But it's all very well knowing that anyone who refuses to leave school premises or who enters after being required to leave, may be guilty of a criminal offence (under section 547 of the 1996 Education Act). But that is not much of a consolation for the administrator or teacher who suddenly comes across an unauthorised person wandering the corridors.
There is one solution to ensure that those who do not follow visitor procedures are noticed.
This involves having a professional visitor pass issued to all visitors who enter the school. The pass immediately highlights anyone who is not wearing one, and it also says to all legitimate visitors that this is a school in which the safety of the pupils and students is of paramount importance.
Such a system needs to have visitor details written into a register, with the information simultaneously copied onto a master sheet and onto a pass that the visitor wears.
The visitor pass can be used to carry information as to what to do in an emergency and also ensures that the administrators know exactly who is in the school at any particular moment. It also sends a most positive message to everyone about the care and attention to health and safety that the school exhibits.
Details of such a system called ‘visitor management passes' can be found in the SG World catalogue. http://www.theeducationcatalogue.co.uk/ or come and see us at the Education Show at stand U27.
Tel: 01270 588 211
