The EYFS Statutory Framework states that you must take all reasonable steps to manage risks and determine where it is helpful to do some written risk assessments.

In order to comply with legislation you should:

• Regularly risk assess your house, garden, activities and outings especially when new children start
• Know how you will keep children safe on outings and plan for any extra risks

It used to be a requirement for childminders to write written risk assessments but this has been removed from the current version of the legislation.

In most normal day to day childminding, a written risk assessment is simply not necessary and just adds to unnecessary paperwork load.

However, from time to time, and especially when you are just starting out at childminding or doing something new, I think that it is very useful to go through the whole risk assessment process properly in writing at least once so that you know how to do it. Writing it out forces you to formalise the process in your mind so that any corners you choose to cut in the future, at least you know what you should be doing.

Free Risk Assessment Forms for childminders

Here is a very basic free written risk assessment form you can use.

Here is an example of how to fill it in.

List of Risk Assessments

This is a list of all the things I did risk assessments for in my house.  It is only a guide to get you started, but if you are having trouble, you may find this useful:

Outings

Sainsburys, Tescos and other shops – risk of children getting lost, or traffic

Soft play gyms – risk of children falling from equipment

Toddler music club – risk of children getting lost

The library – risk of children getting lost

The park – risk of traffic, and children getting lost

The river/ feeding the ducks – risk of children falling in

Children’s Petting Farm – risks of loosing children, cold weather, touching the animals

Children’s Party – risks of loosing children, choke hazards, grown ups with cups of tea

The house

Staircase – risk of falling down or climbing up the stairs

Rocking horse – risk of fingers getting caught under the rails

Fridge – needs to be kept at the correct temp

Freezer – needs to be kept at the correct temp

Toys – risk of broken parts or dirt from general use

Fire alarms – risk of batteries running out

Stair gates – risk of these coming loose or falling out of place

Dining area and kitchen – hygiene risks: cats and general dirt

Toilets area – hygiene risks: can get dirty from use

Hand towels and flannels – hygiene risks of cross contamination

Nappy changing area: hygiene risks from body fluids

Doors – risks of fingers getting caught in doors

Fireplace – sharp stone edge

Bathrooms – risks: wet floors are a slip hazard

Loose cables – risks: trip hazards or choking hazard

Front door – children getting out of front door

Choke hazards – babies getting hold of parts of toys intended for over 3s

Oven – burn hazard

Cat litter and cat food – hygiene hazard – children must not touch

Kitchen cupboard and bathroom cupboards – filled with poisonous chemicals

Kitchen knives – risk if children get access to them

X-mas tree – risk of cables strangle and electrical hazard; risk of glass baubles

The Garden

Toys – risk of children falling off

Large garden toys – risk of children falling off

Plants – ie. The wisteria – risk of poison if leaves are eaten in large quantities

Car

Child seats – making sure they are fitted correctly

Other

Collection of child – risk of a stranger trying to collect the child

Cold/ hot weather – risk of cold or sun burn

Sleeping – child should be checked every 15 mins while asleep

Cats – infections such as worms can spread to children

Would you like to keep up to date with information like this for childminders?

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Contracts,  Policies and Forms in Word

I sell childminding contracts, policies and forms as Word documents. My policies are all the policies you need but not MORE policies than you need so you don’t get overwhelmed by paperwork. Word documents allow you to edit the documents for your own business before you use them, and print them again whenever you need them. A complete list of all the forms and documents included is on my website.