SAFETY

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Keeping your group safe

Alison Heseltine, early years development manager at the Alliance, shares advice for managing health and safety guidelines at a baby and toddler group

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Alison works as an early years development manager at the Alliance, supporting families and educators.

While baby and toddler groups are usually informal settings, group leaders all have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for the children and families that attend. We want our groups to be a welcoming and inviting place, offering a chance to explore and learn together but we also have a duty of care and a responsibility to assess risk as a key element of our insurance cover.
It is important to remember that our responsibility regarding health and safety covers not only the children attending the session but also extends to the parents/ carers, volunteers, group leaders and any visitors to the session too.

Risk assessments

Each group is unique, and each risk assessment will be different. For example – perhaps you have chairs that must be cleared away, doors that need to be kept closed, a kitchen area that children need to be prevented from accessing, toilets outside the room – all of these will need to be considered.

You should also think about the toys and resources you provide – is there a mixed age/ability range in the group? Consider how you will meet the different safety needs of all the children attending.

Your risk assessment should be a ‘living document’. It will need to be up-to-date and accurate. If something changes – for example, perhaps you move rooms or buy a new piece of equipment – then this should be reflected in the risk assessment. It is important to identify each risk, who is at risk, the severity of the risk and who is responsible for overseeing any actions that need to be taken in response.
In the event of an accident that involves your insurance company, they will ask to see your risk assessment and the steps that you took to assess the risks involved. A daily check should also be carried out each time you run your session that notes any changes or concerns and the steps you took to deal with these.

Hot drink risks

A key issue that often crops up for discussion is hot drinks. A toddler group is as much for the parents/carers that attend as it is for the children. A group provides a welcome opportunity to meet with other families and a chance to enjoy the company of other adults at a time that can often be lonely and isolating for new parents.

Cups of tea can provide a moment of connection – but we must acknowledge the danger that they can present to young children attending the group. An important consideration for group leaders is how to keep these hot drinks out of the reach of children. Your approach for this should be clear communication to parents/carers on how they can help keep children safe.

Fire safety

We also need to think about fire safety. In the event of a fire, we need everyone to be calm and clear about what they need to do. Ask yourself the following questions as a starting point:

  • Are families, volunteers and leaders aware of what to do in the event of a fire and do you carry out fire safety drills to support them?

  • Do families know why it’s so important that they sign in and out? 

  • Do families and volunteers understand the importance of keeping fire exits clear? 

  • Are you aware of the procedures that may already be in place in the venue you use such as the location of the assembly point? 

  • Do you know where any fire equipment is located and how to use it? 

  • Do you have individuals/families that will require assistance to get to safety?

Who is responsible

A vital thread that runs throughout baby and toddler group health and safety is ensuring that everyone attending your group is aware of their responsibilities. There must be clear communication of those key messages to help keep everyone safe.

For example – do parents/carers know what to do if they find a toy that is broken or unsafe for children? Do they understand that they must remain with their child in the session or that they must accompany their child when using the toilet? And of course, are your families aware that all parents and carers are responsible for the children in their care at all times?