Visitors Policy

BUCKRIDGE PRIVATE SCHOOL VISITORS POLICY

VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL POLICY

INTRODUCTION

Visitors are always welcome in our school and we strive to make their experience happy and purposeful so that they will want to return! Staff and pupils are reminded of the practice embodied in our school's vision to create a school where every child is valued and receives a high quality education in a welcoming and safe environment. This policy will promote the excellent ethos of the school. Our first duty is to our pupils and staff, and so we have to be mindful of necessary processes that must be in place to safeguard those in our care. Adherence to this policy will ensure that children and staff are safe and that visitors are properly welcomed, supervised and monitored.

This policy has been put in place to ensure that visitors to our school are carefully checked and monitored during their time here and that the safety of our children remains of paramount importance at all times. We endeavor to safeguard all our pupils from subjection to any form of harm, abuse or nuisance. It is the responsibility of management and staff to ensure that this duty is uncompromised at all times. In performing this duty, management and staff, recognize that there can be no complacency where child protection and safeguarding procedures are concerned. Buckridge Private School therefore requires that ALL VISITORS (without exception) comply with the following policy and procedures. Failure to do so may result in the visitor’s escorted departure from the school. It will ensure that no unauthorized person has entry to the school.

 OBJECTIVES 1. To prevent unauthorized persons from entering school

2. To make visitors welcome.

3. To ensure that visitors are monitored and checked.

 4. To monitor visitors carefully during their time in school.

5. To be able to account for, and locate, visitors at all times.

 THE POLICY APPLIES TO:

1. All staff employed by the school

2. All external visitors entering the school site during the school day or for after school activities.

3. All parents and volunteers

4. All pupils

5. All Education related personnel

6. Building & Maintenance and all other Independent contractors visiting the school premises

7. All officials from the government

STRATEGIES 

 1. Signs will be put to direct  all visitors to the main office and reception desk.

2. The gate to the school premises will be closed once pupils have entered the school by 8.00am and will be opened again by the security personnel at 14h00 for dismissal.

3. It will be locked again at 14h30 daily

 4. Vehicular and pedestrian entry and exit to school will be restricted and monitored by the security personnel between 8:00am and between 14.00

 5. All staff must observe the aforesaid restrictions on the gate opening times.

 6. Vehicular entry to the school will be limited to authorized vehicles only.

 7. Visitors must call to gain gate access to site, explaining who they are and the purpose of their visit.

9. All visitors will report to the school reception desk first where they will be welcomed and asked for their details and for the name of the person they need to see.

 10.Visitors must sign-in in the visitor book and sign out as they leave.

12.Visitors will be asked to wait in the reception area until the person that they have come to see arrives to take charge of them. That person will be responsible for them during their time in school and will escort them back to reception at the end of their visit.

14.Visitors will be accompanied, or supervised, during the whole of their time in school.

15.The Principal must be informed immediately if members of the police, fire service, municipal authority, or other official bodies arrive at school unexpectedly.

17.Any member of staff must challenge any stranger they meet who is acting suspiciously.

18.The school adopts a ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy towards abusive behavior. If any visitor behaves in an unacceptable or threatening manner, they will be required to leave and be escorted from the premises immediately. They will be immediately removed from any situations where there is a possibility of them harming children or staff. If necessary the police will be summoned to remove them.

Visitors Departure from School ;

On departing the school, visitors MUST leave via reception and:

1. Enter their departure time in the Visitors Record Book alongside their arrival entry

2. In the event that the visitor refuses to comply, they should be asked to leave the site immediately and the Principal and Maintenance Manager should be informed promptly.

3. The Principal and Maintenance Manager will consider the situation and decide if it is necessary to inform the police.

 4. If an unknown/uninvited visitor becomes abusive or aggressive, they will be asked to leave the site immediately and warned that if they fail to leave the school grounds, police assistance will be called for.

SMT 2024