Children on University Premises

Across the University it is commonplace to work with children or have children visiting to participate in a range of activities, it’s also common to see children on University grounds or walking through campus.

As you would anticipate, when the University hosts children it comes with a level of responsibility and with such in mind, numerous arrangements, protocols and infrastructures have been put in place to help safeguard them. Children, especially unaccompanied children can get up to all sorts of mischief, and often we all need to think ‘how could they hurt themselves’ when planning events and even designing new sites or buildings.

For Planned Activities: to help ensure the health, safety and wellbeing children whilst at the University, it is essential Colleges / Services consider the greater risk to children and put appropriate controls in place to help protect them.  Examples of activities include research, teacher training practice / practical, school visits (includes sporting activities), work and student experience, children staying in Halls.

For our Environment: Campus Services will have assessed foreseeable risks that is not experienced in the wider public space and sought to prevent harm to children.

The legal H&S definitions of a ‘Child’
The following definitions are pertinent to health and safety legislation only.

  • Child(ren):  A child is anyone who has not yet reached the official minimum school leaving age (MSLA). Pupils will reach the MSLA in the school year in which they turn 16.

  • Young Person: A Young Person is anyone above the MSLA who is not yet 18.

When referring to ‘safeguarding’ a different definition is used, and a child is anyone under the age of 18. Further information can be found under safeguarding here.

Responsibilities

The University has a general duty through Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act, and its subordinate Regulations, to do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of children whilst on University property and whilst participating in University-led activities.

To support this, commitment, the University’s H&S Policy includes the following specific requirement under Section 14.1, 14.3 and 14.4 (Children and Young Persons) which all Colleges and Professional Services must adhere to.

Children on University Grounds (includes unauthorised)

Most University grounds, car parks and roads are open to the public so children can use areas as a playground or as a short cut.  Although the University is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of anyone on its property, Campus Services has a general responsibility to do everything it can to keep areas where public access is permitted and / or customary, fit for purpose and without significant risk.

University H&S Policy

In relation to children, the University Health and Safety Policy (Section 14) states:

14.1        The University recognises its extended duty for ensuring the well-being and safety of children and young people when on University premises or property, or when participating in University-led activities. This extended duty must be taken into account by every person who is involved to any extent with the supervision or control of children and young persons and when planning activities and conducting Risk Assessments.

14.3        Each College or Professional Service allowing or inviting children onto its premises or to participate in activates, is required to ensure a suitable and sufficient Risk Assessment has been produced and adequate controls put in place.

14.4        The Property & Campus Services Department is required to consider risks to children in all proposals, designs, developments and maintenance of buildings and external areas; producing Risk Assessments as appropriate to the risks.

Further Information

Information on the following can be found on the Information Sheet:

    • General Duties of Colleges & Professional Services
    • Children Visiting Laboratories & Workshops
    • Additional Duties of Professional Services
    • Unsupervised Children
    • Children of Contractors
    • Group Visits
  • Example Risk Assessments, for example Work Experience, can be found .
  • And, is also a useful source of information.
  • For information on taking children into lectures please see .