Child policy protection

on 31 October 2022.

Policy regarding contact between staff and students at school

Contact with children and adults is a natural part of a child's developmental process, and this also applies to the collaboration of school staff and students, especially younger students. However, some contact with students may be inappropriate. Consideration must be given to the judgment of staff members in assessing which physical contact with students in school is appropriate and which is not. School administrators are also responsible for introducing school policies and guidelines.

The following is guidance of appropriate contact between staff and students:

a. Keep in mind that contact with a student should always be on the basis that a child needs contact and NOT a staff member in need of contact. If a staff member seeks physical contact with children, this may indicate an employee's abnormal behavior.

b. An employee's physical contact with the student should be based solely on the head and down of the shoulders and arms, in some cases. Contact at other locations may indicate an employee's abnormal contact needs.

c. Employees should avoid establishing contact with children aimed at unnecessary physical contact between employees and children, even if it is set up as a "game".

d. An employee should avoid creating situations that require physical contact where one employee and one student are together, and only one can narrate the events.

e. In essence, school professionals must be trusted to know the boundaries of normal and abnormal communication with students and the conditions that are normal to offer in school work.

Landakotsskóli works with identifying data about individuals and saves it in their storage and data banks.

The school puts emphasis on securing, in many ways, trust, dependability and safe and responsible handling of information.

What data

In this case, it is data concerning students, family members and employees.

Personal data concerning students and family members include:

Name, social security number, address, phone number, and email.
Evaluations and results of standardized surveys
Minutes of meetings
Photographs
Requests for and results from analyzes such as medical supply analysis
Attendance registration

Personal data concerning employees include:

Name, social security number, address, phone number and email and telephone number of family members
Photographs
Medical supply analysis
Criminal record
Attendance registration
Emails
Contracts of employment and wage agreements, salary calculations.

Sources

Landakotsskóli saves and works only with necessary data that are authorized by law, contracts with individuals or explicit consent from the person and anyone it concerns.

What use

Data and information that the school stores in its data banks are only used for the school to do its job in the best way possible. Landakotsskóli will never share personal information without authorization.

Data storage - Safety

Landakotskóli has procedures concerning data storage to prevent or minimize damage due to abuse or negligence.

All data and processes are protected so only those authorized to work with them can view and/or change them, can perform such actions, others can not observe the data.

Copies

All data from the school is copied to secure that they are always available.

Correctness

The school always strives to ensure the accuracy of its data. If information is found to be incorrectly listed, they are updated.

Individuals right to information on the process and access to their own personal data

If requested the school provides access to information on stored personal data to all individuals who the data applies to.

A privacy representative has been appointed who will, among other things, handle personal requests and put them into action so that they will be answered within a reasonable time.

Reception plan for new students at Landakotsskóli

In the Act on Compulsory Schools no. 91/2008 states that schools should have a reception plan for new students.

Keep in mind the following:

School administrators, in consultation with the janitor, take care that furniture is available for the student.
The classroom teacher informs other staff about the new student.
The classroom teacher ensures that the student is added to appropriate groups within the class.
The classroom teacher bring in information from parents about the pupil in general, educational attainment (calls for, among other things, analysis data and other observations), social status, schooling so far, health, religion, relationships with other students in the school.
If a student needs support services, the department head for the support service is informed. He contacts the students former school after obtaining the consent of the parents and receives data from the school. He also considers whether a meeting is necessary and time it. Then he bring information to the classroom teacher and other employees.
If something is wrong with the pupil's health, the classroom teacher should indicate to parents that they should contact a school nurse, and the supervisor should monitor that information is available.
A school nurse is informed (by the classroom teacher) of a new student so that he can call for data. A school nurse will provide health information to classroom teacher and a support teacher if needed.
The classroom teacher informs the class representative that a new co-parent have joined the group.
At the end of the first day of school or at the first opportunity the classroom teacher, discusses with the new student and answer his questions if any.
The classroom teacher discusses with the student and contacts his homr after one to two weeks, if parents have not already contacted, to discuss the student's well-being and his / her experience and parents of the school.
A student counselor invites a student to an interview soon after the student has studied at the school

Interview Preparation

The classroom teacher is informed about the expected student, where he is from and when a reception interview takes place.
The classroom teacher prepares students for the arrival of a new student.
One student is selected from the class group to assist the new student for 5 days. He helps the new student find out about the school and introduces him to the school rules and practices.

Reception Interview

The interview consists of parents, student, supervisor and others who are considered necessary to attend the interview.

The following factors are explained to parents and the student in the reception interview:

Timetable and group division delivered.
Parents and students get access to Mentor.
Sports and swimming. Location, clothing, shower rules.
School calender. Review the days that are not traditional school days.
Telephone number of the school, home page, email addresses and interview hours.
School rules and attendance requirements and requests for permits.
Canteen and packed meal presented to parents.
Leisure time presented if the student is in grades 1 - 4 is involved.
Where to turn if a student feels bad at school.
The role of parents in terms of homework and co-operation between home and school.
Tour around the school.

5 years old

At Landakotsskóli there is a class for five years old and prospective students are invited to the school in the spring semester, before students begin their studies.

Students with special needs

In addition to the traditional reception of new students, the plan for students with special needs applies where appropriate (overall plan (in Icelandic, we are working on the translation): https://landakotsskoli.is/images/Heildar%C3%A1%C3%A6tlun.pdf).

Information sharing in daily communication between home and school

Illness: reported daily in Mentor or by telephone before 8 oclock in s. 510 8200. If student is not in class then someone from school will check on the students by phoning home.
Parents can register for leave for one or two lessons on Mentor, but the school needs to approve on Mentor. If parents want a leave for more than 3 days then it is possible to
Teachers and staff are asked to reply to parents within 24 hours. It is advised that parents send a note by e-mail regarding what the matter is. Staff can then take the appropriate measures (phone back, set up a meeting or send back an email).
If a child is signed up for afterschool (five years – 4^th grade) and they are allowed to go home with someone else than usually it is important to notify us by mail the previous day or latest before 12 the same day. Is something comes up then it is possible to contact the afterschool by phone (telephone 893 0772).
At the start of each month, the home-room teacher sends an overview of attendance to the guardians. If needed the appropriate measures are taken. https://www.landakotsskoli.is/index.php/skolinn/aaetlanir-og-stefnur/vidhbroegdh-vidh-ofullnaegjandi-skolasokn-2019-2020

Evacuation Protocol. - In case the fire alarm goes off this protocol should be followed.

The building caretaker or the principal goes to the control panel, turns the firealarm off and checks the location from which the alarm is coming. If there is a real fire the alarm will automatically restart.
The building caretaker or the principal will call Securitas from a mobile phone to inform them that the location of the alarm is being checked.
The building caretaker or the principal costant contact with Securitas and either explain why the alarm went off or inform them that this is a case of a real fire.
As soon as the fire alarm goes off the alarm protocol is activated and teachers prepare the evacuation.
The school is evacuated if the firealarm starts again, at which the protocol moves up to the active level.
If it turns out that it is not necessary to evacuate the building messages will be sent as quickly as possible to all staff members.
At the alarm stage, teachers should let all student exit the building in a single file. Teachers should find the folder with the student name list, as well as the red and green card and be prepared to leave the classroom.
When teachers have evacuated the class room they close the door (not to lock) and place the green card in between the door and the frame.
Assistants and special education staff members will evacuate premises that are not defined as classrooms: the upstairs conference room, teachers working spaces, the music room, counselor/nurse offices, hallways, toilets, and the canteen. They divide inspection areas between themselves and ensure that there are no children in the area before they close all doors (not to lock).
All staff members evacuate the building and go to the area in front of the church. The youngest Icelandic classes should stand closest to the fence of Túngata and then class by class in direction of the curch. The K group should stand next to 10th grade and then the A group and so forth. The D group should stand closest to the church.
The evacuation route located furthest away from the fire should be used.
In the evacuation area the teachers should go over their class rosters. If a student is missing the teachers holds up the red card.
The building caretaker or the principal will take a photograph of the absentee list in the staff room and relay this information to the student counselor/ head of special education or other staff members who gather information on students missing from classes that have already been evacuated.
The student counselor/ head of special education or other free staff members (asigned) will go between classes to see if there are any students missing and try to get information on where they were last seen. These staff members should have all class rosters and check the names of missing students. They should then relay this information to the principal who will notify the fire squad’s shift manager as to how many students might possibly be inside the building as well as their potential location. The office manager/project manager and student counselor/head of special education should all have a folder in their offices with the names of the entire student body, as well as their parents and contact information.
All staff members should tend to the children‘s comfort and ensure that they feel safe. Once a clear picture has emerged of which children are missing students and staff should seek shelter in the church.

The last person to leave a room should close the doors to prevent, as far as is possible, the spread of smoke and fire throughout the building. Empty classrooms should be marked with a green card and should not be locked. Assistants and special education staff should follow the same procedure for areas for which they are responsible.
Escape routes in case of fire.

Main Exits:

The main entrance by Túngata
The main entrance to the younger children‘s play area
The main entrance for the younger play area closer to Túngata
The main entrance by the art room
The main entrance by the five-year-old class room.

These exits should be kept open if the school needs to be evacuated.

Other exits (to be used if the main exits will be closed off in case of fire or smoke, or to speed up evacuation).

The exit by the student counselor/nurse‘s office
The exit close to Hávallagata and the canteen
The exit through the 10th grade and Group D classrooms and out to the car park.
Windows marked as evacuation routes (only the ground floor areas, others should wait in their classrooms or exit to the roof).

Each classroom should have two evacuation routes. The one further away from the fire is used as an escape route in case of fire, while the fastest way to evacuate should always be used. Staff members choose the evacuation route when it is clear where the fire is situated.

Chooses the entrance to the play area for the older kids or exits through the window in the inner classroom.

1st grade

Chooses between going down the stairs and out to the play area for the younger children, or through the 2nd grade classroom and out on the rooftop through the emergency window.

2nd grade

Chooses between going down the stairs and out to the play area for the younger children through the main entrance, or on the rooftop through the window.

3rd grade

Chooses between going down the stairs and out through the main entrance, or through the 4th grade classroom to the roof.

4th grade

Chooses either the main entrance by the kindergarten classroom or through the emergency window.

5th grade

Chooses either to go out through the exit to the playarea or out throught the emergenct window.

6^th grade

Chooses to go down the stairs, out through on of the main entrances and directly to the older children’s play area, or to go through the B group classroom and down the fire escape to exit through the emergency window.

7^th grade

Chooses to go directly through the emergency exit in front of the classroom, or through one of the school building’s main entrances.

8^th grade

Chooses to exit by the art room, or through an emergency window in the classroom.

9^th grade

Chooses to go down the stairs and out the entrance by the art room, or through the C-group classroom, or alternatively through the emergency window and onto the rooftop.

10^th grade
Exits through a door in the classroom leading directly to the car park, or through the classroom and out the main entrance by Túngata.
K1-group International Department

Chooses to exit to the roof through an emergency window, or down the stairs and through the main entrance by Túngata

3 International Department

Chooses to exit to the roof through the emergency window or down the stairs and through the main entrance by Túngata.

B-group International Department

Chooses to go through the inner classroom door, through the back hallway and down the fire escape to exit through an emergency exit in the hallway or to go down the front stairs and exit through any of the building´s main entrances, by the Túngata main entrance or to the play area.

C1-group International Department

Chooses to go down the stairs and through the main entrance by the art room, or to the roof through an emergency window in the classroom.

C2-group International Department

Chooses to go directly through the younger children´s entrance and from there to the play area, or through the main entrance by Túngata.

D-group International Department

Chooses to exit the classroom door to the main entrance by Túngata, or through the 10th grade exit to the car park.

Study Centre

Chooses to exit to the younger children´s play area or through the main area by the art room.

Dance /Drama Studio

Exits through the emergency window in the room or through the main entrance by the art room.

Multiple-usage area down stairs

Exits through the emergency exit in front of the classroom, or up the stairs and exits either through the main Túngata entrance, or to the younger children´s play area.

Art/Textile Room

Exits through the main entrance to the older children’s play area or through an emergency window.

Woodworking Workshop

Exits through the main entrance to the younger children’s play area or through an emergency window in the classroom.

Music Room

Exits through the main entrance to the older children’s play area or through an emergency window.

Canteen

Exits to the backyard or uses the Hávallagata entrance.

Main rules in case of fire

Follow directions
Stay calm and maintain silence
Be ready to exit the building as you are
Walk fast, make sure all group members are present
Leave all your belongings in the school
Close doors (do not lock) once the space has been checked and found empty

On staff members’ responsibilities with regards to student groups.

When the alarm goes off evacuation of the building must commence - standby level.
Prepare to evacuate the classroom in single file and, if possible, holding hands.
Lead the group out of the classroom, ensure that the room is empty and check the number of students with you. Close the classroom and mark with a green card inserted in the doorframe. Remember to bring the class roster and the red cards.
The fire alarm is turned off to assess if it is a case of real fire. The alarm is activated again in case of a fire, at which point the action level is reached and the building must be evacuated.
In case of a real fire or danger, students should not put on outerwear and should not bring any belongings.
Exit at a fast pace. If you see any assistant staff or special education staff members and you know that you have students missing alert them immediately. They should check if these students might be located in the areas they supervise.
Bring your student groups to the class assembly point. Check the class roster and raise a red card in case of a missing student.
Representatives go between the groups and note the names of missing students and forward these to the principal/principal‘s representative.
Bring your students to the safe area by the church.

In case of smoke or a blocked escape route

Use another escape route. If all escape routes are blocked, stay in the classroom with all doors closed. You will be evacuated through a window as soon as the fire squad arrives. Never use elevators in the case of fire.

Other circumstances:

If the fire alarm is set off during recess students should gather in the younger and older children‘s play areas. The younger children will be escorted by those who arrive first on the scene as well as staff members on outdoor shifts to the assembly point by the church. Students should line up according to their class groups. In case it is impossible to enter the school to fetch class rosters, the class rosters of the office manager as well as the list of absentee students will be used. Assistants or the staff members in charge will help evacuate those students who have permission to remain indoors during recess.

After school clubs: Frístund. If the fire alarm is set off during after school club hours the children are evacuated in the same manner as mentioned above. The supervisor of the after school programme, or his/her representative will go over the name list and assess if any students are missing, in which case the principal/principal’s representative should be notified.

Responsibilities of assistant staff or other staff members not in charge of a class group in case of a fire alarm:

In cases where this is possible secure doors to the building‘s entrances so that they do not close.
Assist teachers in the evacuation of the building, with special care taken to check connecting areas, hallways, the canteen and toilets.
If the fire alarm goes off during recess, assistant/support staff must escort students who have permission to remain inside out to the assembly point.
Go to the assembly point.
Assist teachers in charge of students.

Jökull will inspect toilets by the woodworking classroom, canteen and the hallway area by the 1, 2, and 4 grade classroom.

Dagur will inspect toilets in the basement, the dance studio, and other areas as well as hallways in the basement.

Helga will inspect the toilets by the elevator and hallways by the 8 grade, the area by the stairs to the 9 grade and C1 classrooms, and the area in front of the art room.

Mladen will inspect offices, downstairs staff area and the canteen.

Paulina will inspect areas in the attic

Staff in charge of the rescue operation:

The Building Caretaker:

Finnur will check the fire alarm messages and origins of the fire. He will enter the area in question and check the source of the sound alarm.

He will open main doors and other possible evacuation routes as appropriate.

In case that there is no fire he will turn the alarm off.

Principal:

In charge of communicating information from Finnur and Sirrý to the fire squad. Decides in consultation with the fire squad if students should be brought to the assembly point or other shelter.

Student Counselor

Brings the total roster of staff and students that should be in his/her possession. Gathers information from all classroom teachers at the assembly point as to which students are missing and their possible location. He/she will compare this information with the list of absent students from the office/project managers and estimates what students are missing who might still be inside the school and communicates this information to the principal.

Office/Project Manager

Will use a mobile phone to contact the Securitas operations center and inform them that the origin of the alarm is being checked. Takes a photograph of a list of absent students and staff members and gives this to the student counselor. He/she will also bring the school-wide roster of all staff and students.

During the fire squad‘s operation:

The principal and classroom teachers call the class representatives on the roster and inform them of the situation. They will send an email/text message to all parents as soon as possible and inform them if students need to be picked up and the nature of the situation. They will calm students and prevent mass hysteria. They should check class rosters when students are picked up by parents or guardians.