Health and Safety Policy
Khalsa Panth Academy®
Registered Charity in England and Wales, Charity Number 1219689
Version: October 2026
Approved by trustees: October 2026
Next review: 12 months from approval, or sooner if required
1. Statement
Khalsa Panth Academy® is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for learners, parents, carers, trustees, staff, tutors, volunteers, visitors and contractors.
We operate as an after-school and weekend supplementary education and tuition centre. Our activities include Sikh education, Gurmat Sangeet, Punjabi language, Sikh heritage learning, Gatka as heritage learning, workshops, events and supplementary tuition.
Health and safety is everyone’s responsibility. Khalsa Panth Academy® will take reasonable steps to identify risks, reduce hazards, respond to incidents and keep the premises and activities safe.
2. Responsibilities
Trustees
Trustees are responsible for making sure suitable health and safety arrangements are in place. Trustees will review risks, premises issues, accidents, fire safety, first aid arrangements and any serious incidents.
Staff, tutors, instructors and volunteers
Adults working with Khalsa Panth Academy® must:
- follow health and safety instructions;
- report hazards, accidents, injuries and near misses;
- supervise learners properly;
- use equipment safely;
- keep teaching areas tidy and safe;
- follow safeguarding and emergency procedures.
Learners, parents and visitors
Learners, parents and visitors are expected to follow safety instructions, behave respectfully, use equipment properly and tell staff if they notice a hazard or concern.
3. Risk assessments
Khalsa Panth Academy® will carry out proportionate risk assessments for premises, classes, events, trips, workshops, Gatka heritage learning, equipment use and any activity with higher risk.
Risk assessments will be reviewed when activities change, after an incident, or where trustees identify a need.
4. Fire safety and emergency procedures
Khalsa Panth Academy® will keep fire exits clear, display emergency procedures where appropriate, and ensure staff and volunteers know what to do in an emergency.
Fire safety arrangements will include:
- clear escape routes;
- fire evacuation instructions;
- fire drills where suitable;
- suitable fire equipment and checks;
- recording and review of fire safety issues;
- support for anyone who may need assistance to evacuate.
5. First aid and accidents
Khalsa Panth Academy® will keep a first aid kit available and identify a First Aid Lead. Accidents, injuries and near misses must be recorded and reviewed.
Parents or carers will be told about injuries involving children where appropriate. Emergency services will be contacted if urgent medical help is needed.
Medication will not normally be administered unless agreed with parents or carers and recorded properly.
6. Premises safety
Khalsa Panth Academy® will aim to keep learning spaces clean, safe, well-lit and suitable for the activity. Hazards such as loose cables, damaged equipment, blocked exits, unsafe flooring or broken furniture must be reported and addressed.
Areas not used for Khalsa Panth Academy®’s teaching should be kept separate from learners unless authorised and supervised.
7. Equipment and instruments
Musical instruments, teaching equipment, furniture and heritage learning equipment must be suitable and used safely. Damaged equipment must be removed from use until repaired or replaced.
Learners must follow tutor instructions when using instruments or any equipment.
8. Gatka heritage learning and physical activity
Gatka is delivered as Sikh heritage learning and personal development, not as a separate sports club or combat sports programme. Any physical movement activity must be supervised, risk assessed and adapted to the age, ability and needs of learners.
Unsafe behaviour, aggression, bullying or misuse of equipment will not be tolerated.
9. Hygiene and illness
Khalsa Panth Academy® encourages good hygiene, including handwashing, clean learning areas and safe handling of shared equipment. Learners, staff and volunteers should not attend if they are unwell in a way that could place others at risk.
Any outbreak or public health concern will be handled in line with relevant public health advice.
10. Safeguarding and wellbeing
Health and safety links closely with safeguarding. Any concern affecting the welfare, safety or dignity of a child, young person or adult at risk must be reported under the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
11. Incident reporting and serious incidents
Accidents, near misses, hazards and serious incidents must be recorded. Trustees will review serious or repeated issues and take reasonable steps to prevent recurrence.
If an incident meets Charity Commission serious incident reporting requirements, trustees will consider and make a report where required.
12. Review
This policy will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner if there is a serious incident, change in premises, change in activities or change in law or guidance.
