Coronavirus: School attendance
Schools should only remain open to those whose parents are key workers. The vast majority of children should stay at home. This is the safest place for them.
All content tagged with 'School environment'
Press release
Advice 
Playground supervision
This advice sets out advice and guidance on playground supervision to allow children to play safely.
Advice 
Mould in schools
Mould is a health and safety issue as it can cause a variety of health problems.
Press release 
School and college building repairs
Today’s announcement by Government to invest £400m in the repair of school and college buildings in England is too little, too late.
Advice 
Voice care for teachers
Advice for teachers on voice care, including spotting problems, simple preventative measures and information on how and when to seek appropriate specialist help
Advice 
Severe winter conditions and adverse weather
A quick guide on what to do in severe winter conditions or adverse weather.
Classroom temperature and adverse weather conditions
Advice on your legal rights and NEU union policy on the maximum and minimum temperatures under which staff and pupils should be expected to work in schools.
Advice 
Sun safety
How schools can help protect pupils from sun exposure and advice around sunscreen.
Advice
Standards for school premises (Wales)
There is a vast range of legislation on health and safety matters which applies in whole, or in part, to schools in Wales.
Advice 
Standards for school premises (England)
There is a vast range of legislation on health and safety matters which applies in whole, or in part, to schools.
Advice 
Space requirements in classrooms
Overcrowding is a common problem in classrooms. Unfortunately, there are no legal minimum space requirements specifying classroom dimensions. There are, however, a number of legal provisions and sources of guidance that can be drawn upon in challenging cramped teaching areas
Advice 
School security
Advice about school security, in particular at security arrangements and methods to deal with intruders.
Advice 
Acoustics in schools
Advice on classroom acoustics and reducing the risk of vocal strain on teachers
Advice
Hot weather and classroom temperature
Hot summers bring regular queries about the maximum temperatures under which staff and pupils should be expected to work in schools.
Advice 
Cold weather and classroom temperature (England)
Advice on the heating levels in schools and classrooms in England, and how to deal with the various types of heating problems which are commonly encountered during cold weather and snow.
Advice 
Cold weather and classroom temperature (Wales)
Advice on the heating levels in schools and classrooms in Wales, and how to deal with the various types of heating problems which are commonly encountered during cold weather and snow.
Advice 
Facts about asbestos in schools
At least 86 per cent of schools contain asbestos, all of it old and much of it deteriorating. Unless your school was wholly built after 1999, it is extremely likely that it contains asbestos.
Advice 
Asbestos in schools
Advice on dealing with asbestos problems in schools, including the law on asbestos removal and management in schools.
Advice 
High classroom temperatures
Supporting NEU members in schools which suffer particularly badly in times of extreme heat.
Advice 
School maintenance and construction work
Advice on legal requirements and good practice for construction work in schools and a stage-by-stage guide to the role of safety representatives.
Advice 
Flooding in Schools
Advice on responding to flood alerts in schools and dealing with the aftermath.
Advice
Dust in schools
Advice on what employers need to do to protect staff from the problems caused by wood dust and MDF dust.
Advice 
Classroom ergonomics
The issues around ergonomics in classrooms and good practices for school staff.
Advice 
School car parks
Frequently asked questions in relation to staff car parking on school premises. It includes information on provision of school car parks, charges for car parking, car park safety and malicious damage to cars.
Advice 
Class Sizes
Guidance on maximum class and room sizes
Advice 
Reasonable adjustments at work
The Equality Act 2010 requires employers to make reasonable adjustments to premises or working practices to ensure that employees are not disadvantaged because of their disability.