Child Safety Policy

Child Safety and Supervision Policy 2025

Rationale

• This Policy may also apply to other vulnerable people, eg adults with some disabilities that require a similar level of supervision to that given to children

• This Policy links to the Health and Safety Policy. 

• The principles of risk assessment apply

• Some hazards are very low risk for a fit and healthy adult but their risk increases when applied to vulnerable people

• The main duty of care is the responsibility of a child’s parents, but all members of society have a duty of care to prevent harm

• Vehicles, cycles and pedestrians share our allotment tracks and spaces. This combination on uneven ground and restricted space presents additional hazards.

Relevant Rules

Rule 14. Tenants must be adults. Children under 18 must be accompanied and supervised at all times whilst on allotment land.

Rule 22 Tenants have a duty of care to everyone, including visitors to the site, trespassers and themselves. There is also a duty of care to the future tenants of a plot and the environment. Tenants shall respect and be considerate to their plot neighbours.

Rule 23.Tenants shall follow the Health and Safety Policy, as published online or available at cost if a hard copy is requested. 

Rule 28. Vehicles are permitted provided that they observe the 5mph (walking pace) speed limit and do not obscure access for others. A tenant using or commissioning the use of motor vehicles on allotment land will be held liable for any damage caused to roadways, gates, plots etc.

Policy details

1. Whilst the wording of Rule 14 is clear, the practical application of the word supervised is open to interpretation.

2. For very young children and vulnerable adults, supervision means being close enough to see and hear the child at all times. These children must remain on the tenant’s plot and not venture onto tracks, car parks or mains water tanks unaccompanied.

3. We recognise that incremental easing of supervision levels is a big part of the process by which young people mature

4. For older children, for example those mature enough to cross a road or walk to school on their own, it may be permissible to allow them to walk from home to the tenant’s plot unaccompanied. This is provided that the parents have consented to this, maintain a reasonable level of supervision from a distance and the child’s behaviour is appropriate to allow such freedom and responsibility.

5. The utmost care is needed by vehicle drivers on allotment tracks. Children are less visible than adults and may make unexpected movements, e.g. suddenly running. Parents must also be extremely vigilant for hazards and risks. None of us have right of way; we must all show the utmost respect and courtesy to all people on allotment land. Renting an allotment is not a right, but an immense privilege. Driving along the tracks is also a privilege that must be renewed each time we visit, by following all safety rules. Sometimes a car should give way and wait for pedestrians to pass; on other occasions the courteous and safest option is for the pedestrian to step aside and let the vehicle pass.

6. If a vehicle exceeds the site speed limit of 5mph (walking pace) then the driver may be subject to disciplinary measures. 

7. Risk assessments need to be dynamic and a rigid approach is not appropriate as circumstances change rapidly. Dynamic risk assessments will evaluate the best way to enforce and improve Rule 14 which states that children must be accompanied and supervised at all times on allotment land. It is recognised that there are risks and hazards that restrict children’s freedom on allotments. These restrictions are part of our risk assessments. Nevertheless, older children behaving responsibly will benefit from a lower level of supervision as they mature. 

8. Cycling to an allotment is kinder to the environment than driving and should be encouraged. However, the uneven tracks on some sites and our speed limit means cyclists should dismount once they are on allotment land. 

Risk assessment principles

First identify the hazard. A hazard is something that could cause harm.

Evaluate the severity of the hazard:

5=death, 4=severe (A&E) 3=serious (first aid) 2=moderate 1=minor

Then evaluate the likelihood of that hazard actually harming.

5=daily 4 =weekly 3= several times per year 2=rarely 1=unlikely 

Multiply the hazard level by the likelihood to get the risk

Risk

25-20 = very high risk. Stop activity immediately

15-19 = high risk, stop activity and take urgent action, measures to reduce risk

10-14 = unacceptable risk. Take action and measures to reduce risk

5 - 9   = tolerable risk, proceed with caution, consider measures to reduce risk further

1- 4    = low risk, proceed. Consider ways to reduce risk further.