Risk Assessment

It is our legal responsibility to ensure the safety of our children and staff as far as reasonably practicable. To ensure we do all we can to achieve this we carry out careful examinations of what could cause harm and take precautions to prevent it. There are five steps to ensuring risks are assessed effectively.

STEP ONE – IDENTIFY THE HAZARDS
STEP TWO – DECIDE WHO MIGHT BE HARMED AND HOW
STEP THREE – EVALUATE THE RISKS AND DECIDE ON PRECAUTIONS
STEP FOUR – RECORD YOUR FINDINGS AND IMPLEMENT THEM
STEP FIVE – REVIEW YOUR ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE IF NECESSARY

At St. Paulinus we are stringent in the regularity of the checks we carry out, and the way they are completed. In addition, we will carry out assessments if the need arises at times other than the scheduled occasions, for example if the circumstances of the children or staff change, this may be because of a medical reason, e.g., a pregnancy, or because of the needs of a new entrant, or child. Each person will be treated individually, and their safety needs met wherever practicable.

We also assess the equipment and toys we provide to ensure they are suitable for the age and stage of the children we are registered and insured for. This is done at the time they are purchased, during our planning stage, and when we set up each morning considering the range of children we have attending.

We carry out a yearly inspection of the building and garden. This is carried out in September each year because this is when we usually have our highest intake of new children, and we are in a better position, than the rest of the year, to judge the likely capability of the children on roll. The details of the findings are recorded and resolved as necessary. At this stage, it may be appropriate to add items to the ‘Daily Risk Assessment Morning Check List’. This list is used daily as a reminder to ensure the issues we are aware of are as safe as they can be before we open our doors to the children. We may also add concerns to the list during the year dependant on the circumstances of the staff, visitors, and new children.

Once the setting is open there are other procedures we follow during the day. We ensure all fire doors are securely closed should they have been opened. The front door has an open padlock kept on the bolt and the bolt kept in the closed position. When not in use the front door lock is also latched shut. Any visitors must prove their identity if they are not known to us and must record their visit in the visitors’ book.

All the staff are responsible for ensuring the floor of the main hall is kept clear of toys and equipment, and all spills must be dealt with promptly. The toilets are regularly checked for spillages, mess, and that there are adequate supplies of toilet roll, soap, and hand drying paper. The snack/lunch tables are wiped clean with antibacterial cleaner before and after use.

We check the condition of all the toys and equipment every time they are used and put away. Every summer we carry out a stock take of all the toys and equipment, and repair or dispose of all items that are found to be not fit for purpose.