| Reviewed by: | Michelle Fenniche and Suzanne Deadman, 13 05 2025 |
| Ratified by: | Resources Committee, nxt mtg: 05 06 2025 |
| Next Review: | Summer Term 2027 |
Contents
Aims
The Federation is committed to provide, as far as is reasonably practicable, a safe playground environment for the pupils of the school. This policy seeks to clarify the level of supervision provided during the school day so that all staff and parents are aware of the standards that are expected. It will also clarify how playground equipment sited in the playground will be used and maintained.
Responsibilities
The Head of School will:
- Ensure adequate staff are available to meet the supervision requirements.
- Ensure that staff are aware of their responsibilities and have sufficient training and guidance.
- Continue to develop a safety culture throughout the school.
- Ensure that this policy is communicated to parents/carers.
- Review and evaluate supervision procedures in line with LEA guidelines and local factors.
- Ensure that the playground is well supervised when in use using ‘zones’ when the whole school is on it during break and lunchtimes.
- Ensure the play equipment is inspected and maintained as per the LEA statutory requirements and any manufacturer’s guidance.
Employees should:
- Support the implementation of this policy.
- Reinforce a “safe play” message, through the Rights, Respect and Responsibility agenda.
- Report any supervision concerns to The Head of School.
- Adhere to ‘zones’ where possible during break and lunch duty.
Parents/Carers should:
- Respect the arrangements provided for the supervision of their children and acknowledge the times at which provision is available.
FORSTER PARK
Supervision Arrangements Before School
The road gates will remain closed until 8:45am and remain open until 9am when they will be locked by the adult staff member on gate duty.
Access to the school site before 8:45am will be for staff and Breakfast Club children only via the Boundfield road pedestrian gate, this gate is monitored by staff members in the school office and breakfast club staff.
Parents are reminded regularly through newsletters and updates that they must not leave their children unattended.
The doors and gates will be open to all other children from 8:45am, when they are expected to come straight into school. The doors are manned by a member of staff from 8.45am until 9:00am when they are closed. Access to the building after this time is via the school office.
Please note that there is no playground supervision before 8:45am and parents/carers are to remain with their children should they arrive on site before this time.
Times of Breaks
- Break Years 1, 2 and 3: 10.15 – 10.30
- Break Years 4, 5 and 6: 10:30 – 10:45
- Lunchtimes all year groups: 12noon – 1pm
Teachers will:
- Ensure that duty staff are present on the playground before sending children out and monitor the zone they are allocated to where possible.
- If it is deemed inadvisable for a child to be on the playground because of their unacceptable behaviour, the class teacher will make the decision that the child stays inside the school building for the duration of break time, under the supervision of a member of staff.
- Any class taking a short break at other times will be accompanied by their teacher and accommodated in an area of the playground where they can be observed.
- Members of staff allocated to the zone where there is play equipment must ensure that it is used safely and appropriately by the children.
Lunchtimes
- The playground is supervised by lunchtime assistants together with Play Leaders who supervise groups of children during organised games and activities.
- During lunchtime, all gates / doors remain locked.
- The gates are closely monitored by the lunchtime supervisors.
After School
The doors for all other classes remain closed until 3:30pm when the class teacher escorts his/her class out of the building and checks that they have all been collected by an appropriate person unless they have permission to walk home alone. Children will not be released to a person they do not know and parents/carers must make arrangements with the school if they wish their children to be collected by another person.
Both gates are manned by teaching staff at the end of the school day to ensure that children leave the playground safely and appropriately. Any children not picked up at this time will be brought inside and the office staff will make calls to parents/carers.
Special Occasions
Following After School Clubs, sporting occasions or trips returning to school after 3:30pm, movement will be restricted to the pedestrian gate in Boundfield Road. Staff will, once again, ensure that the children are only released to a known, appropriate person unless they have permission to walk home alone or the school has been notified by the parent/carer of a change of arrangement.
RANGEFIELD
Supervision Arrangements Before School
Access to the school site before 8:40am will be for staff and Breakfast Club children only via the Glenbow Road pedestrian gate, this gate is monitored by staff members of the breakfast club team.
The doors and gates will be open to all other children from 8:45am, when they are expected to come straight into school. The three gates are manned by a member of staff from 8.45am until 9.00am when they are closed. Access to the building after this time is via the office.
Please note that there is no playground supervision before 8:45am and parents/carers are encouraged to remain with their children should they arrive on site before this time.
Times of Breaks
- Break time KS1 and KS2: 10.45 – 11am
- Lunch time nursery: 11.45am
- Lunch time KS1 and KS2: 12noon – 1pm
Teachers will:
- Ensure that duty staff are present on the playground before sending children out and monitor the zone they are allocated to where possible.
- If it is deemed inadvisable for a child to be on the playground because of their unacceptable behaviour, the class teacher will make the decision that the child stays inside the school building for the duration of breaktime, under the supervision of a member of staff.
- Any class taking a short break at other times will be accompanied by their teacher and accommodated in an area of the playground where they can be observed.
- Members of staff allocated to the zone where there is play equipment must ensure that it is used safely and appropriately by the children.
Lunchtimes
- The playground is supervised by lunchtime assistants together with Play Leaders who supervise groups of children during organised games and activities.
- During lunchtime, all gates / doors remain locked.
- The gates are closely monitored by the lunchtime supervisors.
After School
The doors for all other classes remain closed until 3:30pm when the class teacher escorts his/her class out of the building and checks that they have all been collected by an appropriate person unless they have permission to walk home alone. Children will not be released to a person they do not know and parents/carers must arrange with the school if they wish their children to be collected by another person.
Gates are manned by staff at the end of the school day to ensure that children leave the playground safely and appropriately. Any children not picked up at this time will be brought to the office.
Special Occasions
Following After School Clubs, sporting occasions or trips returning to school after 3:30pm, movement will be restricted to the pedestrian gate in Glenbow Road. Staff will, once again, ensure that the children are only released to a known, appropriate person unless they have permission to walk home alone or the school has been notified by the parent/carer of a change of arrangement.
All other times
Parents/Carers must be aware the school will not provide supervision for pupils on the playground outside of these times, including open days, parent consultation evenings and PTA events. The children will be the responsibility of their parent/carer at all other times other than those stated in this policy.
Play Equipment
Adults may not always be positioned close to the equipment but will be nearby. Adults will monitor the behaviour/condition listed below and take action if necessary.
- Children pushing or pulling other children
- Children climbing equipment not designed for that purpose
- Children lifting other children in order to access that equipment
- Children causing damage to the equipment
- When the equipment is deemed to be wet, the equipment will be taken out of use and children restricted from access.
The play equipment will be inspected on a monthly basis by premises staff and annually inspected and serviced by a competent contractor. Staff must report any issues to the premises staff.
The equipment will only be used as per the manufacturers specification (this includes age, maturity, height, special needs etc.)
First Aid
First aid provision is always available during breaks. In an emergency, a member of staff can call for assistance from another first aider if required.
Welfare
- Access to fresh drinking water and toilets
- Toilets are open for children to use with direct access from the playground
- Water fountains are available.
Children are able to use these facilities at any point during their play time.
Playground Behaviour
All children must follow the school rules during play time and take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of those around them. Just as in school, children should follow instructions the first time. When they hear the whistle, they should freeze and put equipment down.
All children should follow the direction of staff and play leaders to make sure that the equipment is cared for and used appropriately.
If a child fails to follow the school rules, children will be asked to sit for 5 minutes to reflect on their behaviour and the reasons why they are having to miss some of their play time. When the time is finished, they must speak to the adult who dealt with the incident and take steps to resolve the issue.
If children are having relationship problems with their peers children are encouraged to express this to an adult.
Inspections
The playground will be visually inspected daily by the premises staff to identify and remove any hazards including animal waste.
Play equipment will be visually inspected and recorded monthly by premises staff. An annual inspection and service will be undertaken by a competent contractor and any faulty items repaired or removed.
Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed every two years or sooner if required.