1.1. Define what is meant by a risk assessment

This. guide will help you answer 1.1. Define what is meant by a risk assessment.

What is a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is a careful look at a place, activity or situation to find anything that might harm people. It is a way of checking for dangers and deciding what can be done to reduce or remove them. In early years and playwork settings, it means thinking about the safety of children, staff, visitors and sometimes parents.

It is a structured process. You look at possible hazards, decide who might be affected, and work out how likely each hazard is to cause harm. You then decide on actions to make that hazard less risky or to remove it altogether. These actions are called control measures.

In everyday work with children, risk assessments help you keep them safe while letting them explore and learn. The aim is not to remove all risk. Instead, it is to manage risk to a level where activities can take place safely.

What Does a Risk Assessment Include?

There are several features that make up a risk assessment. These include:

• A clear and systematic approach to spotting hazards
• Considering who could be harmed and how
• Judging the likelihood and seriousness of harm
• Writing down the findings and planned actions
• Reviewing and updating the assessment regularly

By following these steps, the process stays consistent and can be repeated for different situations.

Why Risk Assessments Are Done in Early Years and Playwork

In early years environments, children may not see danger as adults do. They explore with curiosity and sometimes act without thinking about safety. Risk assessments help identify hazards before they cause accidents.

Playwork settings often encourage active, creative and sometimes physical play. A certain level of risk is part of healthy child development. A risk assessment makes sure those risks are reasonable and not likely to cause serious injury.

They are done to:

• Protect children from harm
• Meet health and safety laws and guidance
• Reduce the chance of accidents
• Give staff confidence in planning activities
• Support safe environments indoors and outdoors

What is a Hazard and What is a Risk

The words hazard and risk are often confused, but they mean different things.

A hazard is anything that could cause harm. Common examples are:

• A wet floor
• Broken playground equipment
• Sharp scissors left within reach of toddlers

Risk is the chance that the hazard will cause harm, and how bad that harm might be. This depends on several factors such as the likelihood of an accident occurring and the severity of its consequences.

Example: A wet floor is a hazard. The risk is that someone could slip, fall and break a bone. The risk could be made lower by putting up warning signs and drying the floor quickly.

The Risk Assessment Process

The process is usually broken down into clear steps:

Step 1 – Identify the hazards

Walk around the area and look closely. Think about activities planned and how children use the space. Check inside and outside areas. Talk to other staff about near misses that have happened before.

Step 2 – Decide who might be harmed and how

This includes children, staff, parents and visitors. Think about differences in age, ability and physical strength. Young children, babies and children with disabilities may face higher or different risks.

Step 3 – Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions

For every hazard, ask yourself how likely it is to cause harm and how serious the harm could be. Then plan actions to make it safer. This can mean removing the hazard, limiting access, or supervising more closely.

Step 4 – Record your findings and implement them

Write down what you found, who is at risk, and what needs to be done. This shows you have checked and acted responsibly. Records can be paper-based or digital but should be accessible to staff.

Step 5 – Review and update the assessment

Situations change. New children join, equipment is added, and weather can affect outside spaces. Reviews help make sure the assessment is still correct.

Legal Duties and Guidance

In the UK, all workplaces must manage health and safety under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. For early years settings, this includes risk assessments.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to carry out risk assessments. These regulations state that employers must identify hazards, assess risks and take action to reduce them.

Settings that care for children must also follow childcare-specific guidance from Ofsted, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and local safeguarding procedures. Accurate risk assessments are part of meeting these requirements.

Examples of Risk Assessments in Childcare

Risk assessments can cover a wide range of situations in early years work:

• Outdoor play – Checking climbing frames for damage, assessing surfaces for slips, planning supervision
• Trips and outings – Considering transport safety, child/ staff ratios, potential hazards at the destination
• Meal and snack times – Spotting choking risks, checking allergies, managing hot food safely
• Sleep rooms – Reviewing cot placement, bedding safety, temperature control
• Creative activities – Managing scissor use, safe glue, no small parts for under-threes

Each has different hazards and risks. Written assessments show a plan is in place for each area.

How Risk Assessments Support Children’s Development

Risk assessments do not mean children are kept away from all challenging play. They make sure challenges are within safe limits. This supports healthy development.

Children learn balance, coordination, problem-solving and confidence by taking supervised risks. Climbing a frame or using art tools are good examples. The risk assessment helps staff judge whether those risks are acceptable and how to reduce harm if an accident happens.

They also help staff feel confident to offer a varied play environment. Without them, staff may either avoid activities or allow unsafe situations.

Positive Outcomes from Risk Assessments

Risk assessments bring benefits for the setting, children and staff:

• Fewer accidents and injuries
• Clear safety procedures for staff
• Parents gain trust in the setting’s care
• Compliance with legal duties
• Better planning of activities

They also give staff a shared understanding of what safe practice looks like. This supports teamwork.

Who Should Carry Out a Risk Assessment

Usually, a manager or designated health and safety officer takes the lead. In small settings, it may be a senior practitioner. All staff can contribute by spotting hazards and reporting them.

Staff who know the environment well will make more accurate assessments. Training can help all workers understand how to look for hazards and judge risks.

Recording Risk Assessments

Good records make it easier to check that actions were taken. They show inspectors and parents that you have thought carefully about safety.

Written records should include:

• Date of assessment
• Names of people who carried it out
• Details of hazards found
• Who might be harmed
• Risk level and planned actions
• Date for review

Checklists, tables and forms can make recording quick and clear.

Reviewing Risk Assessments

Reviews are as important as the first assessment. Hazards can change quickly, so updates keep the information fresh.

Times to review include:

• After an accident or near miss
• Before starting a new activity
• If new equipment or furniture is added
• When seasons change, like icy winter play areas

Reviews make sure safety stays effective throughout the year.

How to Make Risk Assessments Work in Practice

Making risk assessments part of daily work stops them from becoming a tick-box exercise. This means:

• All staff stay alert to changes in risk
• Hazards are reported and acted on quickly
• Control measures are explained to new staff
• Parents are told about safety plans when needed

When risk assessments are active tools, they support staff decisions every day.

Tips for Better Risk Assessments

A risk assessment works best if it is:

• Clear and easy for all staff to understand
• Based on accurate, current information
• Directly linked to the activities children do
• Reviewed at times you set in a schedule
• Supported by training and teamwork

Avoid making risk assessments too complicated. In childcare, a practical and plain approach works well.

Final Thoughts

Risk assessments are a core part of keeping children safe in early years and playwork settings. They help you balance safety with active, enriching play. A good risk assessment is a living document that guides decisions and responds to changes.

By spotting hazards, judging risks and planning sensible precautions, you can reduce harm and support positive environments for children to grow and learn. This benefits everyone in the setting and meets the legal and professional duties expected in childcare.