Risk-Benefit Analysis

Requirement:

EYFS 2021 > Risk assessment > 3.65

EYFS 2021 > Outings > 3.66

A “risk-benefit analysis” is a comparison of associated risks and benefits in a situation and is used to evaluate whether the benefits outweigh the risks. With this mind-set, our children take part in far more activities where the benefits far outweigh the risks.

We regularly review our risk-benefit analysis across all our activities in the nursery.  

Procedure (how we will put the policy into practice)

When we go out on trips to toddler groups or walks, etc., we will always use suitable safety equipment, i.e. harnesses, car seats and reins.  The safety of the children will always be paramount.

A weekly checklist is completed to ensure that equipment is clean and safe for the children to use and the house and garden are clean and suitable for the children to play in.  The weekly checklist includes the following:

• The front door will be kept locked, to ensure the children cannot gain access to the street without supervision (key is kept next to the door)
• Regular checks will be carried out on toys to ensure there are no loose or sharp edges or pieces
• Children cannot gain access to the garden shed without supervision. The garden is fenced off for security purposes and the back gate is kept locked
• Electrical leads are kept short and out of reach. 
• Medicines are kept in a cupboard out of reach of children. 
• Polythene bags are kept out of reach
• Regular checks will be made on the stairgate at the bottom of the stairs
• All hazardous materials and razors are kept out of reach
• Age and weight appropriate car seats or booster seats will be used for all children and older children will have to wear a seat belt when travelling in the car

When walking we will use reins or a pushchair with a harness depending upon the ability of the child.  Older children will have to hold the side of the pushchair or walk alongside a member of staff on the side away from the road.  All restraining harnesses on pushchairs and car seats will be checked regularly.

We also perform risk-benefit analysis on any environment that we take the children into, for example, on outings and when walking to school, the shops, library and toddler groups, etc.  

If we are planning to take the children into environments that are unknown to us, we try to do a risk-benefit analysis in advance so we are aware of any potential hazards, although this may not always be possible.

We record all risk-benefit analysis in the risk-benefit analysis register. These documents are available for all parents to see on request.

Review date: 31 December 2025