POLICY FOR A SMOKE-FREE SCHOOL

Aim – To create a smoke-free school

Objectives

The objectives of the policy are:

1.      To provide a smoke-free environment.

2.      To provide young people with consistent messages and appropriate role models.

3.      To discourage staff and students from starting to use tobacco.

4.      To encourage staff and students to give up tobacco.

Rationale

1.   Smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death and ill-health in our society

2.   Passive smoking - breathing other peoples’ tobacco smoke – is also potentially fatal. It has been shown to cause lung cancer, and cause the onset of asthma, as well as many other illnesses.

3.   Smoking is a health and safety issue for all adults who use the school: staff and parents.

4.   Everyone has the right to a smoke-free environment.

5.   Schools have a major role to play in health education and prevention.

6.   Young people need to receive consistent messages and require non-smoking role models within the school.

 

Links to Healthy Schools and Drug Education

This policy has been developed in line with recommended good practice from the Tameside Healthy School Scheme

Tobacco is a drug and therefore there will exist a number of opportunities to link the adoption of a school smoke-free policy to drug education (see the ‘Policy for Drugs and Drug-Related Incidents). Adopting both policies into the school’s practice will ensure that drug and smoking concerns are sufficiently covered.

Issues that may arise from the adoption of a smoke-free policy:

The smoke-free site implies that smoking should not be permitted outside school premises in the open air. This is clearly not a health and safety issue but is down to enforcing the role model aspect of a school smoking policy.

The smoke-free policy should apply to the school site at all times, using the  rationales suggested above. This includes evenings and weekends. This is particularly important for schools on sites which are shared or dual use and for lettings such as meetings, conferences and so on, where the smoke-free policy will have to be communicated to the people using the school and made a part of the standard lettings contract.

The Tameside Healthy School Scheme supports and outlines the benefits of a consultation process involving the whole school community, e.g. staff, parents, governors and students. There should be a programme of support available for smokers incorporated into the implementation of any smoke-free policy. This should include smoking cessation support. There should also be a transition process to ensure that school staff are comfortable with the policy and, through an effective consultation process, have ownership of it.

Signage should be effective throughout the school so that visitors and others are immediately aware of the site’s smoke-free status. Some means of disposing of lit cigarettes should be provided at the entrances to the school site.

A paragraph outlining the smoke-free policy should be included in the school prospectus, and reiterated in annual letters to parents. Parents of students joining in the course of the term, or at other non-standard times, should be made aware of the policy. Parents should be included in the initial consultation process.

New staff joining the school should be made aware of the policy as part of their induction programme. Contract staff will be affected as well, so the policy should be communicated to the contractor and adherence to the policy be made a clause in the contract between the school and the supplier. This applies to suppliers sending staff onto the school site, such as cleaners or caterers, as well as suppliers whose staff deliver to the school.

Lettings

All lettings of the school premises should be covered by the smoke-free policy, including those in the evenings or at weekends. Lettings to the public should stress that as an educational establishment the school site is a smoke-free area and that the policy applies out of school hours. It should also promote the concept of smoke-free status as the norm.

Catering staff

Under the Food Hygiene Regulations catering staff are not allowed to smoke in the kitchen or in any area where food is prepared or served. Consultation and support must include them and ensure that they are given appropriate consideration when the policy is introduced.

However, it should be made clear that all support staff are subject to the smoke-free policy, as much as the teaching staff and that although extra allowance can be made for support for smokers, there should be no exemptions. This needs to be worked through in the consultation process.

Introduction

The date of this policy is 6/7/06 and will be reviewed 7/07

This policy has been presented to and agreed by the whole staff on 6/7/06.

This policy has been presented to and will be reviewed by the Governing Body on 19/5/07.

This policy is also accessible to:

7.      all staff (permanent, temporary, supply or otherwise)

8.      advisers/inspectors

9.      parents (on request)

10. Stamford High School Governors.

All permanent staff have a printed copy and access to a copy saved as a ‘read only’ file on the Stamford High School computer system.

The policy can also be found in the master policy file in office and staff room.

Purpose

The purpose of the smoke-free policy at Stamford High School is:

11. After an initial transition process, to provide a smoke-free environment.

12. To protect children from inappropriate role models.

13. To discourage staff and students from starting to use tobacco.

14. To encourage staff and students to give up tobacco.

Rationale

Under Health and Safety legislation the LEA and Stamford High School Governing Body have a duty to provide a safe environment and workplace. The Governing Body of this school considers that tobacco smoke is harmful to health and therefore the presence of tobacco smoke in the environment or workplace renders it unsafe.

Further, the Governing Body considers that the school should, in all respects, act as a role model to students and that smoking tobacco on the school site conveys a negative image that is detrimental.

Non-smoking area

The site, premises and buildings, including all temporary structures, that form part of Stamford High School are designated as smoke-free areas. The smoking of tobacco or tobacco products in any form is not permitted.

Support

Following consultation procedures a comprehensive programme of support for the implementation of the policy will be undertaken to include:

15. voluntary smoking cessation classes for smokers who want to stop smoking

16. clear and comprehensive explanation and rationale to all staff

17. the provision of signage and supporting materials for school premises

18. a delayed implementation period before introducing the policy, to comply with employment legislation, during which time these support procedures will be undertaken.

A sample letter and questionnaire offering support to smokers wishing to stop smoking is attached to this policy.

Application

This policy applies to everyone on or using the school site:

19. staff – whether teaching or non-teaching, directly employed by the school or the LEA or employed by a contractor or supplier to the school or the LEA

20. students

21. parents visiting the school

22. visitors to the school

23. anyone or any group or body hiring the school, its premises and facilities for any purpose and those attending any function. The smoke-free status of the site is an explicit condition of any letting.

A sample letter to parents about this policy is attached. Information about the policy is included in the school prospectus.

This policy forms part of the contract of employment for all staff and part of the contract between the school and its suppliers.

New staff joining the school will be informed about the policy as part of their induction process.

Signs indicating that the school site is a smoke-free area are displayed at all entrances to the site and in the school buildings.

letter to staff

Dear Colleague,

Support for smokers

The smoke-free policy in force in this school is not anti-smoker, but anti-smoking. You may not wish to give up smoking, but, if you do, this may be an appropriate time to try. Many smokers find restrictions at work help them to cut down or to give up completely.

Attached is a brief questionnaire to help us assess the demand for ‘stop smoking’ courses.

The courses will be provided at times and locations to suit your convenience.

Please respond to Stephen Howell at Stamford High School.

Yours sincerely,

 Questionnaire

Name ______________________________________________________________  

Address____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________  

_________________________  Postcode _________________________________  

                                                                                                                          

	yes	no
Do you wish to give up smoking?	□	□
Would you like to receive leaflets on giving up?	□	□
Would you like details on ‘stop smoking’ classes	□	□
Would you like information on alternative methods of stopping smoking?	□	□

Please return this questionnaire to:

Mr Paul Jacques

Headteacher

Sample letter to parents

Dear Parent,

I am sure that you will be aware of the growing concerns over the dangers associated with smoking. There is now clear evidence that breathing in other people’s exhaled tobacco smoke (‘passive smoking’) also increases the risks of disease and death as well as causing discomfort.

In order to protect all those who attend or work at Stamford High School, we have adopted a ‘ Smoke- free’ policy, which applies throughout the school site, including the buildings and surrounding areas.

The policy is to protect all members of the school community and particularly the young people, and is NOT targeting smokers. I would therefore be most grateful if when you are visiting the school to meet with the staff or your children you would abide by the policy by not smoking whilst on the school site. We are applying our policy to all staff, students, parents and visitors, to our suppliers and contractors and to those who use the school out of normal school hours.

I am sure that, whether you yourself are a smoker or non-smoker, you will see the advantages of this policy to the health and well-being of your children while in school. If you would like to discuss it further please contact me at school.

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Mr Paul Jacques

Headteacher