Service Description 

The Insurance Section arranges a full insurance programme for all participating schools by means of conventional insurance policies and self-insurance fund. 

SLA services offered

  • The arrangement of insurance policies with reputable insurers 
  • The maintenance of an actuarially measured insurance fund 
  • The processing and  management of claims 
  • The provision of advice on all insurance and risk matters 
  • The provision of engineering inspections 
  • Loss Control Surveys 
  • Buildings Insurance Revaluations 
  • Updates of landmark claims development 
  • Post loss advice and recommendation  

SLA pricing

  • The cost of the service is based on the cost of external premiums, and the claims cost to the internal insurance fund. 
  • The cost of compulsory insurance cover is divided among the individual schools based on the number of pupils on roll. 
  • The 2019/2020 costs is set to increase only by the normal index link uplift. 
  • However, the increases will not take effect until we have been able to analyse the impact. Therefore, only the index uplift will apply for now as follows: 

Charge for 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 

Primary and Special Schools 

£30.24  per pupil 

Secondary PFI 

£19.86  per pupil 

Secondary Non PFI 

£29.13  per pupil 

Insurance Cover detail

Participating Schools are obliged to buy the compulsory insurances, premiums of which are as detailed above based on pupil numbers.  

Compulsory Insurances are as follows: 

  • Property Damage - covers school buildings, computers and contents for the full, declared reinstatement value following insured loss or damage. Building damage claims are subject to a £500.00 excess. Staff personal property is not covered 
  • Employers' Liability - insurance covering legal liability of the school to pay compensation and cost of litigation in the event of property damage, bodily injury, death or disease sustained by employees (including volunteers) in the course of their employment. 
  • Public Liability - insurance covering legal liability of the School to pay compensation for property damage, bodily injury, death or disease to third parties, pupils and visitors to the school arising from the operation of school business. 
  • Fidelity Guarantee – covers financial thefts by employees; misappropriation of the school's money or other property up to a limit of £10,000,000 for any one incident.  The first £500 of each claim is excluded. 
  • Libel and Slander – covers legal liability of schools to pay compensation including legal fees for written and/or spoken words as determined by the courts. Cover is extended to School Governors in respect of claims arising out of educational activities. 
  • Engineering Insurance – this insurance provides for the inspection of plant such as heating boilers and lifting equipment. If such plant is subsequently damaged then the Insurance will pay for repair or replacement. 
  • Motor Insurance – Cover is arranged via Transport Services of Merton Council.  

Optional Insurances: 

  • School Trip Insurance: Provides travel insurance cover for pupils and accompanying adults; accidental death, permanent bodily injury, hospital confinement, medical expenses, loss of money, personal effects, delay and cancellation. Premiums are on declaration basis: details on the schools extranet. 
  • Third Party Hirer's Insurance: ensures hirers of the school premises have adequate public liability insurance. Where the hirer do not have Public liability insurance of their own, the school can offer cover from the pre-arranged blanket policy and add the cost to the letting fees. Schools who offer Public Liability Insurance to the hirer should add 9% to the hire cost per occasion, with a minimum charge of £1.  Remittance of the premiums are on a declaration basis: details on the schools' extranet.   

School's Responsibilities: 

  • To report promptly any loss/damage and/or injury to the Insurance Section within 24 hours of becoming aware of a loss. 
  • To forward unanswered, all letters of claim from third parties to the Insurance Section within 7 days. 
  • To provide all assistance as required in claims information reporting and investigation. 
  • To report to the Insurance Section all material changes in the value of school property whether from acquisition or improvement. (A material change is any change likely to alter the view on insurance from that held at inception e.g. the erection of a new building.) 
  • To ensure the school complies with all regulations imposed by any competent authority and take all reasonable precautions to prevent or minimise accident, loss or damage. 
  • To ensure all appropriate risk assessments and material are in place for the above terms.  Failure to provide this may result in loss of cover.  
  • To provide assistance during property loss control surveys. 
  • To provide assistance, where appropriate, to help the Insurance Section deliver its services. 
  • To ensure all appropriate risk assessments and material are in place for the above terms.  Failure to provide this may result in loss of cover. 
  • To be responsible for the policy excess in the event of  a claim  

Contacts

If you require additional information please contact either: 

Moji Odusoga
Insurance Manager
Email: moji.odusoga@merton.gov.uk   

Bilquis Nizam
Senior Insurance Officer 
Email: bilquis.nizam@merton.gov.uk 

  

Motor Insurance only

Vicky Murray 

Transport Support Services Manager 

Email: vicky.murray@merton.gov.uk 

  

Christine Wilson 

Transport Support Services 

Email: christine.wilson@merton.gov.uk 

Reporting a Claim

Obtain the appropriate claim form on the website or Schools Extranet and send to: 

Email: insuranceclaims@merton.gov.uk