Health and Safety Policy

At Changing Lives Independent School, we are committed to the health and safety of our staff, pupils and visitors. Ensuring the safety of our community is of paramount importance and this policy reflects our dedication to creating a safe learning environment.

We are committed to:

• Providing a productive and safe learning environment.
• Preventing accidents and any work-related illnesses.
• Compliance with all statutory requirements.
• Minimising risks via assessment and policy.
• Providing safe working equipment and ensuring safe working methods.
• Including all staff and representatives in health and safety decisions.
• Monitoring and reviewing our policies to ensure effectiveness.
• Setting high targets and objectives to develop the school’s culture of continuous improvement.
• Ensuring adequate welfare facilities are available throughout our school.
• Ensuring adequate resources are available to address health and safety issues, so far as is reasonably practicable.

This policy has due regard to statutory legislation including, but not limited to:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013

It also has due regard to national guidance including, but not limited to:

• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
• Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999
• Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 (Natasha’s Law)
• DfE (2022) ‘Health and safety: responsibilities and duties for schools’
• DfE (2017) ‘Safe storage and disposal of hazardous materials and chemicals’
• HSE (2021) ‘Sensible health and safety management in schools’

This policy should be used in conjunction with:

• Medication Policy
• Educational Trips and Visits Policy
• CCTV Policy
• Lockdown and Evacuation Policy
• Fire Evacuation Plan

• Overall responsibility for development and implementation of safe working practices and conditions.
• Ensure the policy is implemented by leaders and staff.
• Designate a health and safety coordinator as contact with advisers and HSE.

• Day-to-day implementation of this policy.
• Keep managers informed via termly reports and meetings.
• Communicate updates and ensure new staff induction.
• Arrange appropriate training for all staff.
• Ensure adequate first aiders and off-site first aid arrangements.
• Maintain current Fire Safety Risk Assessment and training.
• Review accident reporting systems weekly; investigate serious accidents.
• Manage visitor sign-in and safety/safeguarding protocols.
• Provide PPE guidance and safe storage of hazardous materials.
• Maintain medicine policy and risk assessments for all school activities.
• Ensure minibus checks and off-site provider suitability.
• Ensure staff read guidance on manual handling, working at height, and lone working.

• Ensure contractors follow health and safety procedures.
• Provide appropriate PPE to cleaning staff and supervise cleaning standards.
• Support moving and handling; respond to day-to-day risks.
• Maintain all school equipment and perimeter security/CCTV.
• Carry out weekly and monthly site checks.

• Maintain road-worthy school vehicles.
• Communicate compliance recommendations on premises, utilities, and services.
• Ensure statutory compliance across premises and recruitment.
• Provide stress risk assessment forms to staff on fit-for-work notes.

• Take reasonable care for their own and others’ health and safety.
• Cooperate on health and safety matters; follow training and instructions.
• Report serious dangers immediately; familiarise themselves with this policy.
• Use equipment safely, report defects, and suggest improvements.
• Maintain good housekeeping, cleanliness, and prudent supervision of pupils.

• Comply with CDM Regulations 2015 and appoint principal designer/contractor.
• Notify HSE when required; meet workplace safety standards.

• Exercise personal responsibility for health and safety.
• Dress safely and hygienically; follow staff instructions in emergencies.
• Observe health and safety rules; do not misuse safety equipment.

• Provide staff with necessary health and safety training and instructions.
• Ensure sufficient first-aid trained staff are on site.
• Offer regular training opportunities and CPD support.

• Ensure provision of trained personnel and first-aid equipment on site.
• Display first-aider posters; locate first-aid boxes and defibrillator.
• Carry first-aid kits on off-site visits when necessary.

• First-aider to contact or direct staff to contact emergency services after injury.
• If no first-aider available, staff to use judgement to call for help.

• Staff must implement the fire safety and evacuation plan.
• Headteacher to certify safety procedures are communicated.
• Test evacuation procedures termly; check equipment annually.

• Report all accidents and near misses via SharePoint forms.
• Investigate all incidents; inform parents before pupils go home.
• Coordinator to monitor forms and implement interventions.

Defined by RIDDOR 2013; reportable injuries and occurrences include:

• Employee deaths or major injuries; over-seven-day absences; fractures; amputations; sight loss; crush injuries; serious burns; scalping; loss of consciousness; enclosed-space injuries.
• Explosions; structural collapses; releases of biological or hazardous substances; serious gas incidents; occupational diseases.

• Report over-seven-day incapacitation to ICC within 15 days via HSE website.
• Online reporting preferred; telephone only for fatal/specified injuries.
• Maintain accident and RIDDOR records for at least 3 years.

• All school users must report hazards verbally to the General Manager immediately.

• Coordinator reviews and investigates all accidents; write reports as needed.
• Update risk assessments and procedures to prevent reoccurrence; termly trend analysis.

• Follow Lockdown and Evacuation Policy; ask bomb-threat questions; headteacher decides evacuation.

• Implement Fire Evacuation Plan; inform senior staff; guide pupils to assembly area.
• No entry/exit except for emergency personnel; await instructions.

• All visitors sign in with ID/DBS; red/blue lanyard system; accompanied if no DBS.
• Contractors require permission; responsible for their employees’ safety.
• Unidentified or uncooperative visitors to be directed or reported to 999.

• Provide PPE where hazards cannot be controlled otherwise; ensure proper use and care.
• Include eyewear, protective clothing, safety footwear, masks, and workshop equipment.
• Determine PPE via CLEAPSS risk assessments; display warning signs where mandatory.

• Store, clean, and inspect PPE and equipment annually (electrical appliances, extinguishers).

• Purchase from reputable sources with MSDS; risk assess before use.
• Audit substances; keep indexed list; store in locked cupboards.
• Label with hazard signs; adhere to COSHH and ventilation regulations.

• Conduct management survey every 2 years; monitor identified risks.
• Use permit-to-work for contractor work near asbestos.

• Manage medicine storage, consent, logging, and administration per policy.
• Ensure secure storage and appropriate temperature/light conditions.

• Implement control measures, self-responsibility, and emergency plans for allergies.
• Collect annual allergen details; update café menu lists.
• Train first-aiders in anaphylaxis and manage emergency kits termly.

• No smoking/vaping on premises; off-site smoking out of pupils’ sight; avoid community impact.

• Monitor cleaners; focus on hygiene and clinical waste disposal; maintain safe temperatures.

• Maintain hygiene posters, soap, and cleaning standards; provide PPE for spills.
• Send infected individuals home; update immunisation records and encourage uptake.
• Use separate laundry facilities; provide sharps bin for clinical waste.

• Headteacher ensures risk assessments for all areas; store electronically and review as needed.
• Senior Leadership Team checks off-site assessments; track defects and control measures.

• Identify hazards (environmental, contamination, organisational, footwear, individual).
• Assess who might be harmed; implement control measures; review slip-trip incidents.

• Secure money in safes; bank weekly; count under dual control.
• Report thefts to police; staff to assist investigations; safeguard personal belongings.

• Headteacher and SLT decide closures per Adverse Weather Plan reviewed annually.

• Proprietor arranges annual maintenance and MOT.
• Drivers must be 30+, licensed 2+ years; complete vehicle checks; use seat belts.
• Report damage and fines; record authorized drivers.

• Complete off-site risk assessments 1 week prior; store and sign off by SLT.
• Leader to carry first-aid kit; allocate staff to pupils; maintain head counts.
• Residential visits require 2-week approval by headteacher and proprietor.

Off Site Protocols:

• Leader ensures first-aid kit; designates responsible persons; records attendance.
• Deputy ticks off pupils on departure/return; maintain supervision and counts throughout.

• Ongoing training via Educare; staff not to lift heavy loads without assessment.
• Use manual handling equipment; complete risk assessments per Trafford guidelines.

• Use steps (not chairs); annual HSE guidance training; maintenance team to foot ladders.
• Contractors provide safe work plans for height work; weekly safety reminders.

• Follow Lone Working Guidelines; two SLT present for opening/closing; carry radios.

• Recognise stress symptoms; consult GP; staff support available.

• Annual HS14 display screen assessments; coordinator reviews forms; pay for eye tests.

• Headteacher continually monitors effectiveness; amend immediately if needed.
• Policy reviewed annually.