Health and safety policies

  • Collection and walking home alone policies (primary) Find out what to include in your collection and walking home alone policy. See examples of policies from primary schools.
  • Dealing with abusive visitors in schools: policies Find examples of policies on dealing with abusive visitors from primary and secondary schools, and a special school.
  • Display screen equipment (DSE) policies Although not a statutory requirement, some schools have a separate display screen equipment (DSE) policy. Find support with writing or reviewing your school’s DSE policy with guidance from the Health and Safety Executive and examples of policies from schools.
  • Drugs policies Find support with writing or reviewing your school’s drugs policy with guidance from the Department for Education and examples of policies from schools.
  • Educational visits policy: model and examples An educational visits policy provides support for staff in the effective and safe planning and operation of school trips. This policy isn't statutory, but it's best practice to have one. Download our model policy with practical templates in the appendices, and see examples from other schools.
  • Emergency or critical incident plan: guidance and examples Prepare for emergencies by making sure your school has an emergency plan detailing how you'll respond to various significant incidents, including an outbreak of acute respiratory disease.
  • First aid policy: model and examples Download and adapt our model first aid policy to suit the context of your school or trust. See examples of first aid policies from primary, secondary and special schools, and from multi-academy trusts.
  • Health and safety policy: model and examples All schools must have a health and safety policy. Use our model policy for your school or trust, which includes an accident report form, to stay compliant.
  • Infection control: example policies and guidance See examples of infection control policies from schools and guidance from Public Health England about how to control infectious illnesses.
  • Intimate care policy and plan: model and examples Download our model intimate care policy, and templates for an intimate care plan and consent form. Read expert advice on what to consider, and see examples from other schools.
  • Lone working policies: examples Find sample lone working policies from primary, secondary and special schools to help you write your own. Be clear on your rights and responsibilities as an employer with further guidance from the Health and Safety Executive.
  • Manual handling policy: examples See examples of manual handling policies from primary, secondary and special schools, as well as a local authority. Find guidance too on what to include in your policy from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
  • No smoking policies Find examples of no smoking policies from primary, secondary and special schools.
  • Physical restraint policies Your school isn't required to have a physical restraint policy, but its a good idea to include information about how you use physical restraint in your behaviour policy. Read examples of physical restraint policies from schools to help you develop your own policy.
  • Positive handling policy: examples See examples of positive handling policies from primary and secondary schools, as well as a special school and a MAT. Use these examples to help you write your school's policy.
  • Risk assessment policy: model and examples Download our model risk assessment policy and see examples of school and trust policies on assessing risks to health and safety.
  • School food policies Find out what to include in your school food policy if you have one, and understand your requirements around the national food standards and allergen labelling. See examples of other schools' food policies.
  • Security lockdown procedures: template and guidance Keep your school safe in the event of a critical incident. Download our template emergency lockdown plan and adapt it to your school's needs. See examples from other schools.
  • Severe weather policy: guidance and examples Find out what to include in your severe weather policy, and see examples of policies from schools.
  • Sun safety policies Pupils should know about sun safety by the end of primary school. Find example policies (including from a sun safety award-winning special school) to help you outline your school's approach to keeping everyone safe in the sun.
  • Supporting pupils with medical conditions policy: model and examples Download and adapt our model policy for supporting pupils with medical conditions. If you prefer to write or review your own, use our checklist setting out what your policy should include, and compare your policy with those from other schools and trusts.