07 Aug The golden rules of classroom safety: a guide for primary schools
Child Safety Week may have been and gone for one year, but creating a safe learning environment for our children remains a priority for schools, teachers, support staff and parents all year round. The state of school buildings hit the headlines last year with findings from the National Audit Office (NAO) causing concern for many as this article from BBC News details:
“The report found more than a third (24,000) of all English school buildings had passed their estimated initial design life. And it highlighted continuing concerns for school buildings that still contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) – a lightweight form of concrete prone to collapse, used widely between the 1950s and mid-1990s.”
The report sparked nationwide school closures and panic while putting school safety firmly back on the agenda once more. A year on, the spotlight is turning to individual classrooms and the search for better safety standards. So, what can your primary school do to promote classroom safety, and keep learning environments secure and low risk?
Prioritise basic hygiene
From regular hand washing to the sanitisation of surfaces, every little helps when keeping your classroom safe and healthy at the most basic level. In primary and preschool settings, these tasks can be turned into educational experiences giving children the opportunity to develop skills that’ll serve them not just during the school day but outside of the classroom and long after they’ve moved on from your care.
Set an example to children by making activities like hand washing and surface cleaning an obvious part of the day-to-day routine. By washing those germs away, you can reduce the risk and impact of colds and other illnesses for all.
Be smart about storage
A well organised classroom is a happy and healthy one, especially when keeping dangerous or hazardous materials out of small hands. Objects that are sharp, present choking hazards or are potentially poisonous should be stored out of reach or in locked cupboards as a result.
When the time comes to utilise items like scissors and glue, age-appropriate guidelines should be followed to teach children how to use these supplies correctly and safely.
Proper storage paves the way for clean, clear and hazard-free floors and surfaces. It also facilitates an open classroom layout where students can be supervised without obstructions, and this will boost classroom safety no-end.
Prepare for the worst
Every primary school will have an emergency plan in place to take students and staff to safety should the worst happen. While fire drill and other best practice procedures we be conducted by the entire school, making sure your own classroom is prepared with measures and the necessary supplies is important.
Instructing your students on emergency responses is a must, and staying calm should always be rule number one. Being equipped with and able to use a first aid kit is another essential in the classroom, especially when treating injuries such as trapped fingers, cuts, bumps and bruises.
Put preventative measures in place
As the saying goes ‘prevention is better than cure’, and this is especially true when it comes to door related injuries. Accidents involving doors are among the most common, with small hands particularly prone to injury. Poorly maintained door hinges can slam suddenly, while shiny new ones can be the subject of exploration for curious little people.
As the original finger hinge protector for doors, our innovative systems make trapped fingers a thing of the past.
With Fingersafe protection, hinged gaps don’t have to be hazards. With several door designs catered for (including external bi-folds and doors with wider opening gaps), and our door finger guards already found in schools and other establishments around the world, our products help you put primary school classroom safety first.
Browse our full range of finger protectors today for further details.
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