a cut, or shows signs of distress, a member of staff will contact the child’s parent or guardian to notify.

Head Injury

If a child receives a blow to the head resulting from a fall or clash of heads the following shall be adhered to:

An ice pack will be applied to the head. The parent/guardian will be contacted immediately and told of the injury. If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, the next number on the contact list will be notified. If in the unlikely event that no one can be contacted, the school will take the appropriate action.

If the child should suffer from any of the following:

Prolonged impaired vision
Memory loss
Severe headache
Intolerance to light
Severe drowsiness
Vomiting
Inability to walk in a straight line

An ambulance will be called and the parent/guardian informed immediately.

Limb Injury

If a child is involved in an accident resulting in injury to his or her limbs, shoulder, ribs or neck, the following shall be adhered to:

If a child receives an injury to his/her leg or arm and swelling occurs. An ice pack will be applied and the parent/guardian will be contacted immediately. If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, the next number on the contact list will be notified. If in the unlikely event that no one can be contacted, the school will take the appropriate action.
If a child receives an injury to the shoulder or ribs and if it is considered serious, the parent/guardian will be contacted immediately. If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, the next number on the contact list will be notified. If in the unlikely event that no one can be contacted, the school will take the appropriate action.
If a child receives an injury and bone breakage is suspected, the parent/guardian will be contacted immediately. If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, the next number on the next contact list will be contacted. If in the unlikely event that no one can be contacted, the school will take the appropriate action.
If a child receives an injury to the neck that is deemed to be of a very serious nature, the child will not be moved. An ambulance will be called and the parent/guardian informed immediately. If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, the next number on the contact list will be contacted.

Recording of Accidents

If any injury occurs at school, the incident will be recorded. In the case of a “major injury” (head injury/serious cuts/breakages) the school will send home a note detailing the injury and treatment received. The parent/guardian will be asked to sign the note and return it to school.

Health & Safety Form and Consent

The parent/guardian will be required to fill in a Health and Safety Form detailing the names and phone numbers to be contacted in case of an accident. This form will require information regarding illness/allergies. The form will require consent for the use of plasters to cover minor cuts. This form will require parental consent in the event of a child being brought to hospital.

This policy was approved by the Board of Management in the academic year 2018/2019 and will be reviewed in the academic year 2019/2020.

Board of Management

Kilbride National School