Home › Education › Forest School Risk Assessment
Forest School Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe your forest school setting — woodland location, activities planned, age group, supervision arrangements. We generate a fully written, UK-compliant forest school risk assessment covering all outdoor learning hazards in minutes.
Used by forest school leaders, primary schools, nurseries and early years settings across the UK
🌳 Planning tool use, fire lighting, or rope activities? Mention them — we'll include age-appropriate controls, supervision ratios, tool safety protocols, and staff training requirements specific to forest school pedagogy.
Legal Requirements for Forest Schools
Forest schools must comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which requires a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for all work activities involving employees and participants. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, specifically Regulation 3, require employers to assess risks to employees and others affected by their work — including children participating in outdoor learning.
For early years settings, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework requires providers to take all reasonable steps to ensure staff and children are not exposed to risks and must identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis. Section 3.65 explicitly requires risk assessment for outings and activities outside the setting.
Schools must comply with Regulation 16 of the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, which requires a written health and safety policy and appropriate risk assessments. Forest schools operating from school premises must integrate their risk assessments into the school's overall health and safety framework.
The Outdoor Education Advisers' Panel (OEAP) National Guidance provides sector-specific advice on managing outdoor learning, including forest schools. While not legislation, Ofsted and local authorities expect settings to follow OEAP guidance when conducting outdoor activities. A comprehensive, written forest school risk assessment demonstrates compliance with these expectations and protects both children and staff.
How It Works
1. Describe Your Setting
Tell us about your woodland location, the age group of participants, planned activities (tool use, fire lighting, shelter building, foraging), weather conditions, and any site-specific hazards such as ponds, steep slopes, or proximity to roads. Mention your supervision arrangements and staff qualifications.
2. Let the App Take the Strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant forest school risk assessment referencing EYFS requirements, OEAP guidance, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Every hazard is assessed with age-appropriate controls.
3. Instant Download and Use
Download as PDF and Word. Share with parents, submit to Ofsted, present to governors, or file for compliance purposes. Edit the Word document for site-specific updates. £29, no subscription.
What It Covers
Every forest school risk assessment is written in full — covering all woodland hazards and outdoor learning activities relevant to your setting.
Slips, trips and falls on uneven woodland terrain
Tree hazards — dead wood, low branches, falling debris
Tool use — knives, saws, bow drills, peelers (age-appropriate protocols)
Fire lighting and campfire safety — supervision and burn injury prevention
Rope work and shelter building activities
Foraging and plant identification — poisonous plants and allergens
Weather exposure — cold, wet, heat, sun protection
Insect stings and tick-borne disease prevention
Safeguarding in outdoor settings — supervision ratios and visibility
Emergency access and first aid provision in remote woodland
Ponds, streams and water hazards
Wildlife encounters — dogs, livestock, nettles, brambles
Transport to and from woodland sites
EYFS statutory framework compliance and Ofsted expectations
Works For
From nursery nature sessions to primary school forest school programmes, Anyrisks covers every outdoor learning setting.
What Customers Say
"Our Ofsted inspector specifically asked to see our forest school risk assessment. Anyrisks covered everything — tool use, fire safety, supervision ratios — and she was satisfied immediately."
Rachel Thompson
Forest School Leader, Berkshire
"We run weekly sessions in local woodland with Reception and Year 1. The assessment covered seasonal hazards, emergency access, and even the pond near our site. Parents trust us because we're professional."
David Mills
Primary School Teacher, North Yorkshire
"As a childminder running forest school sessions, I needed something that covered EYFS requirements without costing hundreds. Anyrisks gave me a complete, professional document in minutes."
Emma Clarke
Childminder and Forest School Practitioner, Devon
Anyrisks vs DIY Templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| EYFS statutory framework aligned | ✓ | ✗ |
| OEAP guidance referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Age-appropriate controls for all activities | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tool use, fire lighting, and foraging covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Seasonal hazards and weather protocols included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this meet the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements?
Yes — forest school risk assessments produced by Anyrisks align with EYFS statutory framework requirements and include safeguarding considerations for outdoor learning environments. The assessment covers all hazards specific to woodland settings with young children.
Can I use it for both primary school and nursery forest school sessions?
Yes — specify the age group and setting (primary, nursery, early years, after-school club) and the assessment will be tailored accordingly. Hazards and controls differ significantly between age groups and the document reflects this.
Does it cover off-site woodland locations?
Yes — describe the woodland location, access arrangements, proximity to roads or water, and any site-specific hazards. We will include transport risk, site security, and emergency access procedures in the assessment.
What about tool use and fire lighting activities?
Mention any planned activities (tool use, fire lighting, rope work, shelter building, foraging) and we will include age-appropriate controls, supervision ratios, and training requirements for staff and volunteers.
Is the assessment accepted by Ofsted and local authorities?
Anyrisks produces a fully written, regulation-referenced risk assessment in the standard format expected by Ofsted, local authority early years teams, and school governing bodies. The format is professional and accepted across the education sector.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your forest school setting, activities, and participant age group and Anyrisks produces a complete, UK-compliant forest school risk assessment instantly.
Can I include seasonal hazards and weather conditions?
Yes — mention specific seasonal concerns (wet weather, cold exposure, heat in summer, tree stability in high winds) and we will include appropriate controls and cancellation criteria.
Does it cover adult-to-child ratios and safeguarding?
Yes — the assessment includes recommended supervision ratios for different age groups, safeguarding considerations for outdoor settings, and procedures for managing challenging behaviour in woodland environments.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · Risk Assessment Generator