CNBKJHIODDEEC Anti- Smoking Policy Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School
Aims: At Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School we take the health of all our students and staff very seriously and as such, we seek to: smoke. staff, children, young people and visitors from the effects of tobacco starting to smoke. positive role models in relation to smoking, which is consistent with the taught curriculum. Background: Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School is a non-smoking site. This document identifies how the school will continue to maintain a smoke free environment within the school premises for the benefit of students, staff, visitors, parents and carers as well as members of the public. The school will continue to encourage and support students to stop smoking through PSHE lessons, Welsh Baccalaureate lessons and work with Pastoral Support Officers and the school nurse. Passive smoking is a health and safety issue for all adults in the workplace, leading to increased costs to the school through sick pay, absenteeism and loss of productivity. Children and young people are more susceptible than adults to the effects of passive smoking. Associated illnesses include bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and other respiratory problems. Smoking is particularly damaging in young people. Evidence shows that people who start smoking in their youth, particularly between the ages of 11 and 15, are three times more likely to die a premature death than someone who takes up smoking at the age of 20. They are also more likely to be hooked for life. Nicotine, an ingredient of tobacco, is highly addictive. It takes, on average, about six cigarettes before nicotine receptors in the brain are switched on, generating a craving for nicotine which may continue for the rest of the person s life. In less than one packet of cigarettes, a person s brain can be changed forever from that of a non-smoker to a nicotine addicted smoker. Although the health risks of smoking are cumulative, giving up can yield health benefits, regardless of the age of the smoker, or the length of time they have been smoking. 1
E-cigarettes: Electronic cigarettes mimic the effects of real cigarettes by producing a vapour that is potentially less harmful than cigarette smoke and free of some of its damaging substances, such as tar. However, experts state that it is not yet known what harm these devices could inflict on young people s health and their contents could be damaging to their long term health. Because they are not regulated, the contents of e-cigarettes can vary. Some have been found to contain toxic chemicals which are also found in tobacco and have been linked to cancer. Moreover, as these devices mimic the effects of real cigarettes, it is often difficult to tell from a distance whether a person is smoking a real cigarette or an e-cigarette. For these reasons, all forms of e-cigarettes are also banned from Croesyceiliog school site. Therefore, this policy also applies to students or staff members found smoking any form of e- cigarette. Policy: The school is designated a no-smoking site and everyone involved with the school community is required to adhere to this Anti-smoking Policy. All staff and students are expected to be vigilant in reporting the names of students found smoking, or the names of students found with students smoking, to the appropriate Head of Year or Pastoral Support Officer. In accordance with the School s Anti-smoking Policy, the following will apply: Students Staff Visitors ents are not allowed to smoke on or near the school site. d to smoke whilst on a school activity/trip. not smoke whilst travelling to or from school. Staff are not allowed to smoke on site or in sight of students. This will include visits, school excursions etc. and include both teaching and nonteaching staff. policy will also apply to employees whilst exercising direct responsibility for students on off-site activities, e.g. in the school mini-bus, school fixtures etc. Parents and Carers: -smoking Policy applies to all visitors to the school. arents and carers are required to adhere to the Anti-Smoking Policy and must not smoke within the school grounds. 2
Events The school s anti-smoking policy applies to all social events. ide agencies, all parties must be made aware of the school s Anti-smoking Policy. Students who are found smoking near the school site: 1. Students who are found smoking near the school site, or students who are found with students smoking near the school site, will be reported to the appropriate Head of Year or Pastoral Support Officer. 2. Cigarettes, e-cigarettes, lighters or any other equipment needed for smoking will be confiscated and will not be returned to the student. 3. A letter (Appendix A) will be sent home to inform parent/carers. 4. The Head of Year, or Pastoral Support Officer, will arrange to meet with each named student to talk through the Anti-smoking Policy and what will happen next. If students are found smoking near the school site again: 1. If a student is found smoking near the school site for the second time, an after school detention with the school s Health Nurse will be set by the Head of Year or Pastoral Support Officer (in liaison with the school s Health Nurse) to outline the dangers of smoking and to issue details of support groups and smoking cessation services. The student will be asked to sign an agreement not to smoke on or near the school site again. 2. Further repetition or refusal to comply with the Anti-smoking Policy will result in an internal exclusion followed by a back to school meeting with parents/carers. At this meeting parents/carers and the student will be required to sign the return from exclusion report, stating that they will support the school s Anti-smoking Policy. 3. Persistent refusal to comply will result in a fixed term exclusion. Students who are found smoking on the school site: 3 1. Names of students found smoking, or students found with students smoking, will be given to the appropriate Head of Year or Pastoral Support Officer. 2. Cigarettes, e-cigarettes, lighters and any other equipment needed for smoking will be confiscated and will not be returned to the student. 3. The Head of Year, or Pastoral Support Officer, will arrange to meet with each named student to talk through the Anti-smoking Policy. 4. A letter will be sent home to parents/carers (Appendix B), informing them that their child has been found smoking on the school site, or with students who are smoking, and explaining that an after school detention with the school s Health Nurse will be set by the Head of Year, or Pastoral Support
Office, to outline the dangers of smoking and to issue details of support groups and smoking cessation services. If students are found smoking on the school site again: 1. Further repetition or refusal to comply with the Anti-smoking Policy will result in an internal exclusion followed by a back to school meeting with parents/carers. At this meeting parents/carers and the student will be required to sign the return from exclusion report, stating that they will support the school s Anti-smoking Policy. 2. Persistent refusal to comply will result in a fixed term exclusion. If a member of staff is found smoking on the school site: He/she will be in breach of the Anti-smoking Policy and will be subject to disciplinary proceedings. Anyone found smoking indoors will be in breach of the Smoke Free Premises in Wales legislation and will be subjected to a fine. If visitors or parents/carers are found smoking on the school site: They will be asked to refrain from doing so. Anyone found smoking indoors will be in breach of the Smoke Free Premises in Wales legislation and will be subject to a fine. 4
Appendix A Student: [insert student name] Dear Parent/carer, This letter is to inform you that your child is leaving school property, during lunch time, to go to [insert location here], an area where students smoke. At Croesyceiliog School we are committed to protecting our staff, children, young people and visitors from the effects of tobacco smoke. We also aim to provide help and support for students who smoke. We continue to teach students about the dangers of smoking in PSHE and Welsh Baccalaureate lessons, offer smoking cessation sessions with the school s Health Nurse and Pastoral Support Officers and provide a variety of assemblies and other activities to help students understand the dangers of smoking. At this time, we are asking for support from the parents/carers of these students who are going off site to smoke, or to socialize with their friends who smoke. If you receive this letter, your child has been identified as one of these students. Our Anti-smoking Policy clearly states that students must not smoke cigarettes or e- cigarettes on or near Croesyceiliog School site. This policy is accessible via our school s website www.croesyceiliog.org.uk. I have also enclosed a copy of this policy with this letter, for your information. Any support from you to discourage your child from smoking, or associating with pupils who smoke, would be greatly appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or comments. Thank you for your continued support. Yours sincerely, L Taylor Assistant Head Teacher (KS4) 5
Appendix B Student: [insert student name] Dear Parent/carer, As you are probably already aware, all Torfaen County Borough Council premises became smoke-free in 2007. This policy was implemented in accordance with one of the key priorities of the council; to improve the health and well-being of the people of Torfaen. This letter is to inform you that [insert student name here] has been found smoking within the school grounds. All students have been informed of the council s policy, school policy and the ill effects of smoking. The school Anti-smoking policy is accessible on the school s website www.croesyceiliog.org.uk. I have enclosed a copy of this policy with this letter, for your information. As your child has been caught smoking on school property, in non-compliance with school and council policy, he/she will be given an after school detention in which the school s Health Nurse, or a Pastoral Support Officer, will talk to your child about the dangers of smoking and give him/her some information on how to stop smoking and the support groups available. Your child will also be asked to sign an agreement not to smoke on our school site again. We are eager to help students overcome their addiction and will support them. We hope to count on your support through you discouraging your child from smoking. If your child is found smoking cigarettes or e-cigarettes within the school site again, they will be internally excluded, and you will be asked to attend a meeting with your child s Head of Year and your child to confirm your support for our anti-smoking policy. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or comments. Thank you for your continued support. Yours sincerely, L Taylor Assistant Head teacher (KS4) 6