Our Property & Compliance Services

Our bespoke packages give you access to specialists who guide you in making your school property a safe and healthy environment for pupils, staff and everyone else who uses your school. Plus, our network of accredited contractors conduct work competently – giving you peace of mind that the fabric of your school is in good shape.

What we can do for your school

We deliver a comprehensive set of services covering every aspect of health and safety for your school property. Below, you can explore our range of assessments, audits, reviews and training – all delivered by fully qualified and experienced specialists.

Asbestos inspections, management planning & documentation

We can arrange to survey for hazardous asbestos-containing materials on your school property, and take the necessary steps to remove them or manage them through appropriate reporting and monitoring.

COSHH register compilation & risk assessments

Call on us to guidance on Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations. We’ll help you to identify and manage risks from any substances on the school property that could be a potential threat to health.

Compliance systems audits

Having an auditing procedure in place ensures that your school’s health and safety performance is monitored and understood – so you can be sure it complies with all relevant legislation. We can arrange this for your school.

DSE assessments & follow up support

We can help you to assess whether display screen equipment (DSE), such as computer monitors, is being used safely and legally in your school. Our team supports you in setting up procedures to reduce health impacts of screen use.

E-Learning package selection, support & guidance

We’ll help you to identify the health, safety and wellbeing support that would benefit your staff and your school, and to recommend a mix of digital learning resources that best suits your situation.

Electrical risk assessments, reviews and policies

The risks around electrics can be a serious concern in schools. We can help you to assess hazards that could lead to electrocution or fire, and to take the right precautions and put in place timely maintenance procedures.

Face to face training – All Staff Awareness, Fire Marshal & Asbestos Management

We can arrange for a qualified adviser to deliver training to your school staff in person. This allows you to appoint a member of your team to be a fire marshal to oversee evacuation plans and for someone to monitor areas where asbestos is present.

Fire Risk assessment reviews and policies

Our team can assess the sources of fire risks on your school property in order to mitigate against hazards. Plus, we’ll work with you to create policies that guide fire safety precautions and actions in the event of an outbreak of fire.

General people & premises risk assessment preparation & guidance

Good health and safety at school is everyone’s responsibility. We can risk assess your school property to identify hazards, and help you to guide all staff, pupils and visitors to take the right actions to keep themselves and others safe.

Legionella risk assessment follow up and training support

The health risk posed by the presence of legionella bacteria in water systems is potentially very serious. We can assess your school’s susceptibility to legionella and guide appointed staff to take precautions to control the risk.

Premises risk assessment and reviews

We can conduct a risk assessment across your school premises to identify potential hazards are and ensure that you’re taking the necessary actions to manage the risks – with regular reviews to check whether the situation has changed.

RIDDOR guidance and assistance, incident follow up and investigation

Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), your school is required to report certain health and safety related incidents that have happened. We can help with all aspects of this.

Senior management & site teams support & training

Equip your school leaders and designated team members with the skills and understanding they need to maintain your school’s practices and policies for health, safety and facilities management.

Our Service Brochure

Get detailed information about PLP’s services for this academic year.

Download it here

Need our support?

Find out how our Property & Compliance Services can help your school.

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Frequently asked questions

How often should we portable appliance test electrical items?

The frequency of inspection and testing depends upon the type of equipment and the environment it is used in. For example, a vacuum cleaner used daily in the corridors and around the entrance areas should be examined more frequently than a lamp in a classroom. For guidance on suggested frequencies of inspection and testing, see Maintaining Portable Electrical Equipment in low-risk environments

Do I need to keep records of PA Testing, and should items tested be labelled?

There is no legal requirement to label equipment that has been inspected or tested, nor is there a requirement to keep records of these activities. However, a record and / or labelling can be a useful management tool for monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the maintenance scheme – and to demonstrate that a scheme exists.

I hot desk, so do I need to carry out display screen assessments every time?

In law, your employer must carry out a workstation assessment, looking at the whole workstation, including equipment, furniture, and work conditions, and the job being done. They must also provide you with the necessary training so that you understand the risks in DSE work and how to avoid these by safe working practices. Those who hot desk will need to complete the same assessment as those with fixed workstations, however, they will also conduct their own dynamic risk assessment when they move to another desk. This simply requires them to do a quick review of their new workstation which will include adjusting their chair, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc, so that all equipment is in harmony to their specific requirements as much as possible.

When is a ladder right for a job?

The law says that ladders can be used for work at height when a risk assessment has shown that using equipment offering a higher level of fall protection is not justified because of the low risk and short duration of use; or there are existing workplace features which cannot be altered. You should only use ladders when you have completed the appropriate training and in situations where they can be used safely, where the ladder will be level and stable, and where its reasonably practicable to do so, the ladder can be secured.

Should the school be providing me with PPE?

Yes. Employers should provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and training in its usage to their employees wherever there is a risk to health and safety that cannot be adequately controlled by other means.

How often do we need to do an evacuation drill?

School fire drills are critical in ensuring the safe evacuation of everyone. It is important to practice the fire evacuation procedure so that everyone on the premises is familiar with the process and so that evacuation can be carried out as quickly as possible in a real emergency. They should be carried out at least once per full term at different times of the day. Ideally, different scenarios should be practiced with a ‘fire’ deemed to be in a specific location each time and blocking an escape route. This way, staff, fire marshals and pupils are best prepared for changing circumstances

What is the target time for a fire evacuation drill?

There is no target time for a whole school evacuation drill. The aim will always be to achieve a full, effective, and efficient evacuation, but the greater value lies in getting the best from the drill, checking that the Evacuation Plan is still relevant and identifying any shortcomings in the plan or procedure. As the new school year brings new children and staff into the school and a change of classroom for most of those returning, it is recommended that the first drill of the year is kept simple and carried out at a slower pace.

What is the minimum temperature allowed for a classroom?

There is no legal minimum or maximum temperature. Schools should follow government guidance on workplace temperatures, which requires a 'reasonable' indoor temperature. For classrooms (i.e. places where people aren't doing physical work) the guidance says this is a minimum of 16ºC. There is no guidance on maximum temperature, but your emergency or critical incident plan should cover 'severe weather' – for example, heatwaves.

What PLP's values mean for schools

We’re always here to deliver reliable advice and to help you adapt quickly to changing safety regulations.

Our overarching purpose is to help keep your school safe and empower people to take the right actions.

We use an innovative mix of personal guidance, training and digital resources to deliver the best possible service.

Collaborations between our advisors, contractors and school staff are central to effective health and safety strategy.

We'd love to support you

Please reach out to our friendly team at our office using the details below.

07772 687765

cchallinor@plpcic.co.uk

1 Lower Compton Road, Plymouth, PL3 5DH

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