Child Insurance
Most schools offer three main types of insurance cover for parents and children:
Personal Accident Insurance provides compensation in the event of a permanent disability or death. The child is covered for the duration of the school term including the uninterrupted journey to the school prior to the commencement of term plus the following holiday period. Compensation will also be paid in the event of a minor injury such as the loss of a tooth to the more serious such as the loss of a limb to the ultimate, death. The school can supply full details of the insurance policy. The premium per term is currently around £6.00 and most schools insist that parents take out this insurance for their child. Certain schools provide this cover on an opt out basis - i.e. policies are written for students and the premium is charged as an extra, unless parents specifically elect to make their own arrangements for alternative cover. Parents may also choose to provide private health and/or dental cover for their child and this is available through most schools at around £60.00 per term.
Personal Effects insurance covers loss of or damage to a child's personal property over the period of the official school term which includes uninterrupted journeys to and from the school at the beginning and end of each term. Certain items such as contact lenses are not covered as are certain types of damage or breakage, for example, general wear and tear or broken strings on musical instruments. The maximum sum insured varies according to the policy chosen with a maximum amount for any single article, so parents should inquire about extra cover for expensive items such as computers and stereo equipment. The insurance provider will insist upon expensive single items being specified. The premium per term is currently from around £8.00 depending on the level of cover chosen and parents should make it clear if they wish to take out this insurance for their child. A recent survey showed that children take around £3000-worth of clothing and equipment with them to boarding school.
Insurers recommend that parents minimise risk by taking the following precautions:
• Parents must ensure that their child's name is put on valuable items. Use indelible markers and nametapes for clothing and etch an identity number or name on calculators, bikes or sports equipment.
• Parents must check if the school has a safe or valuables storage unit for pupils' belongings. At some schools boarders can use certain equipment only at the weekends and during the week it must be locked safely away.
• Parents should notify the school if their child is keeping valuable items in their room.
• For smaller valuables, parents should ensure their child has a locked money-box and that mobile phones and laptops are password protected.
• Parents should keep an accurate and up-to-date inventory of all the valuables their children take with them to boarding school and be sure to review the change in value each year as new items are purchased and old ones replaced.