How access control equipment could help schools to be outstanding

Ofsted visits are as stressful as it gets for school teachers and meeting their ever-changing criteria is a common source of headaches. While security equipment is by no means a fool-proof method of guaranteeing a positive outcome with Ofsted inspectors, there is evidence it could impress them.

Ofsted’s job is outlined as ‘inspecting and regulating to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people’. While Ofsted does not outline specific standards in their guidebooks regarding security, they do require that schools protect “their pupils, staff and property”.

The Ofsted inspector’s recommendation document helps schools and teachers to understand what aspects they find impressive at other schools around the UK. It highlights examples of security, in particular managing the follow of children and visitors using access control equipment.

Besides impressing Ofsted inspectors, access control equipment can provide some very practical benefits to schools. They can ensure that students stay safely inside the school buildings during the day, they can track staff entry and exit times, prevent truancy and prevent access to unwanted visitors. Access control equipment can include intercoms, keypads, cards, fobs or even turnstiles all of which can improve safety levels on-site.

For many schools, access control equipment is high on their agenda, but cost can often be a barrier due to shrinking budgets. Here at Gateway Automation we can help you find the most cost-effective option for your school while maintaining high standards of safety and control.

Are you interested in finding out more? Gateway Automation provide a range of perimeter security systems to help educational sites to secure their premises and also provides nationwide servicing and repairs to gates, barriers and other perimeter security equipment. To find out more, please contact us on 01522 68255 or take a look at our brochure which can be viewed here: http://www.gatewayautomation.co.uk/brochure/.

Smart perimeter security solutions for busy business owners

With rising crime rates and cuts to police budgets, many business owners are rightly concerned as to the effectiveness of relying solely on public services to protect their businesses from criminals.

Criminals are quite aware of the state of play and are becoming increasingly brazen in their attempts to target businesses in a wide range of industries.

However, when it comes to putting in place uncompromising security solutions, many business owners either don’t know where to start or simply don’t have the time to think about it. While this is true, securing your business is of utmost importance in 2019 and doesn’t necessarily need to be a drain on time and resources.

The first step to take is to ask a professional and experienced company to undertake a full risk assessment. Here at Gateway, rather than relying on guesswork, we use our knowledge and expertise built up over 40 years to determine the best products and services to shield you from crime.

Taking in the needs, processes and operational style of your business, a risk assessment helps create a security solution that works for your business. We look at your organisation and how it operates, what threats you face and the constraints of your location, buildings or other factors to help you and your employees to feel safe and secure in the face of criminal activity.

We provide a range of products to help businesses and individuals to secure their sites and also provide nationwide servicing and repairs to gates, barriers and other perimeter security equipment. Our customers include businesses operating in the following sectors:

• Hotel & Leisure
• Construction & Property Management
• Banking & Finance
• Commercial & Retail Centres
• Transport, Ports & Distribution
• Logistics
• Government & Defence
• Criminal Justice (Law Courts etc)
• Universities, Colleges & Schools

Whether your business runs from small retail premises or a large industrial site, we can provide you with a free, no-obligation risk assessment, feasibility survey and quotation to assess your perimeter security requirements. For more information or for further advice on how to protect your business premises from criminals, please contact us here.