The health and safety of children while attending nurseries is extremely important as parents trust their children with responsible and fully trained staff for many hours a day every week.
The Childcare Act 2006 states that the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework must be implemented to ensure the health and safety of all children while attending nursery.
This includes the completion of regular risk assessments and the requirement for paediatric first aid trained early years practitioners to be on site at all times.
What are the Main Health and Safety Risks in Nurseries?
Potential health and safety risks in nurseries include:
Choking
Falling objects
Old play equipment
Unhygienic areas such as toilets and baby changing facilities
Inadequate supervision
Poorly trained staff
Health and safety in nurseries is vital as it is a setting responsible for taking care of young and vulnerable children. A regular risk assessment must be performed to identify any potential hazards which must be safely managed to reduce the risk of accidents and injury.
The HSE states that 55% of accidents in education are caused by slips or trips which can be due to wet floors or toys and equipment left out on the floor of the nursery.
These accidents can be preventable with sufficient procedures in place such as a ‘clean and clear as you go’ policy which will help to avoid injuries from bruises and scrapes to broken bones.
Outside areas can also cause injuries in nurseries and so the play areas should be well maintained with flat surfaces to help avoid accidents. Soft impact surfaces can be used and children should be supervised at all times.
Childproofing and Safety Equipment
Providing the most suitable childproofing and safety equipment will increase the health and safety of both the children and staff in the nursery and create an environment in which the growing children will thrive.
A nursery needs to be a safe environment to ensure the safeguarding of all children in their care as well as meet the welfare and health and safety requirements made by the government. Parents need to feel reassured that their children are receiving the best care under constant supervision in a safe environment.
A risk assessment is used to help nurseries identify any items of furniture or surfaces in the venue that requires childproofing and the use of safety equipment to minimise the risk of any hazards causing injury.
Child Friendly Environments
Childproofing will help to create a child friendly environment in the nursery which keeps them safe while still allowing them a certain level of freedom and room to explore and grow.
Childproofing can include:
Locks on cabinet doors that contain medicine or cleaning substances
Soft padding on furniture with sharp corners
Socket Covers
Safety gates on stairs
However, the HSE understands that it is important that children are able to take risks in nursery settings to help develop growth, claiming;
Children will often be exposed to play environments which, while well managed, carry a degree of risk and sometimes potential danger.
The HSE want to ensure that “mistaken health and safety concerns do not create sterile play environments that lack challenge and so prevent children from expanding their learning and stretching their abilities.”
Safety Equipment Checklist
Safety equipment should also be installed and be readily available to further increase the safety of all children and staff in the nursery. This should include:
Fire alarms
Smoke detectors
Fire extinguishers
First aid kits
Baby monitors
Socket Covers
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Child Safety Cabinet locks
The safety equipment should all be regularly checked and maintained to ensure they are in good condition and will work correctly at all times. The nursery staff should also receive appropriate training to ensure they all know how to use the safety equipment if and when required.
Safety Policies and Procedures
According to the Health and Safety Act 1974, all nurseries must provide a safe environment for all children and staff and the manager is responsible for all health and safety matters on the premises.
The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework lists the required statutory policies which must be followed in all nursery and early education settings which are:
Safeguarding
A safeguarding policy must be reviewed annually to ensure the safety of children and staff in the nursery, covering trained staff recruitment, equipment suitability, and appropriate responses to accidents, illnesses, and emergencies.
Nursery Visitors
A strict visitor policy must be in place to protect children. Visitors should be identified, approved, and always accompanied by staff, never left alone with children.
Children who are ill or infectious
A policy for ill children should specify how many days they must stay home due to illness, diarrhoea, vomiting, or Covid to protect others. This policy should be regularly updated with the latest guidance, especially for Covid.
Administration of Medication
This important policy requires clear, straightforward language to ensure children receive proper care. It outlines how to gather essential information about each child's medication needs, emergency contact details, and staff training requirements.
Missing or Left Child
A procedure must be in place for when a parent fails to pick up their child on time, and this must be shared with parents upon joining the nursery to ensure child safety. Additionally, there should be a procedure for handling situations where a child goes missing at the nursery or during outings.
Emergency Evacuation
Nurseries must implement an emergency evacuation plan for fire or other dangers, ensuring a quick and safe exit for all. The plan should identify a safe meeting point for accounting everyone and be clearly displayed in public areas to ensure everyone knows the procedure.
Complaints and Concerns
Nurseries should aim to provide exceptional service, but occasional complaints may occur. A procedure for handling verbal and written complaints should be in place, and staff should be trained to manage parental complaints, especially when emotions are high.
Child Safe Sleep Practices
The Lullaby Trust provides a safer sleep awareness guide to be used for babies up to 12 months to provide awareness for nursery staff of the risks of the rare sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
The advice given includes:
Place babies on their backs to sleep
Check frequently on the sleeping children
Ensure the bedding and cots are in good condition
Firmly tuck in sheets and blankets up to shoulder height
Room temperature should be between 16 and 20℃
Place the babies feet to foot at the bottom of the cot to prevent wriggling
Staff Training on Safety Protocols
Staff should receive role-specific training that is renewed every two years to maintain skills.
This training includes:
Health and Safety
Paediatric First Aid
Manual Handling
Fire Safety
Medication Administration
The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework mandates induction training covering child protection, safeguarding, evacuation procedures, and health and safety.
Proper training ensures staff know how to care for children, reassuring parents of their safety. Health and safety protocols must be followed at all times to create a safe, clean, and enjoyable environment.
The framework also requires at least one person with a paediatric first aid qualification on-site or on outings, with training renewed every three years. Additionally, staff should be trained in manual handling to prevent injury and conduct risk assessments to ensure the safe use of equipment and proper lifting techniques for children and babies.
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