Introduction
At LoveSpring Nursery School, we are deeply committed to providing a secure, nurturing, and protected
environment for every child, staff member, parent, and visitor. This comprehensive Risk Assessment
Policy establishes our systematic approach to identifying, evaluating, and managing potential risks
throughout our nursery setting.
We serve children aged 6 months to 5 years at our Coventry location (CV1 5HA), operating from 7:00 AM
to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday, with a maximum capacity of 200 children. Our proactive risk management
ensures we maintain the highest standards of safety and wellbeing.
1. Policy Objectives
LoveSpring Nursery School aims to ensure that:
- All potential risks that could cause injury or harm to children, staff, parents, and visitors
are systematically identified and documented
- Appropriate and reasonably practicable control measures are implemented to prevent injury or
harm
- Risk assessments are conducted regularly, reviewed periodically, and updated whenever
circumstances change
- All staff members are trained in risk awareness and management procedures
- Parents and carers are informed about relevant risks and our protective measures
2. Legal Framework
Foundation Legislation
This policy is founded upon the following key legislation and guidance:
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 - Fundamental duty of care for employees
and others
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 - Risk assessment
requirements
- Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework 2024 - Safeguarding and
welfare requirements
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - Fire risk assessment
obligations
2.1 Specific Regulatory Requirements
| Regulation |
Assessment Requirement |
Application to Nursery |
| Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 |
Chemical and cleaning product risks |
Cleaning materials, art supplies, medications |
| Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 |
Lifting and carrying assessments |
Child handling, equipment movement |
| Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations |
Food preparation and storage risks |
Kitchen operations, meal times |
| EYFS Safeguarding Requirements |
Child protection and welfare risks |
Staff recruitment, premises security, outings |
3. Key Definitions
| Term |
Definition |
Nursery Example |
| Risk Assessment |
A systematic process of evaluating potential hazards and implementing control
measures to prevent harm |
Assessing outdoor play equipment for safety hazards |
| Hazard |
Any source, situation, or activity with potential to cause harm |
Wet floors, small toys, unsecured furniture |
| Risk |
The likelihood and severity of harm occurring from exposure to a hazard |
High risk: unfenced pond; Low risk: paper cuts |
| Control Measure |
Actions taken to eliminate, reduce, or manage risks |
Safety gates, soft flooring, staff supervision |
4. Roles and Responsibilities
4.1 Nursery Management
- Nursery Owner/Manager: Ultimate responsibility for risk assessment
implementation and compliance
- Health & Safety Coordinator: Day-to-day management of risk assessment processes
- Room Leaders: Specific risk assessments for their designated areas and
activities
4.2 Nursery Practitioners
- Participate actively in risk assessment processes for their areas of responsibility
- Implement and monitor control measures identified in risk assessments
- Report new hazards or concerns to the Health & Safety Coordinator immediately
- Maintain awareness of current risk assessments relevant to their work
4.3 Parent and Carer Responsibilities
- Inform nursery staff of any changes to their child's health or needs that might affect risk
assessments
- Follow nursery safety procedures during drop-off and collection times
- Report any safety concerns observed to nursery staff promptly
- Provide necessary information for individual medical or care risk assessments
4.4 Contractors and Visitors
- All contractors must provide method statements and risk assessments for their work
- Visitors must follow nursery safety procedures and sign in/out
- Contractors working during nursery hours require enhanced DBS checks and supervision
5. Risk Assessment Process
Six-Step Assessment Procedure
- Identify Hazards - Systematic inspection of activities, equipment,
environments, and processes
- Determine Who Might Be Harmed - Consider children, staff, visitors,
contractors, and vulnerable groups
- Evaluate Risks and Existing Controls - Assess likelihood and severity,
review current measures
- Implement Additional Controls - Apply hierarchy of controls: eliminate,
substitute, engineer, administer, PPE
- Record and Communicate Findings - Document assessment and ensure all
relevant parties are informed
- Regular Review and Update - Schedule reviews and respond to changes or
incidents
5.1 Risk Rating Matrix
| Likelihood/Severity |
Minor Injury |
Moderate Injury |
Major Injury |
Fatal/Catastrophic |
| Very Likely |
Medium Risk |
High Risk |
Extreme Risk |
Extreme Risk |
| Likely |
Medium Risk |
High Risk |
High Risk |
Extreme Risk |
| Unlikely |
Low Risk |
Medium Risk |
High Risk |
High Risk |
| Very Unlikely |
Low Risk |
Low Risk |
Medium Risk |
High Risk |
6. Key Assessment Areas
6.1 Regular Risk Assessments
| Assessment Type |
Frequency |
Responsible Person |
| Daily Premises Safety Check |
Daily (before children arrive) |
Opening Manager |
| Play Equipment Inspection |
Weekly |
Health & Safety Coordinator |
| Fire Safety Assessment |
Monthly |
Nursery Manager |
| Outings and Trips |
Per outing |
Trip Leader + Manager |
| Activity-specific Assessments |
Per new activity |
Activity Leader |
| Individual Child Risk Assessments |
As needed |
Key Person + SENCO |
6.2 Trigger Points for Immediate Review
- Following any accident or near-miss incident
- When new equipment is introduced or existing equipment modified
- When new activities are planned
- After changes to staffing arrangements or ratios
- When a child with specific medical or additional needs joins the nursery
- Following any significant changes to legislation or guidance
7. Monitoring and Review
7.1 Monitoring Schedule
- Daily: Visual safety checks by all staff
- Weekly: Equipment and environment checks by Room Leaders
- Monthly: Formal review of ongoing risk assessments by Management
- Termly: Comprehensive policy and procedure review
- Annually: Full policy review and approval process
7.2 Documentation and Records
- All risk assessments are documented using our standard templates
- Records are maintained for a minimum of 3 years
- Digital and hard copies are stored securely
- Parents can request to see risk assessments relevant to their children
8. Related Policies
Interconnected Policy Framework
This Risk Assessment Policy connects with and supports our other key policies:
- Health and Safety Policy - Overall safety management framework
- Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy - Protection from harm
- First Aid Policy - Emergency response procedures
- Outings and Visits Policy - Off-site safety management
- Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation Policy - Emergency preparedness
- Medication Administration Policy - Medical risk management
- Food and Nutrition Policy - Dietary and hygiene safety
