Features

Safer Practices Part 5: Prioritise your risk assessments

The latest in this series looks at the importance of ongoing risk assessmentsto ensure child safety. By Nicole Weinstein

Two recent incidents where children’s safety was compromised highlight the need to ensure safety remains a key priority for managers grappling with staffing issues.

Childcare settings have a statutory duty to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to keep children safe and well, as set out in the Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework. This includes ensuring the safety and suitability of premises, the environment and equipment.

However, despite the best of intentions, children’s safety can be compromised in a split second, which is why it is vital to conduct regular risk assessments and ensure that staff are vigilant and report hazards or concerns.

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