Health & Safety information for school visits to Kew Gardens

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Emergency

• In the event of a FIRST AID EMERGENCY ONLY, please contact the nearest member of Kew staff or a Kew constable. 
• The emergency number on an internal telephone is 333. On an external telephone dial 020 8332 5121.

Please DO NOT call 999, as ambulance crews may take some time to find your location. This is best coordinated through Kew's Constabulary.

Supervision

As a teacher or school staff member you are responsible for your students' supervision and behaviour at Kew. If your pupils are disruptive, there will be follow-up contact with the headteacher of your school.

Please discuss suitable behaviour in Kew Gardens with your students, with particular emphasis on the importance of showing respect to everyone else in the Gardens (especially the disabled and small children). Extra care is required in glasshouses where pathways are narrow. 

We take great care of our plants and the wildfowl, please do the same.

School groups should be accompanied by the correct number of adults:

• SEN - 1:1
• Reception and nursery - 1:2
• Key Stage 1 - 1:5
• Key Stage 2 - 1:8
• Key Stage 3 and above - 1:10

Take care

• To protect themselves, some plants have sharp leaves or spines, so take care. 
• Remember, plants can be poisonous or have irritant sap, so do not touch them unless Kew staff say it is safe to do so. 
• Don't forget to wash your hands before touching your face or eating.
• Do not climb the trees. You could damage them and harm yourself.

Kew is a busy working garden

• Keep clear of horticultural equipment and watch out for moving vehicles.
• It is very dangerous for students to try and climb on, or run alongside the slow-moving Kew Explorer.

What to wear

• Wear layered clothing to cope with the contrast between glasshouses and the weather outside.
• You and your students will need to be prepared for all types of weather - don't forget your waterproof jacket!
• Students may find trousers more comfortable for some of our activities, especially those which require walking in long grass.
• Students may wish to use insect repellent.
• Comfortable shoes will help as there will be lots of walking during your visit to Kew Gardens.
• Please encourage your students to wear a hat, use sun protection, and bring bottled water.

Risk assessments

Kew Gardens has a generic risk assessment for all visiting school groups, which can be downloaded here.  This risk assessment is intended for use as a guide only in the development of your own visit risk assessment, specific to the needs of your students and staff.

Teachers booking a school visit to Kew Gardens are strongly encouraged to make a planning pre-visit in order to plan your day and complete a suitable risk assessment. Pre-visit passes may be requested with the submission of an online booking request. s

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