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Playground Risk Assessment for Schools & Nurseries — Generated Instantly for £29
Schools and nurseries must assess playground safety before children use outdoor play areas. Describe your playground equipment, surfacing, supervision arrangements and age groups — we generate a fully written, UK-compliant playground risk assessment in minutes.
Used by primary schools, nurseries, childminders and after-school clubs across the UK
🛝 Mention the age range using your playground (EYFS, KS1, KS2) and the type of equipment installed. We will tailor fall height controls, entrapment risks and supervision requirements to match the developmental stage of the children.
Legal requirements for playground safety
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require all employers — including schools, nurseries and childcare providers — to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for activities and environments where employees or others may be harmed. This explicitly includes outdoor play areas used by children.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework (Section 3.64-3.66) requires childcare providers to assess risks to children and take steps to remove, minimise or manage them. This applies to all registered early years settings, including nurseries, pre-schools and childminders who offer outdoor play. Ofsted will expect documented evidence of playground risk assessments during inspections.
Playground equipment must comply with BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177, which set safety standards for playground equipment and impact-absorbing surfacing. While these are not laws, failure to meet them is strong evidence of inadequate safety controls. Annual inspections by a competent person (often ROSPA or equivalent) are standard practice.
The Equality Act 2010 requires that schools and nurseries make reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled children can access play provision. This may include wheelchair-accessible play equipment, sensory play areas or ground-level activities.
How It Works
1. Describe Your Playground
Tell us the age range of children using the space (EYFS, KS1, KS2), the equipment installed (swings, slides, climbing frames, trim trail, play surfaces), supervision arrangements and any specific risks (proximity to roads, water features, wildlife).
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written playground risk assessment covering equipment safety, fall heights, entrapment, surfacing, supervision, weather conditions and all relevant regulations including EYFS requirements.
3. Instant Download and Use
Download as PDF and Word. Include in your school or nursery health and safety file, share with governors or trustees, or present to Ofsted during inspections. £29, no subscription.
What It Covers
Every playground risk assessment is written in full — covering all equipment, surface and environmental hazards relevant to your setting.
Falls from height — equipment and fall zones
Impact-absorbing surfacing (bark, rubber, grass) condition
Entrapment and entanglement risks (gaps, ropes, chains)
Equipment maintenance — wear, corrosion, loose fixings
Supervision levels and staff ratios during outdoor play
Age-appropriate equipment and developmental risks
Moving equipment (swings, roundabouts, seesaws)
Weather conditions — ice, wet surfaces, strong winds
Accessibility and inclusive play provision
Sun exposure and shade availability
Boundaries, fencing and proximity to roads or ponds
Vandalism, glass or litter in the play area
EYFS Statutory Framework compliance (Sections 3.64-3.66)
BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177 equipment safety standards
Works For
From nursery soft play areas to KS2 adventure trails, Anyrisks covers every type of playground setting.
What Customers Say
"We use Anyrisks every time we update our playground equipment. It covers EYFS requirements and BS EN standards — Ofsted were satisfied when they reviewed it during our last inspection."
Claire S.
Nursery manager, West Midlands
"Our primary school has three separate play areas for different key stages. Anyrisks produced tailored assessments for each one in minutes — saved us hours of template filling."
David P.
Head teacher, East Anglia
"I work as a childminder with outdoor space. Anyrisks covered everything from the climbing frame to the sandpit — exactly what I needed for my EYFS compliance file."
Rachel T.
Registered childminder, South East
Anyrisks vs DIY Templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| EYFS Statutory Framework referenced (Sections 3.64-3.66) | ✓ | ✗ |
| BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177 compliance mentioned | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tailored to age range (EYFS, KS1, KS2) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers specific equipment types and surfacing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Entrapment, fall height and supervision controls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do schools and nurseries have a legal duty to risk assess playgrounds?
Yes — the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require all employers, including schools and nurseries, to carry out risk assessments for areas used by children. The EYFS Statutory Framework (Section 3.64-3.66) also requires childcare providers to assess risks to children, including outdoor play areas.
How often should playground risk assessments be reviewed?
Risk assessments should be reviewed at least annually, after any incident, or when new equipment is installed. Many schools review termly or after major weather events that could affect equipment condition.
Does this cover both fixed equipment and the playground surface?
Yes — describe the playground equipment (swings, slides, climbing frames, play surfaces) and we will include controls for impact-absorbing surfacing, equipment maintenance, entrapment risks, and fall heights.
Can I use this for both supervised and unsupervised play?
Yes — mention your supervision approach and we will tailor the assessment accordingly. Supervised play requires different controls to unsupervised break-time access.
Does it cover inclusive play equipment and accessibility?
Yes — if you have inclusive equipment or specific accessibility features, mention them and the assessment will address safe access for children with mobility needs or other disabilities.
Will this satisfy Ofsted inspectors?
Ofsted expects documented evidence that risks in the play area have been assessed and controlled. Anyrisks produces a professional, written playground risk assessment that meets this requirement and can be shown during inspection.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · Risk Assessment Generator