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• Risk Assessment

  Thu 27 Aug 2020

  Risk Assessment

   

  A	Date: 26th August 2020	School: Holy Cross Catholic Primary School	Team: Senior Management Team	Location:
  	Review Date: at least fortnightly in first instance	Ref:	Assessor: Helen Bannon	Head Teacher: Helen Bannon

   

  B	Assessment of Risk for: Model Protection from transmission of Covid-19 during pandemic including all school activities

   

  C	List Hazards Here	List Groups of People at Risk	List Existing Controls	Risk Level
  Ser No
  1	Covid-19 virus: General	Staff   Pupils   Visitors   Contractors	All staff are competent and instructed with regard to the procedures in place for the protection against infection from the virus.   There is adequate supervision, where required, to ensure procedures are correctly adhered to.   Liverpool City Council COVID-19: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Policy   Reference School infection control risk assessment, as required:   Pupils and staff who are symptomatic or who have household members who are symptomatic will not be allowed to attend school and will be requested to isolate as per national guidance.   Managers must also review all of the following applicable individual risk assessments where relevant: New and expectant mothers Extended duty of care Stress Individual pupil assessments   Covid-19 specific extended duty of care risk assessment considered and carried out where relevant for all staff and pupils meeting the following criteria: Vulnerable member of staff and/or pupil who has received a Government shielded letter. Staff who have an extremely vulnerable household member. Staff who live with a vulnerable person   Formal process in place for manager/colleagues to contact the person if required, as detailed within applicable risk assessment above.   Manager to regularly update and inform staff re government guidance regarding covid-9 controls required: Gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/ Public Health England https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england Department for Education https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19#day-to-day-running-of-a-school Health and Safety Executive https://www.hse.gov.uk/   Referring to the following guidance and publications, as applicable: HSE COVID19 latest information and advice HSE Working safely during the coronavirus guide Government guidance COVID-19: guidance for schools Covid-19 Government guidance COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable Government guidance COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable Government publication COVID-19: cleaning in non-healthcare settings Government publication Best Practice: how to hand wash Government guidance for food business on Coronavirus (Covid-19) Government guidance Covid-19: Safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)   Due to the changing advice on Covid-19, managers should ensure they review safe working procedures and protocols daily, until such time when it is deemed unnecessary.   There is an adequate supply of disposable PPE, as per specific task requirements, and all staff provided with instruction in the correct use and fitment: Public Health England and NHS YouTube video, Covid-19: putting on and removing personal protective equipment (PPE) – a guide for care homes   PPE provided, as required following specific current guidance for the protection of Covid-19 detail type and standard, as applicable: Disposable half face mask Disposable gloves Disposable aprons Where personal care is to be provided eye protection/surgical face mask detail any other specific disposable PPE in use   All used PPE should be double bagged and disposed of appropriately – store safely and securely for at least 72hrs before disposing via the normal waste stream.   All staff informed that hands should be washed regularly as per Government guidance.   Pupils regularly reminded, in age appropriate ways, that hands should be regularly washed as per Government guidance.   Signage around school encouraging staff and pupils to maintain good hand hygiene.   School encourages good respiratory hygiene by promoting ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’. Posters displayed in prominent areas and toilets.   Additional personal storage for change of clothes for staff due to alternative travel getting into work where necessary e.g. cycling, walking, running   Parents and Guardians kept informed via email bulletins etc. regarding changes to start finish times and any new local rules regarding drop of and pick up etc.   Staff kept informed via email, online meetings etc.   Post-incident de-briefing carried out for anyone involved in an incident of suspected contamination, with the aim of providing support and preventing incident recurrence. Further support provided to all staff members affected by the incident.   All incidents reported to the Health and Safety Unit as per the school accident and incident reporting procedure using the LCC online accident and incident report form.   Reference made to HSE guidance for reporting under RIDDOR: HSE RIDDOR reporting of COVID-19	LOW
  2	Covid-19 virus; General school environment	Staff   Pupils   Visitors   Contractors	Additional school gates will be opened to the school grounds to dilute the numbers coming through them as much as possible.   Markings are laid out on the playground for classes to line up at the start of the school day.   School first aid risk assessment reviewed, as required: M.Calderwood   School access control system reviewed and appropriate steps taken e.g. hand sanitizer located at entrance for staff/visitors to cleanse hands after use, wipes available to cleanse keypads and touchscreens. If biometrics and/or other access control systems are disabled, Fire Risk Assessment, Fire Evacuation Procedures, Security, Violence and Lone Working risk assessments are need to be reviewed.   Hand sanitizer stations located at: Entrances to building Classrooms/entrances to classrooms Corridors Staff rooms Toilets Changing areas   Signage installed to various areas of the building reminding people to wash hands regularly, in line with Government guidance and to maintain social distance.   Corridors, walkways and staircases have tape markings laid out to indicate side to walk on (two way traffic)- staff/children reminded walk to left-hand side on corridors   Staff verbally reinforce controls in corridors, walkways and stairwells where necessary.   Staff and pupils are requested to keep close to the side of the corridor or walkway to maximise social distancing while others are using the opposite side.   Whole school assemblies and collective worship are not to take place during the Covid-19 pandemic. These will be undertaken in ‘bubbles’ where appropriate.   The use of the school staff rooms is minimised to maximise social distancing between colleagues. Wipes and cleaning materials available in staff rooms for staff to clean regular contact points e.g. kettle, taps etc.	LOW
  3	Covid-19 virus: School reception and offices	Staff	Staff are instructed to send information electronically to avoid the use of internal mail services.   All returned visitor passes, keys or fobs are kept stored separately from other items and cleaned and sanitised before reissue. The use of lanyards will be suspended. All waiting areas are reconfigured to ensure social distancing can be maintained. Seating, display stands and magazines are removed. Screens are installed to areas were staff are required to have face-to-face interaction with visitors. Staff who are able to work from home, are encouraged to do so.   Office windows will be opened where practical, to encourage as much natural ventilation as possible   Workplace layouts are configured to allow staff to maintain social distancing of 2m when they are seated at workstations. Screens installed where it is not possible to move workstations or it is considered that the work activity is essential. Desk configurations and allocation are such that staff are not seated facing each other. Workstations are single user use. Sharing of workstations is not to be undertaken. Staff to clean and sanitise their workstation (including chair arms) at the beginning and end of their daily shift. Additional cleaning stations are to be provided for staff to use and replenished as required.   A clear desk policy is in place. All work items and belongings are stored in desk pedestals or store cupboards when not in use. Telephones must not be shared and staff should transfer calls rather than pass handsets to colleagues. Where this is not possible, callers are provided with an alternative number to call back. The use of copiers, printers and shredders is for essential school use only. Where it is essential to use such devices, they should be cleansed after each use. Appropriate signage is installed to advise users accordingly and cleaning materials are available.	LOW
  4	Covid-19 virus: Meetings	Staff	All in-person meetings should be avoided whenever and wherever possible. Staff should use other means of remote communication to host meetings where facilities are readily available. Attendance at meetings is limited to those essential attendees only. Critical information is cascaded to other staff. Meeting room capacity is reduced to comply fully with prevailing social distancing measures. Wherever possible, meeting rooms should be adequately ventilated with external windows opened during meetings. Meeting room users advised not to share equipment during meetings i.e. pens, stationery etc. Attendees to remove all items following the meeting. Meeting room users to wipe down surfaces (including any buttons on IT equipment and remote controls) following meetings. Additional cleaning materials will be provided in all meeting rooms for use by staff and replenished as required. Meetings to take place promptly and conclude fully in the meeting room to avoid attendees congregating in adjoining areas prior to and following meetings.	LOW
  5	Covid-19 virus: Classrooms	Staff   Pupils	Primary Schools: Classes are kept in ‘bubbles’ and should not mix with other classes during the school day. Wherever possible, staff teaching and supervising a ‘bubble’ should maintain 2m social distancing from pupils and should not mix with other bubbles.   Classes should be kept together and mixing with other classes minimised, as much as possible.   Secondary Schools: Years are grouped into ‘bubbles’ where class ‘bubbles’ are not practical due to the range of subjects being taught. Years are to be kept separate from other years and mixing with other years minimised, as much as possible. Older pupils are encouraged to maintain social distancing within groups where possible.   All desks face the same direction i.e. front of the classroom.   Pupils are seated side by side as opposed to opposite each other, where not possible 2 pupils sit at diagonal on larger tables.   For individual and very frequently used equipment, such as pencils and pens, staff and pupils have their own which are not shared. Pupils provided with individual packs.   Resources shared between bubbles, such as sports, art and science equipment, should be cleaned frequently and meticulously and always between use by different bubbles, or rotated to allow them to be left unused and out of reach for a period of 48hrs (72hrs for plastics) between use by different bubbles.   All unnecessary items are removed from classrooms and teaching environments as much as possible.   Classes are to take place in the same setting wherever possible to limit the numbers moving around the school.   Classroom activities planned and structured; where possible and appropriate classes will be held outdoors.     Cleaning of hands is encouraged when changing classrooms for different activities.   Pupils regularly reminded to maintain social distancing where possible.   Classroom windows will be opened, where practical, to encourage as much natural ventilation as possible.
  6	Covid-19 virus: Dining areas	Staff   Pupils	Dining room be laid out so that ‘bubbles’ are separated whilst eating.   Lunch times will be staggered to ensure ‘bubbles’ do not mix.   Dining room tables and chairs will be wiped down between sittings.   Dining room supervisors, cleaners and serving staff to maintain 2m social distancing wherever possible.	LOW
  7	Covid-19 virus; School day	Staff   Pupils   Visitors   Contractors	School start times for different bubbles are staggered to reduce the numbers attending the site at the start and finish of the day.   Parents and guardians are requested to drop their children off alone e.g., not both parents attending at once.   Parents and guardians are requested not to gather at entrance gates or doors, or enter the site (unless they have a pre-arranged appointment) once their children have entered the school.   Parents and guardians requested not to gather on the school playground and to maintain social distancing at all times.   Timetables are revised where possible to reduce the movement around the school premises and to stagger busy transitional periods.   Break times (including lunch) staggered for classes to minimise mixing and dilute numbers using common areas such as walkways and toilets.   Where possible the numbers of pupils using toilets will be managed. Each ‘bubble’ allocated toilet.	LOW
  8	Covid-19 virus; Working and teaching within the school environment	Staff   Pupils   Visitors   Contractors	Staff instructed in the following working practices: Aim to maintain 2m social distancing at all times, where practicable. Limit number of surfaces touched, where possible. Keep hands away from face as much as possible. Regularly perform appropriate hand washing.   Lessons and activities planned to make best use of school resources whilst maintaining social distancing.   Changing of classrooms for different activities is minimised as far as is reasonably practicable.	LOW
  9	Covid-19 virus; Cleaning	Staff   Pupils   Visitors   Contractors	All cleaning staff are experienced and have received appropriate training.   Any new cleaning products brought on site in response to the current Covid-19 pandemic will have a COSHH risk assessment undertaken prior to use.   Reference existing school COSHH risk assessments: M.Calderwood August 2020   Cleaners have appropriate PPE in line with current (and any new) COSHH risk assessments   Playground equipment and classroom play equipment wiped down and cleansed at the end of the school day and between activities where possible.   Cleaning undertaken in line with Government publication COVID-19: cleaning in non-healthcare settings.   School will be fully cleaned at the finish of each school day.   Cleaners on site throughout the school day and regularly touched items such as door handles, handrails etc. will be regularly wiped down and cleaned.   Additional cleaning products are available for use by staff to wipe down frequently used contact surfaces. These will include (amongst other things): Printers/photocopying machines Lift buttons and door entry keypads Door, fridge and cabinet handles Light switches Kitchen surfaces   Classrooms where a pupil or staff member has become symptomatic during the school day will be deep cleaned along with other areas the person may have been.	LOW
  10	Covid-19 virus; Pupils and staff who become symptomatic during the school day	Staff   Pupils   Visitors   Contractors	Pupils and Staff who become symptomatic during the school day will be isolated from the rest of the pupil group and their parents (pupils) will be called to come and collect them. Staff will be sent home to self-isolate.   If staff are unable to maintain 2m social distancing from an isolated pupil, appropriate PPE should be worn e.g. a surgical face mask.   Any areas, items and surfaces the symptomatic person has come into contact with should be thoroughly cleaned as soon as possible.   Symptomatic pupils and staff are advised to engage with Government Test and Trace and get tested: If someone tests negative, they feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus (COVID-19), they can stop self-isolating. Other members of their household can stop self-isolating. If someone tests positive, they should follow Government guidance and must continue to self-isolate for at least 7 days from the start of their symptoms. The 7-day period starts from the day they first became ill. If they still have a high temperature, they should keep self-isolating until temperature returns to normal.   The school understands how to contact the local Public Health England Health Protection Team in the event of a positive test result for a member of staff or pupil: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contacts-phe-health-protection-teams. The Health Protection Team will provide the specific advice and guidance the school is to follow in the event of a positive test result.   If necessary a ‘bubble’ will be sent home and advised to isolate in line with guidance.	LOW

  Risk Level: High:                             Accident likely with possibility of serious injury or loss

      Medium:            Possibility of accident occurring causing minor injury or loss

                                                                                                                                                                           Low:                              Accident unlikely with control measures in place

  D	Controls	E        To be completed by the Manager
  	(Ser Nº to correspond with Hazard Ser Nº)
  Ser No	Additional Controls Required	Action to be Taken	By Whom	Target Completion Date	Task Completed (Signed & Dated)
  1

   

  F	Once additional controls are implemented, what will the overall risk level be:   High                      Medium                       Low	Risk assessment signed off by:H.Bannon   Signature: H.Bannon   Date: 26th August 2020   Please note an electronic signature will suffice.

   

   

   

• Letter from City Council

  Wed 26 Aug 2020
  ENQUIRIES: Steve Reddy,
  Director,
  Children & Young People’s Service.
  OUR REF: SR/CK/JJ
  DATE: 25TH August, 2020
  Dear parents and carers,
  As the new academic year approaches, we are writing to let you know about some of the work we have been doing with schools to prepare for pupils returning safely in September.
  The disruption to the lives of our young people over the last few months has been challenging for everyone. We are all desperate to return to some sort of normality as soon as we can: getting our young people back into a routine of learning and giving them the best chance of reaching their potential in as safe a way as possible. It is absolutely crucial to your child’s future, so it is important that we all work together so they can get back to school.
  We appreciate that you and your child may be anxious about a return to lessons, but we want to reassure you that all practical steps are being taken to make sure children are as safe as possible.
  Schools have been working extremely hard, both before the end of term and during the summer holidays, to make sure the learning environment is as safe as it possibly can be when lessons resume.
  An exhaustive risk assessment has been carried out by every school, covering as many scenarios as possible. We have asked that all schools make these risk assessments available on their school website.
  In addition to pupils being taught in ‘bubbles’ to limit their exposure to other children, extra cleaning and sanitisation measures will be in place, along with social distancing measures where possible.
  Schools have been working closely with our colleagues in Public Health to put in place systems and measures to contain the spread of coronavirus if a positive case is identified. We will continue to follow the advice of our Public Health officials.
  We ask for your ongoing co-operation to help minimise the risk of bringing the virus in to school, particularly by encouraging your family to practise good hand hygiene, observe social distancing advice, proactive use of face coverings and observing the limits on
  Liverpool City Council
  Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1AH
  T: 0151 233 0480
  E: steve.reddy@liverpool.gov.uk W.liverpool.gov.uk
  households mixing. It is clear that keeping the rate of transmission low in the local
  community will keep schools as safe as possible.
  If you or your child displays COVID-19 symptoms, it is essential that you book a test at
  www.nhs.uk and inform the school so that the appropriate procedures can be followed.
  We are grateful to all the teachers, school staff and trade unions who have worked with us
  to help get our young people back to school as safely as possible. Finally, we would like to
  take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and support during what has been an
  extraordinarily challenging period for everyone– it is very much appreciated, as is your
  support in ensuring children return to school.
  More information and a list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found on our website at
  www.liverpool.gov.uk and www.liverpoolexpress.co.uk/backtoschool, but please contact
  your child’s school if you have questions about their specific arrangements.
  Yours sincerely,
  Joe Anderson – Mayor of Liverpool
  Steve Reddy – Director of Children and Young People’s Services
  Matt Ashton – Director of Public Health for Liverpool