Health and Safety Policy
Health and Safety Policy
To be Reviewed by: Nigel Thorpe
Last updated: 4th August 2025
Contents:
1. Site checks, set up and pack down
2. Safety talk policy
3. Emergency procedures
4. Sample Risk assessment
All staff and volunteers will be familiarised with the policies and procedures before a session. The document will be updated annually and be available publicly on the website.
1. Site Checks, Set Up and Pack Down
● Two days and the day before a session the Met Office weather App will be checked to see if there is any adverse weather expected. If poor weather conditions are forecast prior to a school workshop, the member of staff responsible, usually the Administrator, will contact the school to discuss whether or not to cancel.
● Children will be expected to wear/bring appropriate clothing for the weather. This means waterproofs for rain, good shoes for being outside and sun cream/hats/sunglasses in the sun
● On arrival for each session a site check will be done to look for any dangerous objects, fallen trees, low hanging branches or other people using the space. Any dangerous objects/sharps or dog mess will be removed with gloves and disposed of safely.
● Equipment will be set up.
● At least one member of staff will then meet the group by the entrance to the area.
● The group will be led to the site.
● Teachers from the school will write out name badges for the children
● After a school’s workshop, children will be handed back to the Teacher in charge.
● A pack down will then be done, ensuring the site is left as it was at the beginning. All equipment will be removed from the site and a check made of equipment that needs to be replaced.
● If the workshop is at QEOP the equipment will be returned to the store cupboard neatly packed away and key replaced in designated place. If the workshop is elsewhere individual Workshop Leaders will keep their equipment with them in the rucksack provided.
2. Safety Talk policy
Each session will begin with a reminder of the key ways the children can stay safe whilst at a Bloom workshop, as well as how to play/explore inclusively. This will include:
● No pick, no lick (not picking plants or putting anything in mouths without instruction)
● Rules of exploring (always accompanied, not walking off with strangers)
● Rules for returning eg on whistle
● Dangerous plants to be pointed out eg with prickles or poisonous berries
● No stick fighting
● No exclusive play
● What to do if dogs approach
● Taking care of the environment
● Indicating where the boundaries are and they should not lose sight of an adult
● Should not leave the site unless with a member of staff or parent/carer
● Should not talk to members of the public without permission and should report any unwanted attention to a member of staff
3. Emergency Procedures
First Aider: For school workshops the school will provide a qualified First Aider. All Bloom staff members and volunteers will be briefed on the emergency procedures. There will be a small first aid kit in our equipment.
Missing Child: School Workshop
If a child does not return when requested, or is absent from a head count, the first action will be to report to the Teacher in charge from the school who will then follow the school’s policy on a missing child. Bloom staff will support the school’s staff.
In Case of Injury:
In case of an emergency, 999 should be called.
In all cases, the First Aider will be called to the incident and an assessment will be made. Appropriate First Aid will be given and an ambulance called if necessary.
If a child has to go to hospital, a member of school staff will join them. Emergency contact numbers will then be called.
Any minor injuries will be logged as either accidents or incidents and teachers informed if any first aid has needed to be carried out.