Visitors Policy

PURPOSE:

To provide a safe and secure learning and teaching environment for students and staff by establishing processes to monitor and manage visitors to Frankston Special Developmental School (FSDS). 

FSDS values and actively encourages visitors to our school.  At the same time, we recognise our duty of care to ensure a safe environment for our students and staff, and we recognise our responsibility to protect and preserve our resources against theft, vandalism and misuse.

• The school recognises that family involvement in the school and the community is important to young people’s development and learning.
• Community groups and agencies, business and philanthropic organisations have a strong interest in improving outcomes for young people and helping them achieve academic excellence
• Interaction between schools and their communities inevitably leads to the presence of a range of visitors in schools
• Other visitors including employees of relevant service agencies, external therapists, guest speakers, school photographers, trades people and commercial salespeople may also be present in the school.

SCOPE:

This policy outlines our school’s arrangements for visitors who attend school grounds when the school is open for instruction between the hours of 8:30am to 4pm, including parents, carers, contractors, external therapists and volunteers.

DEFINITIONs:

Child-related work: As defined by the Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic), child-related work is work that usually involves direct contact (including in person, over the phone, written and online communication) with a child that is a central part of that person’s duties. It does not include work that involves occasional direct contact with children that is incidental to the work.

POLICY:

FSDS strives to create an open and inclusive school community, and encourages families and those who support our students to be actively involved in their child’s development and education. We also strive to foster strong partnerships with local community services, schools and other organisations.

Frankston SDS is not a public place. The principal has the authority to permit or deny entry to school grounds, and encourages all visitors to familiarise themselves with our school’s Statement of Values and School Philosophy, Child Safety [and Wellbeing] Policy, Child Safety Code of Conduct, External Therapists and volunteer policy.

From time to time, different members of the public may visit our school. Visitors may include, but are not limited to:

• Parents
• Casual relief teaching and educational support staff through ANZUK
• Volunteers – see our school’s Volunteers Policy for more information
• Prospective parents, students and employees
• Entertainers and other educational providers such as local police and fire agency
• Public officials (e.g. Members of Parliament, local councillors)
• Persons conducting business e.g.: uniform suppliers, booksellers, official school photographers, commercial salespeople
• Tradespeople
• Children’s services agencies
• Victoria Police
• Persons authorised to enter school premises (e.g. Worksafe inspectors, health officers etc)
• Other Department of Education and Training staff (including allied health staff) or contractors
• NDIS therapists or other allied health or health practitioners

Visitors generally permitted in the school are those who clearly serve an educational purpose

The school will at times facilitate contact with students by a potential range of organisations. These are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Consideration will be given to:

• the activity and whether the activity is suitable for our students
• whether student involvement will lead to experiences that enrich learning and social and emotional development
• whether the program interferes with the student’s school-based learning
• whether the individual or organisation has an appropriate record in terms of duty of care and relevant police safety checks

Consideration will also be given as to whether a particular function provided by a visitor should be carried out privately by parents/carers and students out of school hours without the involvement of the school.

• Educational entertainers such as acting troupes will be well briefed about the nature of the school community, its policies and procedures and should be prepared to respect the range of views held by students and their families
• Volunteer workers must have acquired the appropriate working with children clearance (see Volunteers Policy). All volunteers and individuals completing placement with the school will be required to complete an induction, including induction on OHS and the Child Safe Code of Conduct
• Contact with students by approved organisations may be approved at negotiated, convenient times during school hours.

SIGN IN PROCEDURE:

• All visitors will be required to report to the administration office prior to undertaking any activity within the school, where they will be required to sign in via Edupass
• All visitors will be assigned a numbered visitors lanyard which they must wear at all times within the school
• All visitors will be made aware of our Child Safe Code of Conduct, OHS and emergency procedures
• Visitors will be required to report to the administration office at the end of their visit to return their badge and to sign out
• The above-mentioned process for managing and monitoring visitors will be regularly published in the school newsletter, and will appear at all school entrances
• The principal reserves the right, and has the authority to prohibit any potential visitor from entering or remaining within the school should they be identified as a potential risk to members of the school population

COVID-19 VACCINATION INFORMATION:

Our school follows Department of Education and Training policy with respect to the requirements relating to attendance on school sites and COVID-19 vaccinations.

For further information, refer to:

• COVID-19 Vaccinations – Visitors and Volunteers on School Sites

WORKING WITH CHILDRENS CLEARANCE AND OTHER SUITABILITY CHECKS:

For Working with Children (WWC) Check and other suitability check requirements relating to parent/carers and other volunteers working with students please see our Volunteers Policy.

All visitors who are engaged in child-related work (see definition above) must have a valid WWC Clearance. Additional suitability checks may also be required such as reference, proof of identity, qualification and work history involving children checks.

Sworn Victoria Police officers or sworn Australian Federal Police officers are exempt from requiring a WWC Check, but may be asked to verify that they are sworn officers by providing proof of identification.

INVITED SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS:

On occasion, FSDS may invite external speakers or providers to deliver incursions, presentations, workshops and special programs for our students. Consistent with Department of Education and Training requirements, FSDS will:

• ensure that the content of presentations and programs by external providers contributes to the educational development of our students and is consistent with curriculum objectives
• ensure that any proposed visit, programs or content delivered by visitors complies with the requirement that education in Victorian government schools is secular and is consistent with the values of public education, Department policies and the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic). In particular, programs delivered by visitors are to be delivered in a manner that supports and promotes the principles and practice of Australian democracy including a commitment to:

• elected government
• the rule of law
• equal rights for all before the law
• freedom of religion, speech and association
• the values of openness and tolerance
• respect for the range of views held by students and their families. 

OTHER VISITORS:

All business operators, tradespeople and other visitors attending the school to conduct work must report to the school office upon arrival for instruction and follow the sign in procedure outlined above.

COMMUNICATION:

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

• Available publicly on our school’s website
• Included in induction processes for relevant staff
• Discussed in an annual staff briefing/meeting
• Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

Related policies and resources:

Policy:

• Child Safe
• Volunteers
• Duty of Care
• External Therapists

Department policies:

• Child Safe Standards
• Visitors in Schools
• Contractor OHS Management

Policy Review and approval