Cyp 3.8 1.2

1.1 Describe the factors to take into account when planning healthy and safe indoor and outdoor environments and services.

The health and safety requirements of all pupils and adults must be taken into consideration before starting any learning activity and we must ensure that the learning environment is free from any hazard that could affect a person’s health and safety.
We have a duty of care to provide a safe and secure learning environment for our children and to ensure their comfort and needs are met, regardless of age, and ability. There are certain factors that should always be taken into account when planning healthy and safe activities;
The general space;
There should be enough room for children to move freely around the learning
area. They should be able to access all the learning resources safely without causing risk to any other individual.
Light and noise;
There should always be sufficient light to enable the children to work in comfort, however over head lights can be harsh and can cause discomfort over prolonged periods of time. Blinds need to be used at all windows to ensure that sunlight can be restricted and the room kept cool.
Loud noises can be unsettling for some children, especially those with autism. A quiet calm classroom environment will be crucial for these children to ensure their comfort. Sometimes it may not be possible to have a silent class but instilling class rules will enable the children to be calm more easily.
Specific risks to individuals;
There are a few specific risks that will only affect a certain individual at any one time that will need to be taken into consideration. A child, young person or adult with a sensory impairment will need to have their individual needs taken into consideration when planning to guarantee their safety. Those with a visual impairment will need clear access to tables and work spaces with extra care being taken to ensure no obstacles cause a risk or hazard.
A pregnant adult, either Teacher, TA or visitor to the class room will need to be able to conduct their role safely to ensure the safety of the unborn child. Hazards for a pregnant woman could be slips or trips, lifting, chemicals being used within a lesson or working with a behaviourally challenged child. All of these should be risk assessed prior to the lesson, activity being carried out.
There may be instances where an individual within the learning group requires a wheelchair or another type of mobility aid. Planning should include the facility to enable the user to freely move around the learning environment, whilst being able to access all the resources.
Age and ability of children and young people;
The age and ability of all children and young people should always be taken into consideration when planning healthy and safe activities.
The class room environment for Early Years Foundation Stage children should ideally have safety locks on cupboards containing paints and glues, window catches and socket covers. All play equipment should be regularly serviced and checked daily to ensure safe play. Records should be kept of tests on electrical appliances and safety checks on play equipment to prove our due diligence and to ensure that we are working to best practice.

The needs of a child or young person with a special educational need may differ from the needs of another child the same age, so provision must be made in your planning to incorporate them.
Furniture;
Classroom furniture should meet the needs of the child or young person to ensure comfort and posture. Tables should be large enough for a child to work without encountering someone else’s elbows and chairs should be the right size.
Organisation;
The function and purpose of the environment must be taken into consideration when planning an activity. In senior schools certain classrooms are used for specific lessons, ie, cookery rooms, art rooms, science labs, etc but in primary schools it is unusual for rooms to be allocated for these purposes due to space and
finance.
When planning an activity or lesson it is necessary to ensure that the environment you choose to conduct it in is suitable for the purpose. There should be adequate storage space for equipment to be stored safely, and labelled containers for storage and everything should be easily accessible.
Cupboard tops should not be used to stack equipment due to the risk of it falling down and causing injury.
All toys and equipment should be put away safely when the activity/ event has finished.
Outside activities;
All areas outside the normal classroom environment will need risk assessment before being used and all hazards noted and safety measures put in place if needed.
School boundaries and fencing should be secure, play equipment should be safe and regularly serviced, glass, dogs mess and litter should be removed prior to use and plants should be checked to ensure nothing toxic is evident.
Regular maintenance by contractors to cut grass and remove thistles and brambles is also a good idea.
Areas that contain sand boxes should be checked for animal waste, ponds should be covered to protect the children from drowning and all toys should be appropriate to the space available.
Lines of responsibility and accountability;
All adults within the schools environment have a duty to protect the children and their colleagues and should immediately notify the designated person responsible for health and safety if anything is brought to their attention.
Desired outcomes;
Desired outcomes should always be taken into account when planning activities involving children and young people.
• Is the space allocated suitable for the learning objective?
• Is all equipment suitable, safe and appropriate for the ages and needs of the children involved?
• Are we adhering to health and safety regulations?
• Are all the adults working with the children safe from harm and injury?
• Are current adult/ child ratios being adhered too?
• Is there a first aider present?
• Are the 5 outcomes of Every Child Matters being met?
If all of the above have been taken into consideration when planning activities, then the child or young person will learn in an environment that is safe and healthy.