Risk Assessment in Early Years

Each child and every adult using your provision has the right to feel safe and secure. Assessing the risks in your environment is an important part of this; it involves you identifying potential hazards and considering any actions which may need to be taken to minimise the risk that they pose.

Risk assessment is something that most of us will do naturally in many environments, for instance, when walking in a wintry environment we may choose to wear boots with good grips, or avoid the patch of ground which is covered in ice. If we walk into a play room and see a small chair upturned then we will choose to pick it up in case anyone falls over it. Risks within the early years environment will vary in severity and although we may consider each risk, not all will need to be formally written down.

 

Useful Downloads

Risk Assessment Questions

A section of the Health and Safety Executive website which focuses on risk

The Food Standards Agency

North Yorkshire’s Fire and safety website Useful documents

HSE - 5 Steps to Risk assessment