Risk Assessment Policy
Policy Statement
Whizz Kids nursery believes that the health and safety of children is of paramount importance. We make our nursery a safe and healthy place for children, parents, staff and volunteers by assessing and minimising the hazards and risks to enable the children to thrive in a healthy and safe environment.
Whizz Kids nursery uses its risk assessment systems to ensure that the nursery is a safe and secure place for children and staff. All staff is expected to undertake risk assessments as part of their routine tasks.
In line with current health and safety legislation and the EYFS Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements 2012, the nursery will carry out regular risk assessments and take appropriate action to deal with any hazards or risks identified. It is the responsibility of the manager to ensure that risk assessments are conducted, monitored and acted upon.
Risk assessments will be carried out:
- Daily
- Every 3 months where the risks directly affect the children we care for.
- Every 12 months for more general risk assessments.
- Whenever there is any change to the equipment or resources
- When there is any change to the nursery premises
- When the particular needs of a child necessitates this.
- Following an accident or incident or circumstances change that warrants a new risk assessment.
If changes are required to the nursery policies or procedures as a result of the risk assessment, the manager will ensure that the relevant documents are updated and that all staff is informed.
Daily checks
We carry out a visual inspection of the equipment and the whole premises (indoors and out) daily, before any children arrive. During the course of the session, staff will remain alert to any potential risks to health and safety.
If a member of staff discovers a hazard during the course of a session, they will make the area safe (e.g. by cordoning it off) and then notify the manager. The manager will ensure that any actions needed to mitigate the immediate hazard have been taken and will implement measures to prevent the incident from recurring.
Risk Assessment in Practice
Definitions
Hazard: something with the potential to cause harm.
Risk: the likelihood of the harm being realised and the severity.
Recording Risk Assessments
The “Significant findings” of the assessment must be recorded, and this includes:
- The significant hazards identified in the assessment. I.e. those hazards, which if not properly controlled, might pose serious risk to workers or other people who could be affected by the work activity.
- The existing control measures which are in place and how effectively they control the risks.
- The people who may be affected by the risks identified.
- The decisions taken as a result of the assessment. The results of the risk assessment and the preventative measures identified by it should be shared with those who could be affected by the hazard.
Responsibility for Carrying Out Risk Assessments
The managers will have the responsibility for ensuring that there are suitable and sufficient risk assessments for the areas they are responsible for. They may delegate the task of carrying out the assessment to “competent” staff.
Jadwiga Payravi is our nominated Risk Assessment co-ordinator and works directly with Gill Liu the manager on risk assessment issues.