Health and Safety Policy
Taking risks is an important part of learning and development. We want to provide a safe and supportive environment where participants can learn about risks and personal safety.
· The qualified Forest School Leaders (Julian and Claire Earle) are the people in charge of Forest School sessions and have a duty of care for the children in their charge. However, all adults involved in the sessions are required to take reasonable steps to ensure that children are safe.
· All adults supporting the delivery of Forest School should read the handbook and the risk assessments appropriate to the session in which they are helping. They agree to uphold the ethos of Forest School throughout the session.
· The Forest School Leaders will always have a First Aid Kit available as well as any other PPE necessary for a session.
· The Forest School Leaders will review the risk assessments after every session on the site.
· The Forest School Leaders will be responsible for the pre-visit check of the Forest School site prior to a Forest School session.
· When tools are used appropriate adult to child ratios will be maintained.
· The Forest School Leaders are responsible for the checking and maintenance of all tools and equipment to be used.
· The Forest Leaders are responsible in training the children in how to use the tools and equipment safely and appropriately and making final assessments for independent use.
Risk Assessments
Activities at Stocks Wood Outdoor Centre are provided to support and develop the participant. Some activities may be considered as having a high risk but may also have significant potential benefits for the participants. We seek to minimise risk by following appropriate risk – benefit analysis along with carrying out risk assessments that seek to minimise any possible risks through putting positive steps for safety in place.
We accept our legal obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. We support the aim of the act – to promote, stimulate and encourage high standards of health and safety, not just of those in the working environment but also the general public.
Claire and Julian both have Enhanced DBS clearance, Outdoor First Aid qualifications and Level 3 Forest School Practitioner qualifications. Claire also has the level 2 award in food safety in catering. Stocks Wood Outdoor Centre seek to provide adequate training and development of their staff to ensure its staff are confident and competent in following its policies and procedures.
The site is fully risk assessed with any hazards identified and control measures implemented. Organisations using the site are provided with copies of the site and activity risk assessments.
Some assessments may need to be altered immediately prior to or on arrival of the participants. These may relate to changes in weather or specific requirements of any individuals such as allergies. When possible, such information will be shared with visiting staff and children on arrival.
Emergency Procedures
Emergency & Serious Incident Procedure Emergencies are never wanted, but they are a possibility, and so we ensure that all leaders are familiar with appropriate emergency procedures. Most emergencies can be resolved on-the-spot by the leader removing the group from potential threat and providing first aid. However, in the event of a serious incident, which could arise because of an injury, illness or threat, Emergency Services should be contacted and the following procedures followed:
1. Secure safety of whole group from further danger. Stop all work/activities if safe. Call in and locate group promptly as agreed with group in advance. If possible, remove whole group from any further danger or threat of danger.
2. First Aider to attend to any casualties with adult helper and with regard for maintenance of required supervision ratios for the rest of the party. At least one first aider must be on site at all times. A record of changes in casualties’ state and anything administered to them to be made if possible.
3. Emergency Services contacted as necessary, ideally by an adult helper. Charged mobile phones are carried by staff. Send an adult to meet emergency vehicle at the entrance. Give following address & grid references to 999 operators: Stocks Wood Outdoor Centre, Rosley CA7 8BZ B5305, opposite Stocks Farmhouse NY 321 452
4. Safety of the rest of group will be maintained by the remaining staff and adults away from the scene of the incident.
5. Informing next of kin should be carried out as soon as practicable after the incident by the designated member of staff according to their school health and safety policy.
7. Incident report and/or first aid book should be filled in on site if possible - see first aid kit for report form. This should be filled in whenever the emergency plan is used even if no one was harmed and it was just a near miss.
First Aid
· Any illness or injury to be treated by a qualified first aider (Julian and Claire Earle).
· Check Dr -A-B-C, and administer First Aid.
· If necessary, call Emergency Services.
· The School will have medical details available and will notify parents/guardians as appropriate.
· First aid kits are restocked after use and a stock check carried out each term.
Ticks
Where a tick is found on a participant, a plaster should be placed over it and parents/carers informed at the end of the session so that they can remove it safely. Information on safe removal of ticks can be found at www.tickbitepreventionweek.org/tick-removal
Stings
If a child is stung by a nettle they will be encouraged to use a nearby dock leaf to soothe the irritated area. In more severe cases, if parental permission has been provided, the child may apply antihistamine cream to the irritated area.
Missing Child
See ‘Missing Child Policy’
Uncollected Child
See ‘Uncollected Child Policy’
Death or serious Incident
· Follow First Aid procedures
· Remain with causality and remove others in group from the situation, ensuring they are safe.
· Inform emergency services, specifically the police.
· Immediately notify school.
· The police will notify the parents/guardians/next of kin.
· Gain advice on follow up from the police.
· Head Teacher to follow up as per school policy.
Stranger or Uninvited Person
· Challenge intruder, asking them to leave immediately. Escort them from the site.
· Inform the School’s Office and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
· If a child is involved the police must be called, and the child/children involved are to be removed from situation and made to feel safe.
The nearest 24/7 Accident and Emergency department is at:
Cumberland Infirmary, Newtown Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7HY
Tel: 01228 523444 It is 10.6 miles from Stocks Wood Outdoor Centre.
For non-emergency ailments:
Caldbeck Surgery, Friar Row, Caldbeck, Wigton, CA7 8DS
Tel: 016974 78254 It is 4 miles from Stocks Wood Outdoor Centre.