The benefits of outdoor learning and play are far too important to forfeit, and by far outweigh the risks of an accident occurring.
Outdoor learning risk management
As an organisation, Learning through Landscapes is committed to children being able to experience challenging play and learning activities in the day-to-day environment of their school or nursery grounds.
Taking a balanced approach is a requirement
Under the new International Standard (ISO) on Benefit Risk in sport and recreation, all schools and early years settings should seek to take a balanced and proportionate approach to risk management. This is an approach we have long supported, and we are glad to see such a clear standard being applied.
You can read more about the ISO in this article here from the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport, or from the webinar hosted by Play Scotland.
In addition, below is a list of the UK organisations who encourage a benefit risk approach to managing risk in schools, early years and childcare. These vary from Government Organisations, to Play or Outdoor Learning organisations. In addition, the International School Grounds Alliance Risk Declaration demonstrates this is not just a UK approach, but one which is embraced globally.
“When planning and providing learning opportunities, the goal is not to eliminate risk, but to weigh up risks and benefits. No child will learn about risk if they are wrapped in cotton wool”
Health & Safety Executive, 2012
Our Risk Management System
Below are the Risk Benefit Assessments that we use. They are intended to cover our activities – including play and outdoor learning in schools and early years settings.
Our Risk Benefit Assessments are designed to ‘stack’ – any given activity may require a Generic Location, a Generic Activity and possibly a Specific Activity. Specific Activities are ones that pose increased risk potential and require an increased level of control measures, group engagement and staff skills.
The implementation of these is supported by our well qualified and experienced staff, our monitoring by LtL Management and an all staff feedback system. This leads to continual improvement and a high level of engagement by all staff, something we value deeply alongside the paperwork side of risk management.
Your outdoor learning risk assessment benefits
Before making any changes to your risk assessments, you should satisfy yourself that it still meets any requirements that your Local Authority or Organisation has as policy. Do please call us for informal advice, or consider booking Risk Benefit training with us.
Generic location risk benefit assessments
Outdoor Activity (routine and expected) Risk Benefit Assessments
Specific Outdoor Activity Risk Benefit Assessments
Other related documents
General Staff Working Risk Assessments
Forest School Risk Assessment
We ‘stack’ our Risk Assessments. This means that for activities that fall under a formal ‘Forest School‘ approach we would include the woodland risk assessment for venue, the loose parts play risk assessment and then specific risk assessments such as fire and cooking or tool use.
If you are looking for Forest School Risk Assessment, or Forest School Risk Benefit Assessment, please use the downloads above.
We can also offer specific advice on your site and setting, as well as introduce you to people and organisations who can advise more.
