Safety rules 'damaging kids' education'
Updated on 19 June 2009
Health and safety regulations are getting in the way of children's progress, teachers have warned.
A survey of 585 school staff found that almost 44.3 per cent believe that health and safety regulations negatively affect pupils' education.
Similar numbers said such regulations negatively affect pupils' personal growth and that of the education workforce generally.
Those questioned were asked to give an example of the most restrictive health and safety regulations they had experienced in school.
They included: footballs being banned from the playground in case of injury; a ban on running in the playground; having to wear goggles if using Blu-Tack; a ban on egg boxes being used in class due to the potential risk of Salmonella poisoning; wet grass stopping PE lessons; banning the three-legged race at sports day because it is dangerous and forcing Year 11 swimmers to wear armbands at a beach in France.
Judith Hackitt, chairman of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said the examples cited were "frankly ridiculous".
She said: "Health and safety is blamed for a lot of things not going ahead, but they're often about something else - high costs, an event that requires a lot of organising or fear of getting sued.
"Children cannot be wrapped in cotton wool - risk is part of growing up and our children need to learn how to manage risks in the real world."
Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), said: "The NUT is broadly in agreement with the strength of feeling expressed by this survey. Pupils should have the opportunity to experience controlled adventure and take risks. It is a vital part of a child's education and personal development.
"Any concerns that arise with regard to health and safety issues, including child safety, should be covered by appropriate in-service training."
Andrew Bethell, chief executive of Teachers TV, which carried out the survey, said: "Almost half the education workforce feels that health and safety regulations negatively affect students' education and their personal development, along with the education workforce.
"The more extreme examples are thankfully not the norm, but schools still need to take into consideration the workforce's concerns when trying to protect pupils."
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