Prepare and Maintain Learning Environments

TDA 2.12
1.1 - Health and Safety - learning environments.
The school has a strict policy that describes the needs of keeping children safe within their learning environment. It is not only important that children are safe in school but also that they feel safe themselves – this creates a comfortable place to work. It is important that children are safe when playing outdoors therefore the main front gate is kept locked when children are in the playground and only the teacher on duty holds a key. Safety indoor is manned by the site manager who performs some daily checks and some weekly checks on the various equipment. The site manager’s job is to ensure that the school building is free from hazards and obstructions as this will prevent children from having any unnecessary accidents. It is the teacher’s responsibility and our responsibility to make sure that the classroom is free from hazards as there are many risks that could occur. There is a general classroom risk assessment updated every month in order to avoid accidents.
1.4
If using any safety equipment in my lessons, I would always ensure that this was properly set up and safe to use. I would test it myself by using the manufacturer’s guide, I would ask another member of staff if I still wasn’t sure.
2.4
As our school is ‘eco-friendly’, we have many different recycling wastes in progress. One of these is paper recycling where any waste paper including mistaken printing/photocopying can be reused. Another recycling operation we have is food waste, excess food from the school canteen and fruit cores and skins from the children is all put into a separate bin. Other recycling includes bottles, plastic and general waste.
3.2
The physical environment is constantly practiced as it is an on-going procedure within school. Maintenance of health and safety of the children is taken care of in many ways i.e. a child/ a group of children are never left on their own, gates are always locked around the school and children cannot open front door or back doors without the help of an adult. Only members off staff are able to enter the building using the thumb print security system. Areas are always made to ensure that children and adults are comfortable in their learning/working environment. In the winter, central heating is on and in the summer windows can be opened to let in fresh air. Spare raincoats and willies are provided for children (and adults) without during outdoor learning. Most discomforts that a child may complain about can be sorted using the equipment and staff in the school.
On-going activities will have been pre-planned and therefore the best space to do the activity in will have already been allocated by the class teacher or whoever has prepared the activity. For example P.E. activities would be best done outside as there is plenty of room (and fresh air) however if it is raining the sports sessions would then be done in the hall.
The area the activity takes place in would also depend on the size of the class or group taking part. The children within the group would also need to be taken into consideration, for example are there any children that have disabilities which would hinder their performance if they were taken outside. Also blind/deaf children, the activities in the area would be adapted to ensure ease for everyone.