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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Schools 'too safe' teachers say | Schools 'too safe' teachers say |
| (1 day later) | |
| Nearly half of teachers believe the health and safety culture in schools is damaging children's learning and development, a survey suggests. | Nearly half of teachers believe the health and safety culture in schools is damaging children's learning and development, a survey suggests. |
| When questioned by Teachers TV, teachers complained about a five-page briefing on using glue sticks and being told to wear goggles to put up posters. | When questioned by Teachers TV, teachers complained about a five-page briefing on using glue sticks and being told to wear goggles to put up posters. |
| Others said pupils were not allowed to enjoy the sun or snow without taking health and safety precautions. | Others said pupils were not allowed to enjoy the sun or snow without taking health and safety precautions. |
| Teachers TV surveyed 585 viewers to the channel by questionnaire. | Teachers TV surveyed 585 viewers to the channel by questionnaire. |
| Around 45% of those who took part thought health and safety precautions had a negative effect on teachers, as well as on students' personal development and learning. | Around 45% of those who took part thought health and safety precautions had a negative effect on teachers, as well as on students' personal development and learning. |
| SAFETY RULES Wearing goggles to put up postersFive-page briefing on the dangers of glue sticks Ban on running in the playgroundWet grass stopping PE lessonsBan on playing with conkersOne person at a time in staff kitchenBan on sweets because of choking riskBuoyancy aids for capable year 11 swimmers on a school trip to France Read your comments | SAFETY RULES Wearing goggles to put up postersFive-page briefing on the dangers of glue sticks Ban on running in the playgroundWet grass stopping PE lessonsBan on playing with conkersOne person at a time in staff kitchenBan on sweets because of choking riskBuoyancy aids for capable year 11 swimmers on a school trip to France Read your comments |
| However, 45% said they did not think health and safety regulations were too restrictive. | However, 45% said they did not think health and safety regulations were too restrictive. |
| And just over 10% of teachers surveyed thought accidents in schools had increased during the last five years. | And just over 10% of teachers surveyed thought accidents in schools had increased during the last five years. |
| 'Extreme' | 'Extreme' |
| The teachers were also asked about general safety - their own and that of their pupils. | The teachers were also asked about general safety - their own and that of their pupils. |
| More than half of those who responded - 56% - said they had had to deal with a situation where they suspected a child was being abused. | More than half of those who responded - 56% - said they had had to deal with a situation where they suspected a child was being abused. |
| More than two in five said they were afraid to be alone in a room with a pupil in case they were falsely accused of inappropriate behaviour. | More than two in five said they were afraid to be alone in a room with a pupil in case they were falsely accused of inappropriate behaviour. |
| Just under a third of respondents said they were under-prepared in this area. | Just under a third of respondents said they were under-prepared in this area. |
| Questions regarding weapons checks in schools appeared to divide teachers. | Questions regarding weapons checks in schools appeared to divide teachers. |
| Exactly half said they favoured weapons checks in schools and half opposed it. | Exactly half said they favoured weapons checks in schools and half opposed it. |
| Chief executive of Teachers TV Andrew Bethell said: "The more extreme examples [of health and safety] are thankfully not the norm but schools still need to take into consideration the workforce's concerns when trying to protect pupils. | Chief executive of Teachers TV Andrew Bethell said: "The more extreme examples [of health and safety] are thankfully not the norm but schools still need to take into consideration the workforce's concerns when trying to protect pupils. |
| "It is worrying that almost a third of the education workforce feel under-prepared to deal with the very complicated issues surrounding abuse and potential abuse." | "It is worrying that almost a third of the education workforce feel under-prepared to deal with the very complicated issues surrounding abuse and potential abuse." |
| The Health and Safety Executive has called some of the examples of health and safety precautions cited in the survey "frankly ridiculous". | The Health and Safety Executive has called some of the examples of health and safety precautions cited in the survey "frankly ridiculous". |
| HSE chair Judith Hackitt said children needed to learn how to manage risk. | HSE chair Judith Hackitt said children needed to learn how to manage risk. |
| She said: "Stop worrying about the 'conkers stories' and help children learn how to handle risk by doing things and going on visits. | She said: "Stop worrying about the 'conkers stories' and help children learn how to handle risk by doing things and going on visits. |
| "Concentrate on the real risks - not the trivia - by putting measures in place to manage them as far as is reasonable, but don't try to eliminate all risk and don't stop the activity." | "Concentrate on the real risks - not the trivia - by putting measures in place to manage them as far as is reasonable, but don't try to eliminate all risk and don't stop the activity." |