Supervision
Supervision requirements
The primary responsibility for the welfare of children/ young people visiting the museum rests with their teachers/ leaders at all times, and therefore responsibility cannot be passed on to the Museum or its staff. Based on current Northern Ireland legislation, the Ulster American Folk Park requires that groups under the age of 18 years are supervised at all times. Groups not fulfilling these requirements may be turned away.
For general visits we require the following ratios of leaders to students.
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2-7 years
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1 adult to 6 children
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8-11 years
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1 adult to 15 children
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12-18 years
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1 adult to 20 pupils
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This ratio conforms to the standards required in Northern Ireland as outlined in the publication “Educational Visits Policy, Practice and Procedures 2004”
Where groups are of mixed gender every effort should be made to have both male and female leaders on the visit.
In addition many of our other activities such as craft workshops, thematic tours and drama, require enhanced supervisory levels. These levels depend on the nature and locations of the activities and should also take into account your own assessment of the participating children. These levels of supervision should be agreed with us at the time of booking, and should also meet the minimum standards required by your organisation.
Protection of Vulnerable Adults and Children
The Museum operates a Vulnerable Adult and Child Protection Policy. For further information please contact the Education Department. The Museum’s designated officer for Vulnerable Adult and Child Protection is Richard Hurst. +44 (0)28 82 256307.
Risk assessments and hazard identification
The Museum’s public areas have been designed and are maintained as safe spaces for all our visitors.
Exhibitions and activities are designed with full consideration for risk control measures. Assessments are completed for new works and activities.
Hazards are identified in a daily monitoring programme. They are isolated or rectified as soon as possible.
Health and safety
The Museum has a written health and safety policy. Contact Geoff Davidson, Health & Safety manager on +44 (0) 28 9042 8428 for details.
National Museums Northern Ireland has in place and maintains insurance cover in respect of Public and Product liability. The limit on these policies is £10,000,000. Groups are responsible for ensuring they have adequate cover for travel, property and their own leaders’ liability insurance.
Behaviour
The Museum wishes that all visitors have an enjoyable stay and expects all visitors to display courtesy and respect for others and for Museum property at all times. We therefore ask that as a group leader you do not allow any member of your group to:
- Disrupt the museum experience for others
- Make any sectarian, sexist, racist or other offensive remarks toward any person or group
- Vandalise museum property
- Frighten or hurt the animals
- Use threatening, abusing or violent behaviour
- In the event that any of the above are not followed, the museum reserves the right to refuse admission and/or ask the group to leave. Where a group causes malicious damage, the museum also reserves the right to take additional action which may include charging the group for any damage
First Aid/Accident/Emergency
In case of an accident, a small number of Museum staff is trained to administer First Aid. It is advisable however to have your own first aider with you. For further details please contact the Education Department on +44 (0) 2882 243292. We advise groups to have a contingency plan in place.
The nearest Accident & Emergency Department is located at Omagh Hospital.
Downloadable Supervision Requirements
Ulster American Folk Park Supervision Requirements (Word doc, 59KB)