The simple answer to this question is no. You’re not required by law to install anti-ligature radiators in your mainstream educational setting. Regulations actually state that radiators must not exceed 43°C, as anything more is seen as a potential burn risk to children.

Therefore, a Low Surface Temperature (LST) radiators and covers would be the safer bet. However, there may be instances when an anti-ligature radiator or cover might just be the right choice for your mainstream setting. And we’ll aim to explore these instances below.

Younger children

When we consider children in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), a large part of their learning is carried out through play-based activities. Children in EYFS are given ample opportunities to use toys, crafts, and take part in various role-play activities. Whilst all of these are an integral part of the EYFS curriculum, we recommend that you make children aware of the dangers of tying cords or rope around any of the grilles on standard radiators.

Our DeepClean anti-ligature radiators have 2mm holes and 4mm centres, making it highly unlikely for children to loop or tie anything round particular anchor points on the radiator. Therefore, from a safety perspective, anti-ligature radiators might be a good investment for those in Key Stage One or below.

Children with SEN in mainstream schools

Children with varying levels of learning and behavioural difficulties will often be placed in mainstream settings. According to a recent online article, about 50 per cent of children with an SEN statement or EHC plan are educated in mainstream primary or secondary schools. There are a number of reasons for this.

Firstly, it can be very difficult to get an official diagnosis from certain authorities, meaning that children with special educational needs are poorly placed in mainstream settings where class sizes exceed thirty.

Secondly, mainstream schools receive a certain level of funding for some pupils with SEN. This means that a SEN pupil may be placed with a one-to-one adult, who is responsible for that child’s attainment, medical referrals and parental communications.

Whatever the reason, mainstream schools will find that there is at least one pupil with SEN in each class. Depending on that individual child’s level of need, safety measures may need to be put in place. The safety that our anti-ligature radiators provides means that those pupils with SEN-who attend a mainstream school-are at less of a risk.

Some mainstream schools have specialist SEN units

In certain areas around the country, some mainstream schools contain specialist SEN units. These units enable children with SEN to access mainstream levels of education whilst receiving appropriate pastoral care, in-line with their needs.

As a result of this high-level of SEN activity, mainstream settings with SEN units should consider treating themselves as a SEN school in terms of the facilities and safety measures they provide. Learn more about why you should choose anti-ligature radiators for your SEN school here.

Larger class sizes

We briefly touched on this before, but education is currently facing a lack of teachers and an influx of children. This has resulted in class sizes often exceeding thirty pupils. With figures like this, you’ll want to ensure that your resources are built for performance and longevity.

Made from 1.5mm Zintec steel-which can be increased to 2mm in more demanding environments-means that our anti-ligature radiators are built to sustain varying levels of wear and damage over time.

Conclusion

Whilst anti-ligature radiators are not a specific requirement for mainstream schools, they certainly are an added bonus, especially when you consider the different factors at play, as mentioned above.

Whatever you decide, safety and product performance should always be your leading factors in specifying a product that involves the well-being of children in your care. If you’d like any more information on our LST or anti-ligature range, talk to one of our experts today.