Visitors in Schools

Developing policies and procedures for visitors in schools

When developing local policies and procedures for visitors in schools, schools should consult school communities (through either the school council or another means of consultation) and address the following elements in the policies and procedures.

Safety needs

• Principals have the authority to permit or deny entry to school grounds
• Safety of students and staff
• Potential risks posed by visitors
• Appropriate/required suitability checks, refer to Working with Children and Other Suitability Checks for School Volunteers and Visitors
• School policies and procedures in relation to child safety and the implementation of the Child Safe Standards
• Processes for identifying and reporting alleged misconduct of employees, volunteers and contractors, refer to Complaints, Unsatisfactory Performance, and Misconduct and Reportable Conduct Scheme

Visitors’ purpose

• Categories of visitors that may visit the school
• Potential benefits of different types of visits
• Whether the proposed visit is appropriate for young people (in the relevant age group)
• Whether the proposed visit, programs or content to be delivered is consistent with the values of public education, department policies and the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic)
• Whether a distinction should be made between the protocols applying to:
  • community-based, not-for-profit groups
  • visitors with commercial, advertising or marketing purpose
• Potential for a visitor or the content of their program/presentation to have a negative impact on or cause controversy within the school or broader community

Educational merit

Whether the proposed visit:

• is for an educational purpose
• is consistent with curriculum objectives
• merits the required reorganisation of school programs and routines in relation to the potential benefits to the students
• is the appropriate use of department resources, including school staff time

Legal and policy considerations

• Working with Children Checks
• Privacy
• Photographing of students
• Mandatory reporting
• Children first – promoting and protecting the rights and wellbeing of children
• Delivery of special religious instruction

Procedures

• How to communicate policies and procedures to staff, visitors and community
• How to impose conditions on visitors, if required
• How to manage and maintain a written record of all visitors
• Whether visitors will be required to wear a distinguishing badge
• Circumstances for visitors to be accompanied by a member of staff
• Adequate supervision of visitors delivering programs directly to students by teaching staff of the school, so the school’s duty of care is discharged appropriately
• Familiarisation with school routines, including the emergency management plan, required for regular visitors
• When parents will be notified in advance about visitors to the school
• Requirements for parental permission for students to participate in programs or related activities delivered by visitors