Children named on risk assessment.

[TongueBiter]

Is this normal?

Apparently my child's name was on a risk assessment form on a recent trip, and the form was passed to volunteer helpers

I've had a fairly vague letter about it, which prompted me to ask the parent-helper that I know, but I'm seething!

Apparently procedures and policies are being reviewed, but I'm not happy that up to six parents have seen that the class teacher (who doesn't seem to like my dc) deems my child to be a risk!

It's about managing behaviour out of school and the best people to that are the staff who are trained.
Is the teacher proposing to put your DS with a parent volunteer. I would absolutely insist this does not happen if there are behaviours that mean it would make the trip less safe for him. Turn it back on them - yes, he does this, which named and familiar staff member is going to help him manage it on the trip?

I'd expect child specific issues to be included in a risk assessment. I generally don't take parent helpers. I've actually roped my own mother in before because I've had such bad experiences with parents on trips.

I would probably have given parents an edited version as I wouldn't feel comfortable sharing information like that.

Having said that the last trip I helped out on at my ds's school had the children's information on.

Coogar - he was with his class teacher apparently. I guess it's just the realisation that she considers his behaviour enough of an issue to name him on the RA but not raise it as an ongoing issue with me. And the fact that this was seen by other parents.

Maybe she's just looking forward to the end of this school year as much as I am ....

Well, there is that! you will be shot of her in July.

I can't see any reason why parent helpers would need to know, however.

I agree with clam ...it's normal for a child to be named on the risk assessment if they pose a specific risk but I wouldn't share that with parent helpers.

I'm secondary and have definitely named dc on my risks assessments. I usually do outward bound type things and skiing. DC that have trouble listening or following instructions will be named so that staff know to check they are listening when instructions are being given and if necessary to get them to repeat stuff back.

I also have done separate risk assessments for dc in wheelchairs and with hearing impairments as you do need to think through the entire trip from the perspective of what might need to be altered to make it accessible and try to foresee where problems could occur.

I would NOT give a RA to a volunteer parent though!

I can see why you are cross. I'd try to think positive if possible, in that they were making plans so that your child enjoyed the trip and was kept safe. Not easy to do when you've steam coming out your ears I appreciate

Parent volunteers sign confidentiality agreements as part of their induction before they help in school, so the same would apply for trips. I, however, do not take parent volunteers on trip. It causes too many problems and part of a trip is not being with mum or dad.

I would put 'a child who requires additional support' and then name the member if staff responsible for looking out for them, but I wouldn't name them. I don't give parent helpers rusk assessments, but talk them through main risks beforehand.

Only staff or the child's own parent should supervise a child who might be a challenge on a trip.

As a governor I am going on two school trips next month. It will be interesting to see what information I am given. I have been with my DD's schools on several occasions in the past. One was for a day of a 4 night residential trip in Y2 which only ran with an army of parent helpers going in each day and one was a trip abroad where a teacher had to pull out. Several day trips too. I was not given the names of any children considered a risk. Perhaps there weren't any!

I actually think that if a school uses parent helpers they should keep information about any child confidential in the same way they should if they were in the classroom. It is up to the teachers to speak to parents if necessary and, if nothing happens, no need to say anything! People just can't help gossiping. I would actually speak to the Head because if a parent helper cannot keep matters confidential, then they should not help again, in or out of school.

Interesting.

I help in school and have helped with a school trip. I had to have a DBS check first (is that right? new name for CRB check and people here seem to use the phrases interchangeably), but I have had no training and have never seen any paperwork. I certainly wasn't given a copy of the RA for the trip although I was put in charge of a group of very compliant children all of whom I have known for years.

At first I specifically asked not to be involved with things that would mean I learned things about the children I wouldn't know just from the school gate, but gradually I've become more involved. I'm uncomfortable knowing which children don't read at home and which children are already years behind in numeracy.

But I do realise that I can't help a child with reading if I don't know how she's reading. I can't do a number game with a child if I haven't been quietly told he isn't confident with place value. And I do need to be told that a particular child will try every trick in the book not to have to read for herself.

Regarding the discussion about the fact it should be staff supervising named children - Maybe it is not that parent volunteers are supervising a "challenging" child, more a case that the adults need to be aware to keep themselves or their group safe from said child. We have had a pupil who can be triggered by situations. Within school we can manage many of his triggers, but still he can lash out when stressed or not happy. When out of school it is far harder to manage the triggers and the whole environment so staff supervise closely but others need to aware of keeping other pupils at a safe distance and not let them get "in his face" as this might be the final straw for him. Should he have become upset, for example because the animal he wanted to see wouldn't cross the paddock to him, he could turn and charge at someone with teeth and nails ready to do some damage. Even closely supervised by two adults there was still a risk to others should they not be aware of his needs. The trip I am thinking of had the whole class together, but I arranged small sub-groups for supervision/interaction with children. He had a 1:1 TA was supervising, along with another experienced member of staff, but should a situation arise I would need to intervene as well and the other adults would need "pick up the slack" with the rest of my pupils. Those are the sorts of things I put in my risk assessments.
I am not suggesting the OP's child has this issue as she would know about the level of risk and needs - just commenting on the turn of discussion this thread has taken.

It's fine as long as that info stops with you, MrsHathaway. Confidentiality is the key and not all parent helpers understand that.

Thanks Cooger. As I've worked in schools before I'm confident I can do that, but it does feel different as a parent helper rather than staff with no social link to the children or their parents.

Our school has lots of parents on the auxiliary staff as eg LTA or cooks or even classroom TAs. I'm sure it's harder for them (and their managers) than for me.

I Think the motto which should be adopted is "what happens in the classroom, stays in the classroom". It is reasonable for helpers to be aware of potential problems, whether it be reading, mathematical ability or behavioural, but not ok to talk about them to other parents. Thank goodness these people are not Doctors!

Parents should not be given risk assessments unless it's sometime the parents don't mind like a nut allergy. Even then I would expect a child with a severe nut allergy to be with a member of staff who has been trained to use an epi pen.

As a frequent parent helper I've never seen a risk assessment. I have been given medical info on children in my group when relevant (eg X has glue ear).

Op I've been a parent helper on trips, and quite frankly wouldn't need a risk assessment to identify children who might cause an issue. They tend to identify themselves. I can't see how it being written down on a piece of paper makes much difference. Discretion is the key surely as long as the volunteers don't go blabbing about it at the school gate.

I have always had to name children on risk assessments - usually those with asthma inhalers, sometimes other health issues, sometimes behaviour.

I've never given a copy of a risk assessment to parent helpers and I'm really surprised that is happens. If a parent has a child in their group with a need that they should know about eg asthma then I would tell that particular parent.
We always put children with behaviour issues eg likely to run away or not follow instructions with either the teacher or a TA.

I have been on school trips and have to sign to say I have read the risk assessment. I know 2 children were named for medical reasons. Can't think if other children were named.

I am bound by confidentiality though so anything that happens on the trip remains confidential