DivyaSchool safety and security of children in schools has turned into a real-time concern for parents and more so in the aftermath of an episode from a trusted school in Delhi in which a child lost his life in the school premises.
Parents throughout the country are concerned about their child’s security and also their concern is about the way to make sure that my child is safe when in school. In the event of an emergency, what’s the school’s preparedness?
What can a parent do to look for school safety and what a parent should do to ensure safety?
Concerns like these bring us to the stage that parents will need to talk to the school authorities and ask these questions to understand how well-prepared the school administration is all about keeping our children safe in case of emergency/crisis.
7 Practical Questions Every Parent Should Ask From The School Officials About School Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness:
1. Safety System
Whenever we state security system, we mean if there’s a proper security system for each and every student while going out from the school. If there are appropriate cards such as identity cards issued to parents together with all the photos of the parents or guardians who will pick the child from the school premises. Visitor identification and sign-in procedure should be followed strictly. School should fill the gaps in security if any.
2. Child-Friendly Infrastructure
When you are checking out the school’s play areas, have a look at the edges of the slides and other swings – are they curved or they’ve pointed corners? Look after the railings and railing heights on the staircases. There should not be any open manholes, construction debris or thorny bushes which could turn out to be a potential hazard for the child.
3. Emergency Preparedness
Look around to find out what’s the format the faculty has in the premises and outside to manage emergencies. There should be proper first-aid and medical facilities both in the school and transport in case of any serious injury. This also contains a list of doctors and hospitals on board together with the faculty. School should have written policies related to crisis preparedness and overall safety planning.
4. Teacher’s Responsibility
Ideally, the teacher should be responsible for a particular number of students so that they can provide appropriate attention and respond adequately in the event of an accident, illness or fall. In every transport, the ratio of student and teacher or guards should be appropriate.
5. Regular Maintenance
Does the school upkeep the maintenance of the premises such as its infrastructure, equipment, and other furniture and fixtures? Schools should get the yearly white-wash done from the point of view of hygiene. Any leakages should be fixed on time to avoid water-logging during the rainy season.
6. Qualification and Training of the Staff
The school employees should be trained in security and emergency strategies by the qualified and experienced instructors. Students, employees, and parents should be communicated regularly and clearly about the safety concerns. The guidelines should be tested and exercised on regular basis.
7. Discipline
Well-disciplined and positive school climate can make the school safer. Proper decorum should be followed during the break times also so that children might not get hurt.
Broadly, the aforementioned points are a few watch-outs which you have to remember as soon as your child is in school. But do remember to speak with fellow parents and receive their comments on the school, as they’d understand it the best if searching for a school for your child. And when your child is already in a school, you can ask the authority about the aforementioned points.
Educating your child about school safety and security
When most schools comply with the above pointers, it is also necessary to instruct your child to maintain his own safety and security.
- Talk: Ask your child about his safety in school, where he feels least safe or most safe. Discuss measures to improve safety regularly.
- Reporting System: Do students have a proper system to report safety concerns at school? Parents should address the improvements in safety concerns to the school administration.
- Not to run in the corridors or on the staircase: Your child might ask you question when he will be told not to run. ‘When others do it! Why can’t I?’ Tell them that it isn’t secure and they might get hurt.
- Going out of the class without permission: Speak to your child about the negative effects of moving out of the class by themselves without permission. They could get hurt or might get lost.
- Stranger threat: Educate your kid to maintain himself safe from the strangers. Teach them not to take anything from them or go anywhere together inside or outside the premises.
- Report to the Principal or the Teacher: If there’s anything bothering the child, ask her or him to speak to the class teacher or the Principal, as she’ll start looking into the issue and assist you to resolve it.
- Talk to Parents: Ensure your children that you’ll be there for them consistently. And make them believe that you listen to and trust them if they attempt to tell you something that’s bothering them.
Evaluation of school safety
Evaluate yourself as a parent, if you are following the various school safety procedures in making the school safe. Support the teachers and school administration, whenever needed.
Being watch guards to your child’s school and also preparing him for his own safety and security will go long way in making sure that your child is secure!
Have more tips to add to the list of school safety? Please share your experience with us in the comments section below.
Wish you a very Happy and Safe Parenting!
