Aim:

This school regards itself as a health-promoting organisation.  It recognises that

its staff act as role models for pupils in all aspects of school life, including health

promotion.  In light of the evidence that second hand smoke causes damage to

health this policy has been implemented to:

-                          protect the staff, children and young people and visitors from the effects of tobacco smoke

-                          acknowledge the education role of the organisation in discouraging children and young people from starting to smoke                    

-                          help smokers to quit.

Rationale:

• Smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death and ill health in our society
• Passive smoking – breathing other people’s tobacco smoke – is also potentially fatal.  It has been shown to cause lung cancer, as well as many other illnesses, in non-smokers.
• Breathing in second hand smoke is a health and safety issue for all adults who work at the school.
• Everyone has the right to breathe clean air.
• Schools have a major role to play in working towards non-smoking being seen as the norm in society.
• Children need to receive consistent messages and require non-smoking role models within the school.

No Smoking Policy:

• Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the premises – buildings and grounds

Staff:

• Staff are recognised ‘role models’ and as such are required not to smoke in sight of the

children.  This will include visits/school trips, etc and include teaching and non-teaching staff.

Visitors:

• The No Smoking Policy applies to all visitors to the school (including suppliers, supply or

temporary staff and maintenance personnel).

Parent and Carers:

• It will be requested that Parents and Carers adhere to the No Smoking Policy and refrain     from smoking on the school grounds.

Communicating the Policy:

The following arrangements have been made for informing people of the policy’s existence.

• Staff will be informed of the No Smoking Policy at recruitment
• Clearly worded signs will be sited to inform visitors that the premises are ‘smoke free’
• Staff members will inform visitors of the policy when necessary
• Information will be included in the school prospectus and on the website to inform prospective parents and carers of the No Smoking Policy.
  

June 2008