What Are Control Measures in Early Years?

Control measures in early years are steps taken to reduce or remove risks to children, staff and visitors. These measures help create a safe environment in early years settings such as nurseries, preschools and childminder homes. They are part of health and safety practice and form an important role in safeguarding children.

Risks can come from equipment, activities, the building, or from people. Control measures make these risks smaller or stop them completely. They can be as simple as putting covers over plug sockets or as detailed as creating policies for staff behaviour.

Purpose of Control Measures

The main purpose of control measures is to protect children. Young children are curious and often unaware of danger. They explore with their senses and can put themselves in unsafe situations without meaning to. Control measures keep them safe while still allowing them to learn and play.

Control measures protect staff too. They reduce the chance of accidents, injuries or health problems at work. They give staff clear steps to follow when dealing with risks.

They help an early years setting comply with laws such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework. These laws require settings to provide a safe place for children to learn and develop.

Identifying Risks Before Planning Control Measures

Before putting control measures in place, staff must spot the risks present in the setting. This is usually done through a risk assessment. Risk assessment involves looking at:

• Activities planned for children
• Physical environment including indoor and outdoor areas
• Equipment and materials used
• People entering or leaving the setting
• Medical needs and allergies of children

By identifying risks, staff can put in place control measures that directly match the dangers found. This links the safety action to the real problem.

For example, if the risk is a child slipping on a wet floor, a control measure could be placing warning signs, cleaning spills straight away, and keeping floors dry during active play.

Types of Control Measures in Early Years

There are many types of control measures in an early years setting. These can be split into physical measures, procedural measures, and protective equipment.

Physical Measures

Physical measures are changes made to the space or equipment. These include:

• Safety gates to block stairs
• Padding on sharp furniture edges
• Lockable cabinets for cleaning products
• Secure fencing around outdoor play areas
• Covers for electrical sockets

Small changes in layout can be effective. Placing heavy items at low levels prevents them from falling. Positioning tables and chairs to allow easy movement reduces trips and falls.

Procedural Measures

Procedural measures are rules or ways of working that guide staff actions.

Examples include:

• Supervision ratios, such as one adult for every two babies
• Signing children in and out to control access
• Fire evacuation drills practiced regularly
• Allergy management procedures for snack time
• Clear behaviour policies for staff and children

Procedures should be written down in the setting’s policies and explained to staff during induction and training. Consistency strengthens safety.

Protective Equipment

Protective equipment reduces harm if an incident happens.

Examples are:

• Disposable gloves when changing nappies
• Aprons for messy activities
• Sun hats for outdoor play in hot weather
• Non-slip shoes for staff
• Safety helmets or knee pads for certain physical activities

This equipment helps prevent injury and can stop germs spreading.

Common Hazards Controlled in Early Years Settings

Control measures are used against many hazards seen in early years environments. Hazards are anything that could cause harm.

Some common hazards are:

• Falls from climbing or running
• Burns from hot drinks or cooking activities
• Choking on small objects during play
• Cuts from sharp tools or broken toys
• Infection from poor hygiene or illness
• Exposure to harmful substances
• Fire from faulty equipment or unsafe practice

By recognising these hazards, settings can plan control measures for each situation.

How Control Measures Are Applied Day to Day

Control measures work best when applied regularly. This means staff need to follow them every day not just during inspections.

Daily application can include:

• Starting the day with safety checks of toys, equipment and the environment
• Keeping toxic materials out of reach at all times
• Watching children closely during risky activities such as climbing or cooking
• Cleaning equipment before and after use
• Staying aware of changes in the group such as a child with a new medical condition

Routine use keeps safety consistent and builds habits among staff.

Role of Staff in Applying Control Measures

Staff have the main responsibility for using control measures. Their role includes spotting hazards, following safety procedures, and reporting problems.

Staff should:

• Read and understand all policies
• Take part in training sessions
• Record risks in a log or checklist
• Communicate with colleagues about safety matters
• Encourage children to take part in safe behaviour

Children can be taught simple safety rules like sitting while eating or walking indoors. This adds another layer to control measures.

Monitoring and Reviewing Control Measures

Control measures need to be checked to make sure they still work. This is called monitoring. Staff look at incidents, near-misses and feedback to see if adjustments are needed.

Reviewing means updating measures when things change. A change could be new equipment, a different building layout or new laws.

Settings should review:

• Risk assessments every term or after major changes
• Incident reports to spot patterns
• Staff feedback about any problems with measures

This keeps control measures up to date and relevant.

Legal Duties Linked to Control Measures

UK law requires early years providers to keep children safe. There are several pieces of legislation to follow.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 says employers must protect staff and others from harm. The EYFS statutory framework adds further rules for early years providers.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations require safe storage and use of chemicals. This includes cleaning liquids and art materials.

The Food Safety Act 1990 sets rules for food hygiene and safe preparation in settings.

Control measures help meet these legal duties by preventing harm before it happens.

Involving Parents and Visitors

Parents and visitors play a part in keeping the environment safe. Settings can share control measures with them. This can be done through welcome packs, newsletters or signs.

For example, letting parents know about allergy rules can stop unsafe snacks being brought in. Explaining drop-off and pick-up rules prevents accidents at doorways or gates.

Visitors such as maintenance workers should be told about safety procedures when they arrive. This keeps risks lower for everyone.

Teaching Safety to Children

Children benefit from learning about safety. Age-appropriate teaching can take place during daily routines and activities.

Examples:

• Explaining why hands need washing before eating
• Showing how to use play equipment safely
• Discussing staying in certain areas during outdoor play
• Talking about stranger danger in simple terms

These lessons become part of the control measures because they influence behaviour and reduce unsafe actions.

Recording Control Measures

Documentation is an important step. Writing down control measures makes them clear for everyone and provides proof of compliance with legal standards.

Records can include:

• Risk assessment forms
• Daily safety checklists
• Maintenance logs for equipment
• Training records for staff
• Incident reports

Accurate records help in inspections and show that the setting takes safety seriously.

Adapting Control Measures for Different Age Groups

Control measures should match the age and development stage of the children.

Babies and toddlers need more physical safety measures like stair gates and soft flooring. They also require closer supervision and smaller group sizes.

Preschool children can follow more verbal safety instructions. They may still need padded furniture but can be taught rules about play behaviour.

Older children in mixed age settings can manage simple responsibilities such as helping keep areas tidy. This supports the control measures.

Examples of Control Measures in Practice

Here are some practical examples showing control measures in action:

• A nursery places safety mats under climbing frames to reduce injury from falls
• Snack preparation follows allergy control procedures including checking food labels
• Daily outdoor checks remove broken toys or litter before play begins
• Cleaning staff follow COSHH guidelines and wear protective gloves
• Evacuation maps are displayed by doors for fire safety awareness

These examples show how measures work in real situations.

Final Thoughts

Control measures in early years protect children, staff and visitors from harm. They involve changes to the environment, the way staff work, and the equipment used. Each measure is designed to match a risk that has been identified in the setting.

Strong control measures start with careful risk assessment. They are supported by daily practice, clear records, training and regular review. They keep safety consistent and give children the freedom to explore and learn in a secure environment.

By applying control measures well, early years settings build trust with parents and meet their legal duties. The result is a space where safety and learning can grow side by side.