London Play

Working for a capital where all children can play

Risk / benefit assessment in staffed play provision

6 November 2006

Updated March 2010

Risk assessment is not rocket science; here is a short discussion, a link to the Health and Safety Executive website, some practical examples and a downloadable blank page to do your own assessments. Use this one for staffed play provision.

There is a separate page on risk / benefit assessment of play structures in public space under the Play and Playgrounds / Natural Play Environments heading, here: link

Here London Play balances risk against the benefit to children of taking the risk; this is different to simply removing all risks to children, and enables them to learn for themselves about risk and danger, this is examined in detail in a further page for a detailed discussion of the issues - The importance of allowing some risky play: link