School safety with Property & Compliance

Our team of experts are on hand to guide your Plymouth school in meeting its health and safety obligations fully. We provide targeted training, inspection and advice to keep your school a safe secure learning environment – and compliant with the latest regulations.

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Property management you can trust

Our Property & Compliance team deliver a range of service that reduce risks and hazards on school properties. We conduct in-person visits, audits and inspections to give personalised guidance on the measures needed to meet health and safety requirements and legal compliance responsibilities. 

We also provide additional training to promote a greater understanding for those responsible for school maintenance and safety. This highlights what needs to be done to keep everyone that uses your school protected from the real risks and significant harm that can arise in buildings and grounds. 

Through our bespoke guidance, we demonstrate how a rigorous recording system, and dynamic and ongoing improvements can ensure risks are recognised and mitigated effectively. Plus, we can arrange for necessary work to be carried out through our links with trusted, competent contractors.

What we offer:

Our dedicated IOSH-accredited advisors understand the problems and challenges that you face as a school. This highly able team are experienced in delivering education-based health, safety, facilities management, and legal compliance support.

We have also secured the services of approved local consultants and specialists. These can assist you across a wide range of property health and safety areas, including the following:

  • Fire
  • Electricity
  • Energy
  • Legionella
  • Ergonomics
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Our Property & Compliance team keep school buildings and grounds safe for pupils and staff – while helping you meet essential legal obligations.

Plymouth Learning Partnership Mentor with Pupils
Latest from the Property & Compliance Team
July 21, 2023
Why are Risk Assessments important?

Whilst children are more likely to have an accident than any other age group, they don’t just happen to children, and most could be preventable if proper procedures are followed. During the period 2019-22, the HSE found that there were an estimated 1,450 work-related injuries in educational settings, highlighting the necessity of risk assessments to control these incidents.

Who creates them?

For a risk assessment to be suitable and sufficient, one required factor is ensuring that the right people are involved in the process. Usually in schools, the headteacher has the final say on risk assessments, but that does not mean that they should create them. Risk assessments should be delegated to those in the responsible remit. For one off, or specific tasks this may involve just one or two people, but for wider tasks that are carried out often and, in several areas, such as dressing display boards, the creation of the risk assessment should be collaborative.

How is it done?

Creating a risk assessment in your school involves a systematic process of identifying, assessing, and managing potential risks to ensure the safety and well-being of students, staff, and visitors. Here are the general steps to follow:

  • Identify Hazards: Conduct a comprehensive survey of the school premises, facilities, activities, and processes to identify potential hazards. This may include physical hazards (e.g., uneven flooring, exposed wires), chemical hazards (e.g., cleaning agents, science lab materials), biological hazards (e.g., bacteria, viruses), and ergonomic hazards (e.g., poor workstation setup).
  • Identify People at Risk: Determine who might be affected by the identified hazards. This includes students, staff, visitors, and individuals with specific vulnerabilities or special needs, such as students with disabilities.
  • Evaluate Risks: Assess the likelihood and severity of each identified hazard. Consider the frequency and duration of exposure, potential consequences, and existing control measures in place. You can use High Medium Low (HML) to show how the risk reduces with controls added but more time spent on actual risks and controls is moreproductive.
  • Implement Control Measures: Develop and implement appropriate control measures to eliminate or reduce identified risks. This may involve implementing safety procedures, providing personal protective equipment (PPE), improving infrastructure, or modifying processes. Consult relevant regulations, guidelines, and best practices for guidance on specific control measures.
  • Communicate and Train: Ensure that all relevant staff, students, and stakeholders are aware of the identified risks, control measures, and procedures. Provide comprehensive training and information sessions to ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in maintaining a safe environment.
  • Monitor and Review: Regularly monitor and review the effectiveness of the implemented control measures. Update the risk assessment whenever new hazards are identified or changes occur within the school environment. Seek feedback from staff, students, and other stakeholders to improve the risk assessment process continually.
  • Document and Maintain Records: Keep thorough records of the risk assessment process, including hazard identification, risk evaluation, control measures implemented, and reviews conducted. Maintain these records for future reference and to demonstrate compliance with legal requirements. Review it: make sure the controls are working, or if more are needed, following an incident or near miss, or there has been significant change to staff or buildings.

So, get involved, contribute to your own safety and that of the people you work with and the children in your care.

The benefits of working with our team

Need more information? Get in touch with our team

You’re in good company

We’ve the trusted provider of health, safety and compliance expertise for many schools across Plymouth. Here’s a selection of their feedback.

"We have used the Health and Safety service from PLP for a number of years and I cannot recommend their service enough. They provide accurate and timely health and safety advice, with an understanding of the challenges faced by schools. They have helped me to save money by avoiding unnecessary expenditure or recommending contractors offering value for money on their services. Easily accessible by email and mobile phone, they have certainly been on hand to help out in a crisis too."

Devonport High School for Girls
Devonport High School for Girls
Plymouth Specialist Languages College

We are very appreciative for the many years of care, support, professionalism and insight that Plymouth Learning Partnership (PLP) has been able to offer our school. Their expertise in the field of Safety & Health is second to none. From asbestos to zonal fire issues, PLP visiting consultants are extremely knowledgeable and are able to offer advice on a wide range of issues to ensure compliance. Just ask a question and they always have the answers you need! In addition, they are able to offer training across many subject areas, either online or in person, fulfilling all our school CPD needs. PLP are providers of a friendly, professional and valued partnership and I would highly recommend using their services.

Colin Freeman
Colin Freeman
Site Manager

“We find the support of the Property Compliance team invaluable and very professional. The team works hard to ensure we have buildings in good condition and up to date with legislation. They provide helpful guidance and support when we need it and are always on hand in an emergency.”

Yealmpstone Farm Primary School
Yealmpstone Farm Primary School
Ham Drive & Plymbridge Nursery Federation

"PLPCIC Health and Safety guidance have been invaluable to the school. Andrew is friendly and approachable. His regular visits to the school are detailed and informative. He guides the school through the mind field that is "Health and Safety". I would whole heartedly recommend the service to schools."

Compton Church of England
Compton Church of England
Plymouth Primary School