School Garden: health & safety quagmire

[Two_Sheds]

So, last year I was shown a list of plants not to be grown in school. This included potatoes and tomatoes.

Discussed with teacher. We both agreed spuds & toms fine, so long as the risks were explained to children, and they are all told, all the time, not to pick or eat anything without express permission from a responsible adult.


I've found lists from the RHS and several different local authorities that have variously included strawberries, horse chestnut, French beans, rhubarb, comfrey, dicentra, daffodils and tulips on the banned lists.

RoSPa used to do a poster of poisonous plants. I can't find it now, or anything like it. Do any of you have, or have seen, such a thing? It would save me a lot of grief.

[zazen999]

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardeni..._devon_601.pdf

THE POISON GARDEN Website Blog

[alex-adam]

Is this link any help TS?


http://apps.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardeni..._devon_601.pdf

[zazen999]

Snap.

I win.

[Snadger]

Funny how we all survived in the garden as kids without poisoning ourselves.....................

[taff]

that's because we had common sense, but it's been all bred out now....

[Scarlet]

This is link to a poisonous plants for kids PDF. It is australian but it's quite simple, maybe you could just use the bits that are relevant?
Fact Sheets

[marchogaeth]

.......and then a child will eat or handle something that's not on your list and you'll be in even deeper trouble than if you'd just insisted staff and children apply your original basic safety advice. I'm glad it's not me being asked to do it and I know what my union would say about it and quite rightly, too. (I hope this doesn't become a cue for union bashing, as teachers we are so open to being accused of something and suddenly finding ourselves suspended for weeks or months - which is not any fun.)

[Two_Sheds]

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardeni..._devon_601.pdf I've had that one, thanks. It conflicts with the one I was shown at school

THE POISON GARDEN Website Blog

A good point well made on there: that more children die from roman blinds than poisonous plants. I'm not sure it would be acceptable as my defence though, should the worst happen and a child become ill through something I've done/ not done

[Two_Sheds]

Fact Sheets

Can't open it Scarlet ~ computer's gone all Elfin Safety and says it's an unsafe site

(oh, the irony)

[Two_Sheds]

.......and then a child will eat or handle something that's not on your list and you'll be in even deeper trouble

Yep.

Plus, if I have to check everyone's allergies and give safety training before every lesson, we'll just have time left to wash our hands and get our coats

[WendyC]

The definitive guide to safety within the primary science curriculum, where gardening could fall, is a publication called "Be Safe". I think it is produced by the Association for Science Education (ASE) I'd be surprised if all primary schools didn't have a copy lurking somewhere. I don't recall seeing any vegetables listed but I've have to check at school tomorrow. (Don't bring it home for light reading!) It does list obvious plants to avoid including foxgloves.

[taff]

thats why the school has liability insurance, if little johnny doesn't listen and eats the belladonna

[Alison]

Ye Gods, whatever next? And to think that our chemistry teacher used to let us play with merury in our hands as a special end of term treat............. OK, there's reasons why you shouldn't do that but my friend's little girl has been happily harvesting toms etc since she could walk and is definitely alive and well

[zazen999]

Yep.

Plus, if I have to check everyone's allergies and give safety training before every lesson, we'll just have time left to wash our hands and get our coats

Just how long does it take these days, to wrap them all up in their bubblewrap?