Introduction

"Health and safety law is often used as an excuse to stop children taking part in exciting activities, but well-managed risk is good for them. It engages their imagination, helps them learn and even teaches them to manage risks for themselves in the future. They won't understand about risk if they're wrapped in cotton wool. Risk itself won't damage children, but ill-managed and overprotective actions could!"

Health and Safety Executive (myth of the month)

Keeping safe and healthy should be a priority of everyone at a school or setting. However, health and safety must be particularly considered when undertaking activities within an outdoor environment, where features and conditions are continually changing. If a Norfolk school group is visiting an offsite location, the Educational Visits and Journeys Policy must be adhered to. 
PLEASE NOTE - the resources available on this website are available as example documents to support practitioners, they are by no means definitive. As a Forest School Practitioner you are expected to create your own health and safety documentation that is appropriate for your setting and your group of learners.

 

Health and Safety Law

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is applicable to all places of work, including Forest Schools. It outlines employers and employees responsibilities and covers a wide range of areas, including;

• Risk Assessment

• Emergency Procedures and contingency

• Training and Equipment

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• First Aid requirements

• Welfare provision

• Reporting and recording

Further H&S guidance is available via the Norfolk School's PeopleNet Website. 
Also the Health and Safety Executive's website is a very good source for guidance and downloadable documents in regards to Health and Safety issues. 
As Forest School Leaders, it is important to have a good understanding of Health and Safety and how it applies to working outdoors with children.

 

Forest School Handbook

As a Forest School Practitioner it is good practice to draw

together all necessary policies and procedures into one

working document. This is commonly referred to as a

'Forest School Handbook' and should be specific to the

operational procedures of your Forest School. Policies

and procedures should include:

• Health and Safety policies and procedures

• Safeguarding Children policies and procedures

• Inclusion and Access policies and procedures

• Learning and Development policies and procedures

• Terms and Conditions

• Daily Operational procedures

 

Risk Assessment and Management

Appropriate risk is essential to healthy child development. Through risk and challenge children can test themselves, problem solve, develop skills, build confidence and gain self esteem. It is the role of the Forest School leader to manage risks effectively so that children and young people are not exposed to unacceptable levels of risk.

The process of risk assessment and management should be shared with the children/young people so that they can develop the awareness skills and decision making required to assess and manage risk independently. Supporting and enabling children to take responsibility for their actions and choices can empower them to care for themselves and each other.

 

Risk Assessment Formats

There are many different ways of recording the risk assessment process, different organisations have their own formats, some measure the risks though ranking high, medium and low and others use numerical scales. There is no preferred format for Forest School risk assessments, however it is important that the practitioner is happy with the format and it is realistic and useable.

Although each format may differ, the risk assessment process and recording format should include 5 steps:

1. Identify the hazard

2. Decide who may be harmed and how

3. Evaluate the risk (Likelihood x Consequence = Risk) and decide on any precautions

4. Record your findings and implement any control actions

5. Review the assessment and update as necessary

It is also important that all risk assessments are signed and dated by the person who has undertaken them.

Forest School Leaders may have a number of different types of risk assessment, based on need:

• Seasonal Site risk assessments

• Activity or Experience risk assessment

• Individuals risk assessment

• Daily risk assessment

• Dynamic risk assessment

The documents are written as guidance documents to support practitioners in writing different types of risk assessment. They have been written as a series of questions within a risk assessment format, the idea being that practitioners could use these questions as a prompt sheet when writing their own risk assessments.

 

Resources

• Introduction to Health and Safety

• Forest School Handbook

• Introduction to Risk Management

• NCC Blank Risk Assessment