Volunteers
Volunteering
Adult volunteers are very welcome in school to assist with a variety of activities eg reading with children, making scenery and costumes for school plays, helping with dance, theme weeks, cooking and trips. It is sometimes helpful for teachers if a helper can commit to a set time and day, but it need not be for a whole year or term. Even an hour per week for a few weeks is helpful! Parents need not help in their own child’s class, and indeed some children find it difficult to “share” a parent, and so it may be better for some parents to be in another class. If you can spare up to 30 minutes of your time after you have dropped off your child we would love your help reading with children in the school. Please contact your child’s class teacher if you are interested in this – it does make a real difference to the children involved.
Signing in
Please note that all visitors and volunteers must sign in at the school office and collect a Visitor Sticker or Parent Helper badge and read our “Visitor Guidelines”. This excludes special events such as assemblies and concerts where parents have been invited to come into school.
Checks
Parent helpers are not usually required to obtain a DBS check (Disclosure & Barring Service, formerly a CRB check), except where they will be regularly working with the same children. Any person who works directly with children is expected to declare all convictions and/or cautions; as well as court orders which may disqualify them from working with children or affect their suitability to do so. A DBS check from another organisation is not sufficient.
Drivers
If you are volunteering to provide transport to/from an outing or activity, you need to complete an authorised driver form which you can collect from the office. The completed form should be returned to the office along with your driving licence, an up to date insurance form and MOT which will be copied. This must be done annually. You will also be supplied with a copy of our Volunteer Driving Policy.
Seat Belt and Child Restraints Please see our policy on the website for more information.
Correct child restraints must be used for all children who are under 1.35 metres in height. This applies to all private cars driven by volunteers, parents or staff. Parents may be asked to bring in a booster seat for their child, for any trips where cars are used, in order to comply with the law. Seat belts must always be used in coaches, buses, or minibuses.
No Smoking or Alcohol
Smoking (including use of electronic cigarettes) is not permitted on the school premises or outside the school gate. When working with children, adults (staff and volunteers) must not be under the influence of alcohol or any other substance which may affect their ability to care for children.
Mobile Phones
Safeguarding – Mobile Phones and other similar equipment should not be used in school, except in the staff room, offices and car park area. Mobiles must be turned off in all other parts of the school, except for emergencies (e.g. 999). Parents/Carers may only take pictures or film special events (e.g. assemblies, shows and sports days) for personal use. These videos and/or images must not be uploaded onto social media or other public platforms.