Help for non-English speakers
If you need help to understand this policy, please contact Donald Eddington, Principal. Non-English speakers can also access Google translate at the bottom of this web page.
As valuable partners in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing at William Ruthven Primary School, we welcome and encourage your feedback. If you have any suggestions, comments or questions in relation to our child safe policies and practices, please contact the Principal, Donald Eddington via email, donald.eddington@education.vic.gov.au.
To provide a safe and secure learning and teaching environment for students and staff by establishing processes to monitor and manage visitors to William Ruthven Primary School.
This policy outlines our school’s arrangements for visitors who attend school grounds when the school is open for instruction between the hours of 8:40 am to 3:10 pm, and when the office is staffed to monitor/receive visitors at reception, including parents, contractors, and visiting teachers. Outside of these times, our front office is not staffed, and this policy does not apply.
Definitions
Child-related work: As defined by the Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic), child-related work is work that usually involves direct contact (including in person, over the phone, written and online communication) with a child that is a central part of that person’s duties. It does not include work that involves occasional direct contact with children that is incidental to the work.
William Ruthven Primary School strives to create an open and inclusive school community, and encourages parents and carers to be actively involved in their child’s development and education. We also strive to foster strong partnerships with local community services, schools and other organisations.
William Ruthven Primary School is not a public place. The principal has the authority to permit or deny entry to school grounds, and encourages all visitors to familiarise themselves with our school’s Statement of Values and School Philosophy, Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, Child Safety Code of Conduct, and Volunteers Policy.
From time to time, different members of the public may visit our school. Visitors may include, but are not limited to:
Sign in procedure
All visitors to William Ruthven Primary School are required to report to the school office on arrival. Visitors must:
William Ruthven Primary School will ensure that our school’s Child Safety Code of Conduct is available and visible to visitors when they sign in.
Working with Children Clearance and other suitability checks
For Working with Children (WWC) Clearance and other suitability check requirements relating to parents/carers and other volunteers working with students please see our Volunteers Policy.
All visitors who are engaged in child-related work (see definition above) must have a valid WWC Clearance. Additional suitability checks may also be required such as reference, proof of identity, qualification and work history involving children checks.
In some circumstances, visitors to William Ruthven who are not engaged in child-related work will also be required to produce a valid WWC Clearance depending on the particular circumstances of their visit. For example, William Ruthven Primary School will require a valid WWC Clearance for:
Visitors who will be working in areas away from students (e.g., a visiting auditor who will be located in the front office with administration staff) or who will be supervised and accompanied by a staff member during their visit (e.g., a Member of Parliament, a journalist, a prospective parent on a school tour) will not be required to have a WWC Clearance.
Sworn Victoria Police officers or sworn Australian Federal Police officers are exempt from requiring a WWC Check, but may be asked to verify that they are sworn officers by providing proof of identification.
Invited speakers and presenters
On occasion, William Ruthven Primary School may invite external speakers or providers to deliver incursions, presentations, workshops and special programs for our students. Consistent with Department of Education and Training requirements, William Ruthven Primary School will:
Parent visitors
We understand that there may occasionally be a reason why a parent or carer may want to speak to or see their child at school, during school hours.
If there is a particular pressing or unavoidable issue that cannot wait until the end of the school day, we ask that parents or carers call the school office to make the request to speak to or see their child during school hours.
We also ask that parents avoid arranging to visit their children at school wherever possible, as this can cause inappropriate disruptions to the school day.
All parents or carers who visit our school during school hours, other than for the purposes of school pick-ups and drop offs or for specific school events (e.g., parent teacher interviews, concerts, assemblies, etc.), are required to sign in as a visitor at the school office.
Parents or carers who are prohibited from entering the school under a court order or direction of the Principal are not permitted to visit the school. Our school maintains and provides office staff with a list of restricted parents/carers which may include identifying photographs and any other information as required depending on the level of risk posed.
Other visitors
All business operators, tradespeople and other visitors attending the school to conduct work must report to the school office upon arrival for instruction and follow the sign in procedure outlined above.
This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:
Related policies and resources
William Ruthven Primary School policies:
Department policies:
