School Visitor Procedures
Statement
Idsall School assures all visitors a warm, friendly and professional welcome, whatever the purpose of their visit.
The school has a legal duty of care for the health, safety, security and wellbeing of all pupils and staff. This duty of care incorporates the duty to “safeguard‟ all pupils from subjection to any form of harm, abuse or nuisance. It is the responsibility of senior staff and the Board of Trustees to ensure that this duty is uncompromised at all times.
In performing this duty, we recognise that there can be no complacency where child protection and safeguarding procedures are concerned. The school, therefore, requires that ALL VISITORS (without exception) comply with the following policy and procedures. Failure so to do may result in the visitor’s escorted departure from the school site.
Responsibility
The Headteacher, Ms M King, is the member of staff responsible for implementation, coordination and review of this procedure. She will also be responsible for liaising with the site and reception staff and the Designated Safeguarding Lead as appropriate. All breaches of this procedure must be reported to the Headteacher.
Aim
To safeguard all children under this school’s responsibility both during school hours curriculum and out of school hours activities which are arranged by the school.
Objectives
To have in place a clear protocol and procedure for the admittance of external visitors to the school which is understood by all staff, trustees, visitors and parents/carers and conforms to child protection and safeguarding guidelines.
Where and to Whom the Policy Applies
Idsall school is deemed to have control and responsibility for its pupils anywhere on the school site (i.e. within the school boundary), during normal school hours, during after school activities and on school organised (and supervised) off-site activities. The policy applies to:
- All staff employed by Idsall school
- All external visitors entering the school site during the school day or for after school activities (including Police Persons, peripatetic tutors, sports coaches, and topic related visitors e.g. authors, journalists)
- All trustees of the school
- All parents/carers and volunteers
- All pupils
- Other education related personnel (county advisors, inspectors)
- Building and maintenance and all other independent contractors visiting the school premises
- Independent contractors who may transport students on minibuses or in taxis
Protocol and Procedures
Visitors to the School
All visitors to the school may be asked to bring formal photographic identification with them at the time of their visit. They must follow the procedure below.
Once on site, all visitors must report to reception first. No visitor is permitted to enter the school via any other entrance under any circumstances.
At reception, all visitors must state the purpose of their visit and who has invited them. They should be ready to produce formal photographic identification upon request.
All visitors will be asked to sign in using the electronic signing in system, which is kept in reception at all times, making note of their name, organisation, who they are visiting and car registration.
All visitors will need to read the Health and Safety and visitor safeguarding information when signing in and to sign that they have been informed of our procedures.
All visitors will be required to wear an identification badge – the badge must remain visible throughout their visit.
Visitors will then be escorted to their point of contact OR their point of contact will be asked to come to reception to receive the visitor. The contact will then be responsible for them while they are on site. The visitor must not be allowed to move about the site unaccompanied unless they are registered on the Approved Visitor List.
Approved Visitor List
The school will hold an approved visitor list for visitors who frequently visit the school site to undertake work within the school (including contractors and supply staff).
To qualify for this list, the visitor must have demonstrated, prior to the visit that:
a) They have a current clear enhanced DBS check, and this has been registered on the school’s Central Record AND
b) A current clear DBS children’s barred check has been undertaken AND
c) A letter has been received from the employer that pre-employment checks have been undertaken
Visitors on the Approved List MUST follow the same procedures on entry to the premises (i.e. come to reception and sign in the visitors’ book).
Visitors Departure from School
On departing the school, visitors MUST leave via reception and:
- A member of staff should escort the visitor to the reception.
- Sign out using the electronic signing in/out system.
- Return the identification badge to reception and depart through the front entrance.
Unknown/Uninvited Visitors to the School
Any visitor to the school site who is not wearing a visitor’s lanyard should be challenged politely to enquire who they are and their business on the school site.
They should then be escorted to reception to sign in on the electronic signing in system and be issued with an identity badge.
The procedures under “Visitors to the School” above will then apply. In the event that the visitor refuses to comply, they should be asked to leave the site immediately and a member of the Senior Leadership Team informed.
The Senior Leadership Team member will consider the situation and decide if it is necessary to inform the police.
If any visitor becomes abusive or aggressive, they may be asked to leave the site immediately and warned that if they fail to leave the school grounds, police assistance will be called for.
Trustees and Volunteers
All Trustees and volunteers must comply with Criminal Records Bureau procedures, completing a DBS disclosure form (if not already held) via the School Business Manager.
Thereafter, procedures as per above should apply. Please note that Trustees should sign in and out using the electronic signing in system.
New Trustees will be made aware of this policy and familiar with its procedures as part of their induction. This is the responsibility of the Headteacher and Chair of Trustees.
New volunteers will be asked to comply with this policy by staff they first report to when coming into school for an activity or class supporting role.
Staff Development
As part of their induction, new staff will be made conversant with this policy for External Visitors and asked to ensure compliance with its procedures at all times.
Linked Policies
This policy and procedures should be read in conjunction with other related school policies. These policies are currently under review. If you wish to view a policy, please email info@idsall.shropshire.sch.uk