Rationale

As a school we aim to provide our pupil’s with a broad, balanced and enriched curriculum, we see the inclusion of visitors into the school’s curriculum as one of the means of ensuring that we meet this aim. The use of visitors can enhance and enrich the curriculum.

Aims

To enrich and inform the curriculum by providing our pupils with experiences and knowledge that cannot be provided from within the school.

To allow our pupils to question and learn from ‘experts’ from various walks of life and disciplines.

To allow our pupils to gain a wider view of the world.

To give our pupils and insight into the lives of other people.

Implementation

All visitors need to be cleared with the Headteacher/Deputy Headteacher.

All visitors should sign the visitors book.

Visitors should not be left with child/ren out of sight of a member of staff unless they are CRB checked, are a visiting professional (eg. Speech therapist), or that child’s parent.

Visitors should be ‘badged.’

Roles and Responsibilities

The Headteacher is responsible for the circulation and implementation of this policy.

Members of staff have a responsibility to enact the policy.

Members of staff have a responsibility to be aware of, and act on the guidelines that accompany this policy.

We expect all non teaching staff, including voluntary staff and visitors, to report any disclosures by pupils or parents/carers, of a concerning personal nature to the designated child protection co-ordinator (Headteacher) as soon as possible after the disclosure and in an appropriate setting, so others cannot overhear. This is to ensure the safety, protection and well being of all our pupils and staff.

The designated child protection co-ordinator will decide what, if any, further action needs to be taken, both to ensure the pupil gets the help and support they need and that the member of staff also gets the support and supervision they need.

Monitoring

This policy its implementation and effectiveness will be monitored by the Headteacher and the SMT.

This policy will be reviewed on a tri-annually.

This policy should be read in conjunction with the school’s Child Protection and Confidentiality Policy and guidelines.

Visitors in School Guidelines

These guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Visitors to School Policy.

The head teacher must always be informed about any plans to invite any visitors into the school.

Visits should be logged in the Visitor Log Book which is kept in the staff room.

Points to consider when inviting a visitor(s) into school:

Before the visit

Does the visitor come from a ‘legitimate’ organisation/source?
Will the visitor be supervised?
What is the visitor providing that the school cannot?
Does the visitor have aims and objectives of their own?
Are the visitor’s aims and objectives compatible with those of the school?
Will the visitor’s input be appropriate to the needs, age and maturity of the audience?
What teaching methods will the visitor use?
What materials will they be bringing?
Is there a need for the pupils to prepare prior to the visit?
What resources will the visitor require?
Is there a cost involved?

For the day

How long is the session?
Who will attend?
Which members of staff will attend and what will be their role?
What venue/equipment will be used and who will prepare it and then clear it away?
How will the input be evaluated and by whom?
If required how will the visitor be provided with feedback?
How will the school receive feedback from the visitor?

After the visit

Is there a need for another/further visit(s)?
How will the pupils feedback?
How will the visitors input be integrated into other lessons?
What was the impact of the visit and can it be measured?