Code Hamsters (Simple Platform Work Limited)
Version 1.0, approved 13 October 2026 by Mathew Long, Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Next review: October 2027, or sooner after any incident or change in the law or guidance.
1. Our statement
Simple Platform Work Limited, trading as Code Hamsters, will do everything reasonably practicable to protect the health, safety and welfare of the children who attend our sessions, the people who work for us, and anyone else affected by what we do. We will:
- assess the risks of our activities and venues, and control them
- provide equipment that is safe and properly looked after
- make sure tutors are trained, briefed and supervised
- prevent accidents and ill health, and learn from anything that goes wrong
- have clear procedures for first aid, fire and other emergencies
- consult tutors on health and safety and act on what they tell us
- review this policy at least once a year
2. Who is responsible
- Mathew Long, our founder, has overall responsibility for health and safety, for this policy and for making sure it is followed.
- Tutors take reasonable care of themselves and the children, follow our procedures and training, check the room and equipment before each session, and report every hazard, accident and near miss.
- Venues are responsible for the safety of their building, including its fire precautions, electrics, heating, lighting and cleaning. We check their arrangements before we use a venue and report any problem we find.
- Parents and carers give us accurate health information, keep it up to date, and keep children at home when they are ill.
- Children follow the tutor’s instructions and the safety rules for the equipment.
3. Risk assessment
We assess the risks of our sessions and of each venue before we use it, and review the assessment every year and after any incident or change. See our risk assessment and emergency procedures.
4. Supervision
- Groups have up to 12 children with one tutor. Children are supervised for the whole session.
- We take a register at the start and count the children whenever the group moves.
- The tutor has a charged phone, the register and emergency contact numbers, and knows the venue’s address, at every session.
- Where a tutor is the only adult with a group, they know how to call for help at the venue and never leave the group unsupervised. Our emergency procedures are written for a tutor working alone.
5. Arrival and collection
- Parents and carers bring children to the room and hand them over to the tutor.
- At the end, each child is handed to a parent, carer or another adult named on their registration form. A child leaves alone only with written permission.
- What we do if a child goes missing, does not arrive or is not collected is in our missing child policy.
6. First aid, accidents and incidents
- A tutor with a current first aid certificate is present at every session.
- A stocked first aid kit is in the room at every session and is checked every term.
- If a child is hurt or unwell, the first-aider looks after them and we tell their parent or carer the same day. For anything more than a minor injury, and for any bump to the head, we phone straight away.
- In an emergency we call 999 first, then the parent or carer. A tutor stays with the child until a parent or carer arrives.
- Every accident, injury, incident and near miss is recorded on the same day: who, when, where, what happened, what treatment was given, and who was told. Parents and carers are asked to sign the record.
- Mathew Long reviews every record, acts to stop it happening again, tells our insurer where needed, and reports to the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR when the law requires it.
7. Medical conditions, allergies and medication
- Parents and carers tell us about medical conditions, allergies and additional needs on the registration form when they book, before a child starts. The tutor has this information at every session.
- Where a child has a condition that could need action during a session, such as asthma, a severe allergy, epilepsy or diabetes, we agree a written plan with their parent or carer before their first session.
- Tutors do not give medication, except emergency medication, such as an asthma inhaler or an adrenaline auto-injector, under a written plan agreed in advance. The child’s named, in-date medication must come to every session.
- We do not serve food at sessions. If an activity ever involves food, we will check allergies and tell parents and carers in advance.
8. Illness and hygiene
Children and tutors do not attend when they are ill. See our sickness policy. Children wash or sanitise their hands before using shared equipment, and keyboards, mice and kits are cleaned regularly.
9. Equipment and electrical safety
- We provide all equipment. It is suitable for the age group and is used as its maker intends.
- The tutor checks laptops, chargers, leads, Raspberry Pi computers and robotics kits for damage before every session. Anything damaged is taken out of use straight away.
- Our mains-powered equipment is inspected and tested by a competent person at intervals that match the risk.
- Cables are routed away from walkways or covered. We do not chain extension leads together or overload sockets.
- Batteries are fitted, charged and changed by the tutor. Swollen, damaged or leaking batteries are removed and disposed of safely. Nothing is left charging unattended.
- Children are shown how to use each kit safely and are supervised when using small parts, tools or moving robots.
- Bags and coats are kept out of walkways, and spills are cleared up at once.
10. Fire and other emergencies
See our fire safety and evacuation plan and the emergency procedures in our risk assessment and emergency procedures.
11. Behaviour
Tutors explain the safety rules at the first session and whenever a new kit is introduced. If a child’s behaviour puts themselves or others at risk, the tutor stops the activity, deals with it calmly, and tells the parent or carer at the end of the session.
12. Insurance
Public liability insurance is in place before any session runs. Employers’ liability insurance is in place before we employ anyone.
13. Training
Before their first session, every tutor is trained in this policy, first aid arrangements, fire and emergency procedures, safe use of the equipment and safeguarding. Training is refreshed every year.
14. Reporting a hazard or a concern
Anyone who sees something unsafe should tell the tutor straight away, or contact Mathew Long on +44 7877 742502 or at matt@codehamsters.com.