Nanny
Requirements for risk assessments
A childcare factsheet
Introduction
The Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage sets out legal requirements that all providers must meet. This includes requirements relating to risk assessments. Providers must have a policy and procedures for assessing risks and must carry out risk assessments in two circumstances. These are in relation to: the environment (paragraph 3.63 of the Statutory framework) outings (paragraph 3.64 of the Statutory framework). This factsheet sets out our expectations relating to the policy and procedures and the identification, checking and recording of risks in these two areas.
Risk assessment policy and procedures
The Statutory framework requires providers to have a policy and procedures for assessing risks. You must have these in writing unless you are a childminder (paragraph 3.3 of the Statutory framework). There is no detail on what the policy and procedures must cover. We would normally expect them to cover how and when risk assessments are carried out, who is involved in assessing risks, what aspects they cover, what records are needed and how these must be kept. If you are a childminder you must be able to explain these arrangements to us if you do not have your policy and procedures in writing.
Risk assessments relating to the environment
The legal requirement is for risk assessments that identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis, when and by whom those aspects will be checked and how risks will be removed and minimised. The Statutory framework states that it is for providers to judge when these risk assessments should be in writing. However, providers must also comply with the requirements of health and safety legislation (paragraph 3.53) and providers must consider how they meet
the requirements for risk assessments in relation to that legislation where five or more people work together.1 The Statutory framework also
A childcare factsheet
Introduction
The Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage sets out legal requirements that all providers must meet. This includes requirements relating to risk assessments. Providers must have a policy and procedures for assessing risks and must carry out risk assessments in two circumstances. These are in relation to: the environment (paragraph 3.63 of the Statutory framework) outings (paragraph 3.64 of the Statutory framework). This factsheet sets out our expectations relating to the policy and procedures and the identification, checking and recording of risks in these two areas.
Risk assessment policy and procedures
The Statutory framework requires providers to have a policy and procedures for assessing risks. You must have these in writing unless you are a childminder (paragraph 3.3 of the Statutory framework). There is no detail on what the policy and procedures must cover. We would normally expect them to cover how and when risk assessments are carried out, who is involved in assessing risks, what aspects they cover, what records are needed and how these must be kept. If you are a childminder you must be able to explain these arrangements to us if you do not have your policy and procedures in writing.
Risk assessments relating to the environment
The legal requirement is for risk assessments that identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis, when and by whom those aspects will be checked and how risks will be removed and minimised. The Statutory framework states that it is for providers to judge when these risk assessments should be in writing. However, providers must also comply with the requirements of health and safety legislation (paragraph 3.53) and providers must consider how they meet
the requirements for risk assessments in relation to that legislation where five or more people work together.1 The Statutory framework also