Aibu to think that PTA needs insurance?

[TheLittlePicker]

II have recently joined a PTA and found they do not hold insurance. Aibu to think that we need to have public liability at least?

Depends on the type of events they are holding as they might come under the school's insurance. But our PTA does have it's own public liability insurance, separate from the school's, as they run several large events for general public to attend.

Are they members of Parentkind? It's all on there www.parentkind.org.uk/For-PTAs/Advice-hub?action=results&q=insurance&categoryid=&regions=&types=

Our PTA has it, through Parentkind

I wouldn't agree to help out at any sort of event unless they had insurance in place.

Our PTA also has theirs through Parentkind.

Yes, you need public liability insurance. Our group is covered by the school as it was agreed it would be part of their policy, but you may need separate insurance if the school's current policy doesn't cover PTA activities.

Parentkjnd is not the only place to get PTA insurance, and I don't think they are the cheapest, either.

We had ours a few years ago through the council. Cost about £20 per year. Also licence for lotteries/raffles etc purchased same way Check the LEA website?

Your PTA really need Public Liability Insurance.
School’s insurance won’t cover accidents that might happen in the course of PTA events, eg, setting up a Summer Fair.

Thank you everyone :) I figured as much and am not happy about participating either unless we are insured.

They are not parentkind members. They think there is no need to worry about this.

I'd give them a swerve, let them pick up the pieces if someone decides to sue when they over something at a school fair.

And bearing in mind just how vehemently a lot of parents hate the PTA, it's not a far fetched scenario.

So they do proper Risk Assessments etc before events?
If not, that coupled with the lack of insurance would make me avoid them and any events they hold

You need to check with the school, it may be covered under their policy

But yes given they run events including children and often including activities such as bouncy castles etc, they definitely need to be covered and should get their own policy if it's not covered under the school policy.

Volunteers can still be sued for injury and damage.

Also if the PTA are organising any events through third parties (eg hiring in bouncy castles) they should also check the third party has public and products liability insurance to a decent limit (£5m+)

I don't think you can hire a bouncy castle these days without providing your insurance document - or at least we couldn't when I helped with pre-school.

Hi. We found out we were not insured by chance & sorted it out immediately a few year back. Our PTA are members of Parentkind & have their insurance through them.

We also have our insurance through parentkind. Are you in England OP depending what their gross annual income is they’ll need to be a registered charity as well.

Would it be the same for a 'Friends of xxxx primary school'? We run events to fundraise for the school but have no separate insurance from the school.

Depends on what insurance the school has.

FWIW we’re not a ‘pta’ we’re a parents association but we’re still insured.