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Risk Assessments for Schools, Nurseries & Youth Settings
Get a comprehensive, UK-compliant risk assessment for any school, nursery, childminder or youth group activity — generated in under 2 minutes.
Used by teachers, nursery managers, trip coordinators and youth leaders across the UK.
⚠️ Schools and early years settings have a statutory duty to carry out risk assessments. The EYFS Statutory Framework 2024 (welfare requirement 3.64) requires all registered providers to conduct and record risk assessments for every area of provision — including outdoor play, outings and any activity that poses a risk of injury. Ofsted inspectors assess whether your risk assessments meet this standard.
The Legal Framework for Schools & Nurseries
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework (updated 2024) places a legal duty on all Ofsted-registered early years providers to safeguard children’s welfare. Welfare requirement 3.64 requires providers to conduct a risk assessment for any activity or environment that presents a risk of injury. Welfare requirement 3.67 requires that risk assessments are reviewed regularly. Childminders and group settings are subject to the same requirements.
For schools and off-site visits, the DfE Health and Safety on Educational Visits guidance (2018) and the OEAP (Outdoor Education Advisers Panel) National Guidance, 9th Edition set the standards expected of schools conducting residential trips, day visits and adventure activities. Every off-site visit requires a documented risk assessment before departure.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3) require all employers — including school governing bodies and nursery operators — to conduct suitable and sufficient risk assessments for all work activities, including those involving children and young people.
The Childcare Act 2006 places a duty on Ofsted to inspect registered early years providers against the EYFS. Inspectors assess safeguarding, welfare and the quality of risk assessments as part of every inspection. Failure to demonstrate adequate risk assessments can result in a ‘Requires Improvement’ or ‘Inadequate’ Ofsted outcome.
How It Works
1. Describe Your Activity
Give us a few details about your school and nursery work or premises. It takes under 2 minutes.
2. Let the app take the strain
Our advanced algorithms produce a comprehensive, UK-standard risk assessment tailored to your setting, aligned with EYFS, DfE and OEAP requirements.
3. Instant Download and Use
Get a professionally formatted PDF and fully editable Word document, ready to file in your EYFS portfolio or present to Ofsted straight away. £29, no subscription.
What You Get
- ✓Instant PDF download — ready to share with Ofsted, parents or the local authority
- ✓Fully editable Word document — adjust to your specific setting
- ✓EYFS Statutory Framework 2024 aligned — welfare requirements 3.64 and 3.67
- ✓Specific to your described activity, area or outing — not a generic template
- ✓Covers hazard identification, control measures, responsible persons and review dates
- ✓Suitable for Ofsted inspection — structured to the standard inspectors expect
- ✓DfE and OEAP guidance aligned for school trips and off-site visits
- ✓Covers safeguarding, allergy management, medical needs and supervision ratios
What Ofsted Expects to See
During an Ofsted inspection under the Education Inspection Framework, inspectors assess whether your setting meets the welfare requirements of the EYFS Statutory Framework. They expect to see:
Written risk assessments for all areas of provision
Including indoor and outdoor play areas, cooking activities, nappy changing areas, storage of hazardous materials, and any area where children could be injured.
Risk assessments for every off-site visit and outing
Including local park walks, trips to farms or activity centres, and any transport. OEAP National Guidance 9th Edition is the industry benchmark.
Allergy register and COSHH assessments
Cleaning products and other hazardous substances used in the setting must have COSHH assessments. Individual allergy risk assessments for children with known allergies (including EpiPen protocols) must be documented.
Evidence of regular review
Under EYFS welfare requirement 3.67, risk assessments must be reviewed regularly — and whenever a significant change occurs. Ofsted will check the review dates on your assessments.
Forest school and outdoor learning assessments
Forest school sessions and outdoor learning activities require specific risk assessments covering terrain, tools, weather and supervision ratios.
Anyrisks generates specific, written risk assessments tailored to your described activity or area — not generic templates. Each assessment references the relevant EYFS welfare requirements and is structured to meet the standard Ofsted inspectors expect.
Join thousands of UK schools, nurseries and youth leaders getting risk assessments done in minutes.
You’ll be delighted with your Risk Assessment, or your money back.
Perfect For
Example Content
A short illustrative extract from a typical school and nursery risk assessment generated by Anyrisks.
| Hazard | Who is at risk | Control measures | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children becoming separated from the group | Pupils and accompanying adults | Register taken at regular intervals. Named responsible adult for each group of 6. Buddy system in place. | Low |
| Allergic reaction during food activity | Children with known allergies | Individual allergy risk assessments in place. EpiPen protocols followed. No sharing of food. | Medium |
| Trip or fall on uneven outdoor surface | All children, particularly EYFS | Daily outdoor inspection. Wet-weather footwear policy. Supervision ratio 1:4 for under-3s. | Low |
| Exposure to cleaning products | Children, staff | COSHH assessments for all cleaning products. Products stored in locked cupboard above child height. COSSH data sheets on file. | Low |
Illustrative only. Your assessment will be tailored to your specific activity and setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this suitable for an Ofsted inspection?
Yes. Our assessments are formatted to the standards expected by Ofsted under the Education Inspection Framework. They reference the EYFS Statutory Framework 2024 welfare requirements, cover all required elements (hazard, who is at risk, control measures, responsible person, review date) and are written in the structured format inspectors expect to see.
Which EYFS welfare requirements do these assessments address?
Our nursery and childminder risk assessments are aligned with EYFS Statutory Framework 2024 welfare requirements 3.64 (duty to conduct risk assessments) and 3.67 (duty to review risk assessments regularly). Each assessment identifies specific hazards relevant to the described activity, the children and adults at risk, and the control measures in place.
Do school trips need a separate risk assessment?
Yes. The DfE Health and Safety on Educational Visits guidance (2018) requires a written risk assessment before any off-site visit. The OEAP National Guidance 9th Edition is the industry benchmark. Describe the trip destination, transport, group size and activities and Anyrisks generates a complete assessment aligned with DfE and OEAP requirements.
Can I use this for a childminder setting as well as a nursery?
Yes. Childminders registered with Ofsted are subject to the same EYFS welfare requirements as nursery settings. Describe your home environment, the activities you offer and any outings, and Anyrisks generates a compliant assessment specific to your childminding provision.
How often should EYFS risk assessments be reviewed?
EYFS Statutory Framework welfare requirement 3.67 requires risk assessments to be reviewed regularly. Best practice is at least termly, and immediately after any incident, near-miss or significant change to your provision — for example, new equipment, a new outdoor area or a change in staffing ratios.
How long does it take?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your setting, activity or outing and Anyrisks produces a fully written, EYFS-aligned risk assessment instantly. Download as PDF and Word. £29, no subscription.