Jewellery Policy
Rationale
Occasionally pupils wear personal items to school, which constitute a health and safety hazard. The following recommendations are in line with our Health and Safety Policy and the “Safe Practice in Physical Education” document, and reflect our commitment to the safety of all in our school.
Policy
Jewellery (earrings, necklaces, bangles, rings etc) should not be worn to school.
Parents will be asked to remove their child’s earrings and studs from children’s ears before they come to school each day.
However, children are allowed to wear a wrist watch and this must be removed for physical education and related activities.
If under exceptional circumstances the items of jewellery cannot be removed (e.g. cultural practice or newly pierced ears), the risk of injury will be reduced where it is practicable to do so. This will be by:
- Bracelets being secured by the use of a wrist sweatband
- Studs being secured by the use of micropore tape or masking tape. Care must be taken to cover the spike at the back of the ear lobe effectively.
- Small, hoped sleepers should be secured by the use of a headband.
If a child has his/her ears newly pierced, current medical opinion states four weeks will be needed for the normal healing process to be completed. Where secondary infection might occur, then this period may need to be extended. A finite period will be agreed with the parents/guardians and the earrings will need to be covered by masking tape during Playtimes and PE.
Children must be encouraged to cover their own earrings with masking tape. It is strongly recommended that teachers and other school staff do not involve themselves in the process of earring removal or taping, other than in the provision of appropriate tape.
Consideration will be given to modify the activity for an individual child to further reduce the risk and when all other avenues have been explore, under most exceptional circumstances the school may decide that:
- if it is not possible to remove the jewellery or to reduce the risk of injury to the wearer or others, the young person must sit out and participate within the lesson in a non-active capacity.
Such actions will be formally communicated to the parents/guardians as the child has been excluded from National Curriculum statutory activity.
Some hair accessories can be hazardous in an activity which involves physical contact. Hair decorations should be simple and practical.
Teachers will regularly check that these guidelines are being observed and complied with.
The responsibility for the safe-keeping of jewellery rests with the pupil.
The help, support and cooperation of parents in implementing this policy is greatly appreciated. It has been written with the safety of your child in mind.
Date of Policy Issue: Autumn 08
Date of Review: Autumn 09