The Insurance Section is responsible for ensuring that the Council’s exposure to financial loss is adequately covered by insurance. The Section currently arranges insurance for the work undertaken by the Council’s staff, property portfolio and motor fleet.
The following guidance is for DCC maintained schools only (not academies).
Summary of insurance
Employers liability certificate
Public liability insurance
Please note there is no certificate but the details are as follows:
- Insurer: QBE
- Renewal date: 1 January
- Cover: £50 million for any one incident
- Policy number: Y083736QBE0124A
Insurance for hirers or external suppliers
Please note that external suppliers or contractors utilised by the school and anyone who is hiring the school premises will need to have their own public liability insurance. The minimum level required is £5 million and the school is responsible for checking this.
School journey insurance
Motor insurance
If a DCC driver has a motor accident whilst driving one of our vehicles as part of their duties, you need to notify Transport Co-ordination Services (TCS) on 01392 383000 – when prompted ask for Leon Woodman. Alternatively, you can email leon.woodman@devon.gov.uk.
The driver will need to complete an incident report form and email it to leon.woodman@devon.gov.uk or fleet-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
If the accident involves a third party, please ensure that the relevant details are obtained including the third party’s name, address, vehicle make and registration number and insurance details if known.
The third-party may request details of our motor insurers which are as follows:
Insurer: QBE
Policy Number: Y083796FLT0124A
Claims handlers:
Gallagher Bassett
Wentworth House
Turnberry Park Road
Gildersome
Leeds
LS27 7LE
Telephone 01786 455800 or 0113 246 2050.
Please view the motor accident procedure for further advice.
Property insurance
DCC maintained schools are insured under a block policy with Zurich Municipal. Education buildings are insured for the full cost of reinstatement against the perils of fire, lightning, explosion, aircraft, storm, flood, burst pipes, impact, sprinkler leakage and subsidence. Cover for contents, however, is restricted to the perils of fire, lightning, explosion and aircraft.
However, schools have the option to take out additional cover for contents direct, should they wish, using their delegated budgets to pay the premium. Specialist local authority insurers, such as Zurich Municipal, will provide cover but schools are free to approach any broker or company they wish.
Aided schools are separately insured as they are owned by trustees rather than the Local Authority. Academy schools are also insured separately.
If you need to make an insurance claim for damage to the school, please complete a property damage claim form and return it to the Insurance Team at insurance@devon.gov.uk. You will be required to provide at least two repair quotations.
Claims against the Council
If you receive a letter of claim in connection with an incident that has occurred at your school, you must act promptly as there are strict deadlines to which the Council must adhere. Please scan the correspondence and email it to insurance@devon.gov.uk.
If you are unable to scan, please post to:
Insurance Section, Room G16,
County Hall,
Topsham Road,
Exeter, EX2 4QD
We will acknowledge the correspondence and notify our insurers. Our insurers will subsequently require a report of the incident so It would be useful if you could start to collate any relevant documents regarding the incident, including a copy of the accident book, witness statements or risk assessments.
In some instances, our insurers may appoint a firm of loss adjustors, Sterling UK Ltd, to carry out further enquiries with you. If you are contacted by Sterling please note that they act on our behalf and it will, therefore, be in order for you to provide them with any assistance or documentation they might need.
If the claim processes to court, our nominated solicitors will take over conduct of the matter, so you may have contact with them.
Useful contacts
General enquiries: insurance@devon.gov.uk
Emily Wilkins – Corporate Insurance Manager – 01392 383136
Jane Mason – Corporate Insurance Officer – 01392 382292
Robert Carter – Corporate Insurance Officer – 01392 385355