The Comprehensive School Safety Checklist
Do you want to assess how safe your school is for the children who study in it?
The following safety checklists for schools have been prepared by the CBSE. Print it out and go through it to find out the aspects of school safety that your institution has covered and those that you need to work on.
- 1. THE EMOTIONAL SAFETY CHECKLIST
Does the school have a strong policy statement against child abuse and exploitation?Has the staff being trained to be alert to signs of abuse?Is there a procedure for checking on staff before they are allowed to work with the children? Is there a child protection policy which includes procedures to be followed ateacher or another member of staff is accused of harming a child? Does the school provide an going training and development for staff to address their responsibilities to protect children from abuse?Is there a regular counselor on school roll?Does the school inform and consult parents and encourage the participation of families in child protection issues?Is there a rehabilitation program to restore the self –esteem of abused children?Are the children being taught the ‘kinds of touches’?Is the child being helped to understand his right over his own body especially, the right to say ‘No’?Do the children enjoy an enabling environment and are they encouraged to share their personal confidence with the teachers? Does the school provide workshops by medical experts and counselors on adolescence related issues? Does the school provide a sensitive platform for building self – esteem an communication skills among children?
- 2. THE SOCIAL SAFETY CHECKLIST
- Are the children being given enough guidance on managing emotions and building healthy peer relationships? Are children being sensitized to recognize and practice negative peer pressure?Are they taught skills to manage anger and stress?Are they being given positive reinforcement to stay away from criticism, rude language, gossiping and trivial matters that may lead to violence?Does the school address the issues of bullying, harassment and prejudice against children?Do the teachers try to make their influence positive and is there an atmosphere of connectedness?Is there a strict monitoring of theft,graffiti and social cliques to handle crimes?Is the school building and ground well maintained?Do the students feel safe reporting crime and safety problems to staff?Are the disciplinary and safety problems quickly addressed?Are there enough programmers’ conducted on AIDS –Awareness, Anti –tobacco and Anti- Drugs environment?Are there stress management workshops, yoga classes and meditation sessions for students and teachers?Is there a happy learning ambiance in school?Is there a strict restriction on corporal punishment and emotional harassment of students by teachers?Is there enough academic guidance provided to low achievers and children with special needs?
- 3. THE PHYSICAL SAFETY CHECKLIST
- Does the school maintain Health cards?Does the school keep the medical records of students with special health problems?Do parents communicate their children’s health issues in schools?Does the school have a qualified full – time doctor/ nurse in the school?Is there a doctor-on-call for emergency?Has the school tied up with a local hospital within two kilometers?Is the medical room fully equipped to handleall emergencies?Is there a first – aid box placed at every floor of the building?Does the school carry out annual medical checkup of all the students?Is the school staff sensitized to understand the genuine health problems of the children?Have the teachers undergone basic training courses on counseling, first-aid and identification of disabilities?Does the school have a ‘Health and Wellness Club’?Is there an emphasis on intake of balanced diet by the students and is the consumption of junk food discouraged?Does the school follow the mid –day meal plan?Is there a dietician and meal planner on school panel?Do the teachers have their meals with the students and monitor their eating habits? Is the chemistry lab equipped to handle common emergencies?Is the health climate being fostered in school?Are the First –Aid protocols for common injuries displayed at different places in school?Does the school call medical experts from time to time to sensitize the students and teachers?Has the school constituted a parent –teacher –students committee to address the safety needs of the students?Does the school have proper sewage, drainage and garbage disposal arrangements?Is there proper facility for safe drinking water with adequate number of water taps?Are the auditorium, assembly hall, gymnasium all free from hazardous fixtures and with adequate light and ventilation?Is the access to school building by outsiders controlled and are visitors monitored?Are all the areas in school safe by design or by staff supervision?Does the staff actively supervise students both inside and outside the classroom?Do the benches have sharp edges?Are windows fixed with proper railings?Are the washrooms hygienic and disinfectants kept away from the reach of children?Are the electrical appliances maintained and is there a quality check on them?Are the secluded corners, corridors and staircases kept under watch by staff members during lunch breaks and at the time of dispersal?Are there ramps and wheel –chairs for differently abled students or teachers?Are the parents connected with messaging system or mobile phone networking?Is the medical history of every student available in the school?Are the special records like blood groups, allergies and medication that need to prescribed frequently updated with parental support?Are the physical education instructors sensitive enough to involve students in sports according to their physical capabilities and health related issues?Is the Sports Room well –ventilated and well –equipped to handle common sports injuries?Are the school playgrounds, swings, rides, sports-equipments etc. safe?Have the schools buses passed the safety test?Is there a teacher on board and a helper accompanying the children in school buses?Are the school buses equipped with First –Aid boxes, drinking water and mobile phones?Are the elevators and exit ways examined periodically and on daily basis?Are the laboratories safe and spacious enough for hazard free learning?
- 4. THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SAFETY CHECKLIST
- Are there enough exits and entry points, staircases to be used in the case of emergency?Is the evacuation plan displayed at different places in the building?Do the students and staff members know and understand the evacuation plan toavoid stampede in case of a disaster?Is the school premise under surveillance by the Principal through CCTVs?Is there a provision for legal alternatives and advice?Has the staff been trained to respond in case of an emergency?Do the students and staff members know how to use fire –extinguishers?Are there enough fire –extinguishers installed at sensitive places?Are the floors, stairways and railings safe?Are CPR and first –aid classes held at periodic intervals for staff and students?Are the drain hole pipes,and water tanks covered properly?Are there fire-alarms and smoke-alarms installed at different places?Are the disaster management drills and evacuation plans practiced from time to time?Is there provision for well –equipped ambulance in case of emergencies or during any disaster?Are the protocols to be followed in case of emergencies displayed at different places in the building?Are the teachers and paramedical staff trained to provide artificial breathing and artificial resuscitation?Can the Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Police Service or any other Community Service be contacted by dialing?Is the school equipped with a Public Address System to make emergency announcements?Is there a stable Disaster management Plan which is updated regularly?Is there a School Disaster Response Team consisting of administration members, teachers and senior students?Is there a universal language understood by everyone in school?Is the school staff sensitized to address the trauma and post –disaster interventions?Is the Principal capable enough to take one or many crucial decisions in case of a disaster?Is the school equipped with school security technologies?Is the school’s design safe to handle terrorist attacks?Is the school handling media briefing and updates without sensationalization?Is the safety and security checklist used for planning and designing new facilities or assessing existing ones?Is the safety and security checklist of schoolupdated frequently?Is there a well –equipped disaster management cell in school?
- 5. THE CYBER SAFETY CHECKLIST
- Is the access to computer rooms and technological usage under monitoring of teachers?Is there proper handling of e- waste?Is there Internet Security for children?Are cyber – crimes handled with sensitivity?Are parents and children provided enough awareness on safe usage of technology and how to avoid taking risks?Is cyber –bullying handled with utmost care?Are Social Networking sites blocked during school hours?Are parents and children provided enough awareness on safe usage of technology and how to avoid taking risks?Is cyber –bullying handled with utmost care?
(Source:Quarterly Bulletin of CBSE)
