Membership Information for 2008

in relation to Insurance

This leaflet explains the cover provided through SPTC membership for PTAs/PAs, Parent Councils and extra-curricular clubs/groups.  Insurance forms part of membership.  The actual policy is held by SPTC.  

Sections 1 - 5 refer to elements, which are included in the basic cover.   Section 6 details optional all risks cover to protect equipment bought for your school. 

Please keep this leaflet in a safe place for future reference.

SECTION 1.   PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE
This protects your organisation and its officers against their legal liability for injury or death to any third party and/or damage to their property.   The Scottish Parent Teacher Council Membership Insurance Scheme has been carefully tailored to meet your needs and with a few exceptions, you will be covered for any events you organise.   You are not restricted in terms of time or place.

Your indemnity limit is £10,000,000 for any one claim.
You are also covered for:

• Member to Member risks – this is where one member negligently injures or damages another member or their property
• Indemnity to Principles – this mainly applies to such as education authorities and the MOD, who require indemnity for school hire, assault courses, etc.
• Negligent damage to hired, leased or rented buildings  -  £50 excess applies
• Negligent damage to equipment on loan or hire to a limit of £2,000 on any one claim (please see details below).   £50 excess applies
• Motor contingent liability – this covers an organisation member for damage claims which arise when he/she is using his/her car on organisation business, if normal vehicle insurance does not apply.  It does not cover damage to the driver's own car
• Food poisoning and products’ liability risks
• Trips and events world-wide

You are not covered for ownership, possession or use of:-
a)  Mechanically operated vehicles where insurance is required for Road Traffic Legislation
b)  Aircraft (other than model aircraft), hot air balloons, hovercraft or watercraft over 8 metres
      in length

All the usual and expected functions and activities are covered and many unusual ones too, but there are problem areas (detailed over) which you should note:

i)  Hired-in equipment, such as bouncy castles are covered for negligent damage up to £2,000 but you must make yourself aware of the owner’s terms and conditions of hire.   Usually the onus is on the hirer for any damage however caused and in this case you will need extra insurance cover which we can provide under our short term all risks cover.   Please see the section on All Risks.

ii)  Guest entertainers, operators etc.   Anybody hired to provide entertainment such as an assault course or race night must have their own Public Liability Cover, and appropriate checks must be made to establish this.   (We have a simple form which shows the information you need to collect and keep yourself.)   The only exception to this requirement is for low risk entertainers such as disco providers or magicians.   If they have no insurance your insurer can provide extended liability cover.   Where any guest entertainer provides their services free or where only expenses are paid and/or a modest "thank you" gift is given they are covered by the existing insurance and you need take no further action.

iii)  Carnival floats.   Our membership scheme does not cover you for road traffic legislation and you must check with the owner that he/she has their own cover if the float is to go onto the public road.   Our scheme does cover you if the float does not go onto the public road, but only for negligent damage to the vehicle or float itself up to the £2,000 limit.

iv)  Swimming Clubs.   Where the pool is owned by the local authority - and that includes all local authority school pools - you must make yourself aware of normal operation procedures and the emergency action plan.   There must be immediate access to a telephone or suitable alarm.   It is also essential to have qualified supervision as required by the authority.  (If you are using a private pool, please contact the office about additional safety requirements.)

v)  Bonfire parties and firework displays are covered under our scheme, but in view of serious problems with this type of event in the past, the Insurers insist that, as a condition of cover, you MUST adhere to the following code of practice.   There can be no exceptions.

• The Police and Fire authorities should be consulted at least 7 days beforehand, and their recommendations must be complied with in full.
• All recommendations made by the manufacturer of the fireworks must be complied with in full.
• All fireworks used must be supplied by a reputable manufacturer and not modified by the Insured.
• The fireworks display and bonfires must be sited at least 100m from any third party buildings or vehicles.
• Spectators must be kept at least 25m from the display and/or bonfire, and ‘shooting’ fireworks such as rockets, or Roman Candles, must be placed inside a metal-sided box of sufficient size to contain the device should it topple over.
• There must be at least one steward in attendance for every 250 spectators.
• Qualified First Aid personnel must be in attendance, and there must be available a means of summoning emergency assistance.

vi)  Hazardous Activities.  You must inform us if you plan any hazardous activity (defined as an activity that materially increases the risk of injury to any person or damage to property).   Insurers reserve the right to amend the terms and conditions of this policy in respect of any activity deemed to be hazardous or exclude the activity in its entirety.

vii)  Professional Negligence. Cover for liability arising from or as a consequence of any error or omission by the insured in the exercise of his/her professional advice is excluded.

 SECTION 2.   PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE (for officials and helpers)
The cover is for any elected officer or member of your organisation and for any helper who has been appointed or co-opted to organise or assist at events run by your organisation.   There are benefits for people between 18 and 75 years and those between 5 and 17 years.   The cover is for accidental bodily injury sustained whilst engaged in association duties and travelling to and from those duties.

Benefits:

Personal accident cover applies only when people are actively engaged in organisation duties.  There is no personal accident cover when they participate in any event/activity. 

SECTION 3.   FIDELITY GUARANTEE
This provides cover for you against fraud or dishonesty by your treasurer or any committee/ council member, only if all cheques bear two signatures and there is an annual audit of your accounts carried out by someone other than your treasurer.   You must always ensure that a reasonable standard of care and supervision of your monetary affairs is implemented.

Limits:              Treasurer  -  £3,000                 Committee/Council Member  -  £500

SECTION 4.   MONEY INSURANCE
The scheme provides cover for cash, non-crossed postal orders, stamps etc. up to the limits stated below.   Crossed cheques, credit card vouchers and non-negotiable documents are covered up to a limit of £250,000.   You are also covered for losses up to £200 where a company goes into liquidation from which you have bought goods or services and which have not yet been delivered.
Limits for cash:

Please note that where money over £2,500 is involved two adult persons must accompany it at all times.  Sums in transit over £5,000 must be accompanied by three adults.
A £50 excess applies to each claim under this section.

SECTION 5.   EMPLOYER’S LIABILITY
This cover provides Indemnity of £10,000,000 for your legal liability for injury, illness or death to employees.   We appreciate that few member organisations have full time employees, but many members have part time or occasional paid help, which necessitates the Cover.   Examples are – swimming pool attendants and people paid to run clubs.   A Certificate to comply with the Employer’s Liability Act will be issued free to all members on request.

SECTION 6.   OPTIONAL ALL RISKS INSURANCE
The toys or equipment you buy and donate to the school may not be covered by your school insurance.   To protect your investments, you may in that case insure them yourself.

Your insurer offers an additional insurance for all risks.   This optional scheme provides Cover for Accidental Loss, destruction or damage to equipment purchased by the PTA/Parent Council (even when donated to the school) anywhere in the UK.   The Policy is on an annual basis, and is designed to cover the usual form of equipment purchased by PTAs/Parent Councils, such as computers, televisions, digital cameras, and the like.   The Policy is on a New for Old basis, and the Sums Insured should be based on the cost of replacing ALL the equipment as new.   Quotations available on request.

Principal Exclusions:

• The first £100 of each and every Claim.
• Theft Cover unless accompanied by forceful or violent entry into or exit from the building.
• Loss from an unattended vehicle.

Short Period Extensions are available for property temporarily in the custody/control of the organisation (see 1(i) on public liability).
Typical examples are Bouncy Castles, Fashion Show Goods, Model Railway Exhibitions, etc.
Marquees can also be covered subject to a minimum premium of £35.   Quotations available on request.

DO WE HAVE TO HAVE INSURANCE?
With some exceptions, such as employers’ liability, you are not legally obliged to insure your organisation against loss, damage or injury.   But, if any accident happens, individual members of PTAs could be sued for damages and individual members of the committee could be held personally financially liable for any loss, injury or damage.   With Parent Councils there is no personal liability for members but those who suffer injury may still be awarded damages which would have to be met.   Neither PTA/PA or Parent Council activities, including clubs, are covered by the school insurance.

DO WE HAVE TO BE MEMBERS OF SPTC
The Scottish Parent Teacher Council Membership Insurance Scheme is a group scheme and is only available to members.   Insurance is part of your overall membership and is not available on its own.

POLICY DETAILS
The Insurance Company is Allianz Cornhill and the policy number is 32/SZ/13881639/08.   Our insurance advisors are; Towergate Risk Solutions Ltd, Kettering Parkway, Kettering, Northants, NN15 6XZ.

WHAT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG?
If something goes wrong and you think there may be a claim against you, contact the SPTC office immediately - do not wait.   We will send an incident report form for you to complete and return to us.   Any claim will then be processed by the insurers.

 Return to previous page