Safety and Suitability of Premises, Environment and Equipment. - “Helping every child achieve and enhance children’s development through the Awe and wonder of learning”.

9.0 Risk Assessment Policy & Procedure

Policy StatementThe purpose of this policy is to ensure that hazards are identified, risks are assessed and removed or minimised to an acceptable level, creating a safer environment in which children are able to thrive.

Little Ducklings Preschool ensures that all areas, equipment, activities, resources and outings are a safe place for our children to be. We encourage ways of working that ensures child safety, employees and all other persons that come to Little Ducklings Preschool.

Mrs Parker is responsible for ensuring this policy is implemented and will undertake any relevant training to support their role. It is the responsibility of all members of staff to bring to Mrs Parker’s attention any concerns regarding health and safety, to which any concerns raised will be logged and action implemented.

Little Ducklings Preschool recognises that children need a level of risk in their activities and outings, in order to ensure they continue to develop, but these risks are assessed to ascertain whether they are appropriate or not to the ages and stages of development of the children.

All members of staff are responsible for the health and safety of themselves, children and any other persons on Little Ducklings Preschool site and have regard to the Staff’s Citation Law Employee Handbook – Risk Assessment section. Relevant training is booked for staff.

Our Health and Safety policies and procedures form part of any new staff induction process, along with risk assessments and fire drills. These take place during the first week of their employment with us.

Risk assessments are conducted to assess the environment, identify hazards and minimise risks, to ensure that our premises is safe and suitable for all children, employees and any other person that comes onto Little Ducklings Preschool site.

Risk assessments are kept on site and accessible at all times. This informs staff on Risk Assessment practice and demonstrates how we manage such risks. Our Risk Assessment folder is located on the shelf, in the office.

Risk assessments are a working progress document and continually carried out. They contain the date of the review, action taken and who reported the risk.

Daily checks are carried out, both inside and out prior to children accessing the areas.

COSHH legislation is followed and assessments made and recorded in the Risk assessment folder under its own heading.

Breaches in this policy will be subject to our Disciplinary Procedure, which can be found in our Staffing and Employment policy, under the heading Suitable People, which is in our Policy folder.

Risk Assessment ProcedureWhen conducting Risk Assessments staff will: Walk around the setting and identify potential hazards. Evaluate the level of risk, considering who may be harmed and how. Where it is helpful, the risk assessment will be written in relation to specific issues,

to record any existing precautions and any action necessary to further minimise the risk.

Written risk assessments record who carried out the assessment, the date of the assessment and the review days.

This policy should be read in conjunction with our Health and Safety policy, which is no. 1 in this section.More information on COSHH can be found at:www.HSE.gov.ukThis policy was adopted and adapted at Little Ducklings Preschool

Held on 11th February 2016

Date to be reviewed 11th February 2017

Signed on behalf of Little Ducklings NABrookerRole of Signatory Owner / Manager