HEALTH and SAFETY of PUPILS
Strathblane Primary School
Southview Road
Blanefield
Glasgow
G63 9JQ
DX. ST 28
Tel. 01360 770608
Headteacher: Sandra Logan
Dear Parents/Carers,
It is our aim to keep children as safe as possible when they are attending Strathblane Primary School and Nursery Class. In order to do this we have carried out risk assessments and have some policies and procedures to follow. I write to urge parents and carers to support us by respecting the policies that have been agreed to help reduce risk of harm to primary school pupils and the children in our Nursery class.
Wheeled vehicles and toys
Some of the issues addressed in this letter have been discussed at the Parent Council meeting held on Thursday 17th September. As a result of this meeting, a note was placed in the October newsletter stating that:
Parents raised concerns about children being allowed to climb on the school walls, gates and trees at the end of the school. I ask that adults who collect children at 3:15p.m. respect the rules that enforced during the school and ensure that children do not climb on the school walls, gates and trees.
Since that meeting the school has had handrails installed at the rear entrance to the school grounds.
In the interest of children’s safety we ask adults to please ensure that children do not climb on the railings. A pre-school child had an accident which involved him going into hospital as a result of a fall from the handrails; this happened out with the school hours.
Also in the October newsletter it stated that:
Parents are also concerned about the safety of all users of the playground at the beginning and end of the school day because of wheeled vehicles and toys being used in the playground. It’s great that pupils use skateboards and scooters for recreational purposes. I’m sure that parents would want to respect everyone’s safety. So, skateboards and scooters should not be used in the school grounds between 8:45a.m. and 3:30p.m. until such times as safe area for this type of activity can be found. Also, there is no suitable room in the school building to store such cumbersome toys during the school day. Therefore, if your child comes to school on a wheeled toy we ask that parents take them away at 9a.m. or these toys/vehicles are left at the bicycle rack.
I am glad to report that the school aged children who come to school independently are following this rule. However, many younger children continue to ride around the playground on bicycles and scooters between 8:45a.m. and 3:30p.m. This has been a particular problem at lunchtimes when pre-school children are riding about on wheeled vehicles and toys. This puts the children who are pedestrians at risk. We are also very concerned that the younger members of our school community are at risk due to the ball games being played, and older pupils running during their leisure time at breaks. A member of the school staff was extremely concerned to see young pupils riding on bicycles unsupervised into the staff car park. Can I please ask parents and carers to ensure that children who are riding on bikes at the end of the school day DO NOT ride into the school car park?
Sun Cream
Can we suggest that when the weather is predicted to be sunny (long may that continue!) that pupils carry sun cream in their school bags and this can be applied by the children themselves as, and when, needed?
Dogs in the Playground
If you need to bring a dog into the school grounds it must be kept on a lead at all times. Please do not allow your dog to foul in our school grounds. Can I ask parents and carers to pass this message on to members of the local community? We are very concerned by how much dog dirt has to be removed from your children’s play areas on a regular basis.
Using the School Grounds in the Evenings
Many children and young people make use of the school grounds for play. Some children and young people have brought building materials and debris into the grounds to make ramps for skateboarding etc. If your child is responsible for this we urge you to ensure that they also remove these ramps at the end of their day/evening. This can be a risk for the younger members of our school community, and it also has the potential to be used for vandalism to the building.
Security
Parents and carers are reminded that when entering the building they must report to the school office.
I trust that parents and carers will support us with the above issues with the aim of keeping your children safe and healthy whilst at Strathblane Primary School and Nursery Class.
Yours sincerely,
Sandra Logan
Headteacher