Risk Assessments for School Attendance – for action

Buckinghamshire Council Education Settings Risk Assesment guidance_[27366]

Copy of Buckinghamshire Risk Assessment for vulnerable children and those with EHCPs(27365)

 

Sent on behalf of Joanna Cassey, Service Director for Education, Children’s Services Directorate

Dear Colleagues,

Please find attached a risk assessment for completion for school attendance. We hope this guidance supports you to determine the risks associated with pupils who are attending settings, but also those who can safely have their needs met at home.

This guidance has been written in line with the Government guidance on SEN Risk Assessing, in that it takes the following into account:
• The potential health risks to the individual from COVID-19, bearing in mind any underlying health conditions. This must be on an individual basis with advice from an appropriate health professional where required
• The ability of the individual’s parents or home to ensure their health and care needs can be met safely
• The potential impact to the individual’s wellbeing of changes to routine or the way in which provision is delivered.
• The risk to individuals who have EHC Plans if some or all elements of their EHC plan cannot be delivered at all, and the risk if they cannot be delivered in the normal manner or in the usual setting
• Any out of school or college risk or vulnerability, e.g. a young person becoming involved in dangerous behaviour or situations and requiring support from a social worker, including those where being in an educational setting can stop a care placement breakdown.
The iSEND Service would recommend that all risk assessments are conducted between the setting, the child/young person’s parents/carers and where appropriate key professionals, and should always be focused around the best interests of the child/young person, with the primary focus being on their safety at this time. If you require further support with completing this assessment, please do contact your EHC Coordinator in the first instance, or the iSEND area team manager (details below).

The risk assessment is not fixed; it is inevitably impacted by any changes in circumstances, such as staffing or environment and so will require ongoing consideration.

The assessment form is in two parts.

1. Section 1 – screening to determine if a full risk assessment is required
2. Section 2 – full risk assessment

Please send a copy of the completed risk assessment form to the child/young person’s parents/carer and to your EHC Coordinator and Area Team Manager (contact details below):

Aylesbury Area Team Manager, Christine Preston: Christine.preston@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Chiltern and South Bucks Manager, Hayley Nowley: Hayley.nowley@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Wycombe Area Team Manager, Ian Peters: Ian.peters@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

For further information and national guidance reference, please refer to the FAQs on Buckinghamshire’s schoolsweb by clicking on the link below:
https://schoolsweb.buckscc.gov.uk/covid-19-corona-virus-latest-advice/covid-19-school-provision/

Joanna Cassey
Service Director for Education
Children’s Services Directorate
Buckinghamshire Council

01296 382081
joanna.cassey@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Room G37, Council Offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury HP20 1UA