E Children & Young People brought onto Campus by a Parent

1. Introduction

Many staff and students combine parenting and work or educational responsibilities and this means that there are occasions when they may wish to bring their children onto campus (eg sudden and unexpected difficulties with child care arrangements). The University does not wish to unfairly disadvantage or discriminate against these parents but it must be borne in mind that the University is an institute of adult learning and the buildings and grounds of its campuses are not designed with children in mind.  As a consequence there are number of dangers to which unsupervised children may be exposed. In addition, the University has legal duties to ensure that any visitor will be safe whilst using its premises and there is a higher duty of care when the visitor is a child.

The following Code of Practice outlines the University's approach to ensuring that staff and students are not unfairly disadvantaged or discriminated against because of their parental responsibilities, while also ensuring that reasonable steps are taken to protect the study and work environment of others at the University.

2. Code of Practice for staff and students who intend to bring a child (or young person) onto campus

  1. Bringing children onto campus must be considered a last resort when no alternative child care arrangements are practicable. It must never be considered to be anything but a temporary arrangement.

  2. Parents should have formal arrangements for child care while they are at work. For staff and students on the Streatham Campus, the Guild of Students has a conveniently located, purpose built and staffed Family Centre which is suitable for pre-school age children.

  3. You must always seek and obtain the permission from your line manager or academic supervisor before you bring in your child. They have delegated authority, from the University, to give or deny permission.

  4. You must closely supervise your child at all times, keeping them in your work area. You are responsible for the behaviour of the child in your care They must not inconvenience or endanger staff, students or other visitors.

  5. Children are forbidden from the following areas of enhanced danger:

    • laboratories and laboratory preparation areas
    • scientific, technical and maintenance workshops
    • lecture theatres
    • multi-user computer rooms
    • fine or performing arts workshops or studios
    • kitchens and other food preparation areas
    • construction sites
    • roofs, balconies and stairwells (except for access and egress)
    • areas of heavy vehicular movement
    • sports facilities
    • Any other area that may be identified as unsuitable for children as a result of a risk assessment.

  6. The University reserves the right (through the authority delegated to the line manager / academic supervisor) to direct that a child be removed from campus where the presence of the child is causing an unacceptable health and safety risk or an unreasonable level of disruption to others.

In this Code of Practice: