Admission of Children to the Grimsby Institute Group
Policy
Authorship: Director of Learner Services
Issue date: 16.01.12
Review date: June 2014
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Contents
Introduction
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Definitions
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Access, Roles and Responsibilities
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Work Experience
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Construction/building work
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Risk Assessment
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Compliance
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Introduction
With the exception of Little Stars Nursery, the Grismby Institute Group’s (the Group)
premises have not been designed with the needs of children in mind. Serious
injuries can occur to children on campuses and we wish to adopt the highest possible
standard in relation to the safety and welfare of children. Where young children are
concerned the foreseeable risks are far greater than for young people or adults.
Consequently the Group does not encourage the presence of children in most parts
of its campuses except where they are registered students of the Group or part of
organised and authorised events. In general the Group does not have the facilities
to contain children safely outside the Nursery or where specific formal arrangements
have been put in place.
This policy applies to all staff, students, governors, visitors and contractors who may
wish to bring children on to Group premises. This includes staff and students who
are resident on the Group premises.
This policy should be read with the Group’s Safeguarding Children, Young People and
Vulnerable Adults Policy, Staff Code of Conduct and the Group’s Health, Safety and
Welfare Policy.
Definitions
Within the context of this policy a “child” is defined as anyone under the age of 18
(The Children Act 1989, Education Act 2002).
"Institute Group premises" includes all buildings, grounds, roadways, vehicles and
other means of transport.
Access, Roles and Responsibilities
1. Valid reason for children to be allowed on the premises:
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As a registered student of the Group;
Organised childcare at Little Stars Nursery;
Guests at organised formal events that are open to the general public such as
open days, performances or conferences;
Work Experience placements organised through Human Resources (HR);
Attendance at educational visits such as Summer Schools or Taster days or
related events;
Guests at organised social occasions;
Using the open grassed areas next to public pathways;
Accompanying or waiting for staff or students in an emergency in the case of a
failure of the normal childcare arrangements;
Accompanied by a parent, guardian or other responsible adult for a legitimate
reason;
Return of a library book;
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By special permission of the Principal or member of SMT.
Children who are under 16 are registered students when part of a discrete, planned
alternative curriculum programme in partnership with a school or local authority.
Children under 16 are not in-filled into GIG programmes.
Children must not be permitted to wander, be unescorted (by a suitable and
sufficient adult) or extend their stay too soon or beyond the requirements to be on
site for the valid activity.
2. Excluded areas
Children are not permitted in laboratories, kitchens, construction/building areas,
workshops, cleaners’ storage areas or other hazardous areas unless for a planned
event and they are accompanied by suitable and sufficient adult supervision.
Without prior arrangement and in accordance with this policy, children with staff,
parents or carers should not be sitting in or using any of the Groups facilties such as
within offices, eating areas, or within such activities as tutorials, meetings or classes.
3. Access to other areas not open to the public
Children who are not students may be admitted to areas other than those open to
the public with the prior approval of the Head of School/Studies or area Director.
4. Responsibilities of Head of School/Studies or area Director.
In giving permission for children to be admitted to their areas, Heads of
School/Studies and Directors should ensure that appropriate risk assessments are
carried out and that suitable and sufficient control measures are in place and
operational. Staff or student accompanying the child should be made aware of any
hazards.
5. Safeguarding Children
The Group has a statutory and moral duty towards safeguarding the welfare of
children, young people and vulnerable adults from any form of abuse. As a result,
the Group has a zero tolerance approach to abuse and other harmful behaviour.
This is detailed in the Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
Policy which applies to children on the Group’s premises.
The Group has incorporated Child Protection into the whole organisational approach
to Safeguarding and the term Safeguarding is deemed to include Child Protection in
all College policies and procedures.
6. Images of Children
The Group will not permit photographs, video or other images of children or young
people to be taken without the consent of the person and their parents, or those
with parental responsibility.
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It is important that it is made clear that websites can be seen throughout the world
and not just in the United Kingdom, where the UK law applies.
7. Responsibilities of the parent, guardian or other responsible
adult.
Parents have a responsibility and a duty to ensure that children under their care are
not put at risk or endanger others by their actions.
Staff and students who bring children on to any Group campus are responsible for
the safety and actions of children at all times.
Children are not permitted to walk through any campus unaccompanied. They
should be collected from a suitable and predetermined point, such as a reception, at
a predetermined time, and constantly supervised while on property by a responsible
adult.
Work Experience students and employees
Under health & safety legislation young people on work experience are regarded as
employees and the risks to them must be assessed before they start work. No
arrangements for work experience should be made without the authority of the
Human Resources Department.
1. Managers must also:
 Take into account that these young people are likely to be inexperienced,
unaware of health and safety risks and physically or mentally immature;
 Have in place measures to control the risks, removing them altogether or
reducing them to the lowest level reasonably possible;
 Let the parents/guardians of any work placement students under 16 know,
before the young person starts work, the key findings of the risk assessment
undertaken and the control measures taken. A record of the main findings of
the risk assessment must also be kept.
2. Risk Assessment
The work place should be looked at from a children and young person’s
viewpoint. What dangers will they recognise? Will they find their workplace
awkward and the tools too big? The following should be considered:
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How the workplace is fitted and laid out;
What type of work equipment will be used and how it will be handled;
How the work is organised;
The need to assess and provide health and safety training;
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 The nature of any physical, biological and chemical agents they may be
exposed to, for how long and to what extent;
 The risks from known work hazards, for example manual handling.
Young employees and work experience students must be protected from the risk
of accidents or ill health which they are unlikely to recognise because:
 they are inexperienced; or
 have not been trained; or
 they may not consider the importance of safety in the workplace.
If a significant risk remains in spite of efforts to take all reasonable steps to
control it, the young person must not be allowed to do the work.
3. Restrictions on work
Children under 16 must not be allowed to undertake work which contains the
following risks irrespective of whether they are employed or under training such
as work experience. Work which:
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cannot be adapted to meet any physical or mental limitations they may have;
exposes them to substances which are toxic or cause cancer;
exposes them to radiation;
involves extreme heat, noise or vibration.
Young people over the age of 16 can undertake more demanding and potentially
hazardous tasks provided:
 the work is necessary for their training;
 the work is properly supervised by a competent person; and
 the risks are reduced to the lowest level, so far as is reasonably practicable.
4. Training and Supervision
Young people need training most when they start a job or work experience. It is
important it is checked that they have understood training which covers, for
example:
 the hazards and risks in the workplace;
 the control measures put in place to protect their health and safety;
 a basic introduction to health and safety, for example first aid, fire and
evacuation procedures.
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The following factors should form part of the risk assessment undertaken by the
Work Experience Organiser:
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housekeeping;
lighting;
seating;
guarding of machines;
fire precautions;
accidents and first aid;
electrical wiring;
toilets and washing facilities;
provision of personal protective equipment.
A written agreement needs to be signed by Human Resources and should clearly
set out the responsibilities of both sides. This should state:
 a plan of work for the placement;
 arrangements for instruction and training before the work starts; and
 how the young person will be supervised and who will be responsible.
Construction/building work.
The Group has an active programme of construction of new buildings and
refurbishment of existing ones. Such work can create additional danger for children.
Any risk assessment for the presence of children must be reviewed in light of such
work and any specific arrangements required to prevent access by children must be
put into place before such work begins.
Trespassers
The Group has duty of care to trespassers. Where it is impossible to prevent access,
all reasonable care must be taken to ensure that the trespasser is not put at risk.
Risk Assessments
Risk assessments for children who are neither employees nor on work experience
should consider risk in the light of:
 What is the age of the child?
 Will they be in high risk areas such as kitchens, chemical stores, construction
areas and workshops?
 Are they in danger of falls from stairs, landings or windows?
 Are they at risk from injury from glass or glazing?
 What is the level of supervision of the child?
 How much information is available to the child or responsible adult?
 Previous visits of the child.
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Support
The Health and Safety team will offer advice and support with risk assessments.
Compliance
The parents/guardians of children who have been previously disruptive or who do
not follow these guidelines will be asked to leave, can be refused access in the future
or may face disciplinary procedures.
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