Risk assessment is an essential part of creating safe, stimulating Early Years environments where children can learn, play and explore with confidence.
This CPD-accredited course on Risk Assessments in Early Years has been designed specifically for Early Years practitioners, nursery staff, managers and childminders. It provides practical guidance on identifying hazards, assessing risk and putting sensible control measures in place without unnecessarily restricting children’s opportunities for play, exploration and development.
Learners will explore the difference between hazards and risks, how to carry out and review risk assessments, the role of dynamic risk assessment, and how to respond when circumstances change. The course also considers risky play, helping practitioners understand the difference between providing appropriate challenge and exposing children to avoidable danger.
Using realistic Early Years examples, interactive activities and practical scenarios, learners will develop the confidence to make proportionate, informed decisions about risk in everyday situations — from indoor and outdoor play to outings, activities and changing environments.
The course supports a positive approach to risk management, where the aim is not to eliminate all risk, but to protect children from avoidable harm while recognising the important role that appropriate challenge, exploration and managed risk play in children’s learning and development.
Why This Course Matters
Risk assessment is an essential part of creating safe, supportive, and stimulating Early Years environments.
Children learn through play, exploration, movement, and challenge. Every day, practitioners make decisions that help keep children safe while supporting opportunities for learning, independence, and development.
Effective risk assessment is not about removing all risk from children’s experiences. Instead, it is about identifying hazards, understanding potential risks, and taking sensible steps to create environments where children can play, learn, and explore safely.
By understanding how to carry out risk assessments effectively, practitioners can help prevent accidents, respond confidently to changing situations, support safer indoor and outdoor environments, and balance safety with children’s need for challenge and exploration.
This practical course has been designed specifically for Early Years settings and focuses on real nursery practice rather than generic health and safety theory.
Whether you are new to risk assessment or looking to refresh your knowledge, this course will help you build confidence in creating safer environments that support children’s wellbeing, learning, and development.
What You Will Learn
By completing this course, you will:
- Understand the difference between hazards and risks in Early Years settings
- Recognise why risk assessments are important and how they support children’s safety and wellbeing
- Learn how to carry out effective risk assessments using a simple step-by-step approach
- Identify common indoor and outdoor hazards found within nurseries and childcare environments
- Develop confidence in using dynamic risk assessment during everyday practice
- Understand how to balance safety with children’s play, exploration, and development
- Explore the difference between risky play and dangerous play
- Learn how to respond to accidents, incidents, and near misses appropriately
- Understand when risk assessments should be reviewed and updated
- Develop practical skills to help create safer, child-centred learning environments
Throughout the course, you’ll explore realistic Early Years scenarios, interactive activities, and practical examples that can be applied directly within your own setting.
Designed for Early Years Professionals
This course has been designed specifically for professionals working with children and families in Early Years settings across England and Scotland.
It is suitable for:
✔ Early Years Practitioners
✔ Nursery Staff
✔ Childminders
✔ Room Leaders and Senior Practitioners
✔ Nursery Managers and Deputy Managers
✔ Support Workers and Teaching Assistants
✔ Students and Trainees in Early Years
✔ Anyone responsible for communicating and working in partnership with parents and carers.
Whether you are new to Early Years or have many years of experience, this course provides practical guidance to help strengthen your communication skills, build positive relationships with families, and manage challenging situations professionally and confidently.
The course is particularly valuable for practitioners who want to improve their confidence when discussing sensitive issues, responding to concerns, and maintaining positive, child-centred partnerships that support the best outcomes for children.
Interactive and Practical Learning
This course has been designed to make risk assessment practical, realistic and directly relevant to everyday Early Years practice.
Rather than simply learning risk assessment theory, you’ll work through activities and scenarios that help you develop the confidence to identify hazards, assess risk and make sensible decisions in situations you may encounter within your own setting.
Throughout the course, you will take part in:
✔ Short lesson videos with clear, practical guidance
✔ Interactive activities to practise identifying hazards, risks and appropriate control measures
✔ Realistic Early Years scenarios covering indoor play, outdoor environments, activities and everyday routines
✔ Practical exercises that help you consider likelihood, potential harm and proportionate control measures
✔ Scenarios exploring dynamic risk assessment and how to respond when circumstances change
✔ Activities examining the difference between risky play, appropriate challenge and unacceptable risk
✔ Reflection tasks encouraging you to consider risk management within your own setting
✔ Downloadable resources and practical risk assessment tools
✔ Knowledge checks throughout the course to reinforce key learning
✔ Final 10-question assessment with an 80% pass mark
The course is fully online, mobile-friendly and self-paced, allowing learners to complete their training at a time that suits them.
The focus throughout is on developing a balanced and proportionate approach to risk, protecting children from avoidable harm without removing the opportunities for challenge, exploration and learning that are an important part of healthy development.
Accreditation and CPD
This course is accredited by The CPD Group and is worth 1 CPD point.
Successful completion of the course demonstrates your commitment to maintaining and developing your professional knowledge and skills within Early Years practice.
The course includes:
✔ Professionally produced lesson videos
✔ Interactive learning activities
✔ Real-life Early Years scenarios
✔ Knowledge checks throughout the course
✔ Downloadable resources and guidance materials
✔ A final assessment
Upon successful completion, you will receive a CPD-accredited certificate which can be:
- Downloaded or printed at any time
- Added to your CPD portfolio
- Used as evidence of staff training and professional development
- Included as part of inspection evidence for Ofsted or the Care Inspectorate
- Used to demonstrate ongoing learning and reflective practice
By completing this course, you will gain practical skills and recognised CPD that support positive partnership working, professional communication, and high-quality Early Years practice.
Protect Children. Protect Yourself. Protect Your Setting.
Effective risk assessment is an essential part of protecting children while supporting their learning, development, and wellbeing.
Enrol today and strengthen your knowledge, practical skills, and professional confidence in identifying hazards, assessing risks, and creating safer environments within Early Years settings.
Develop the skills needed to carry out effective risk assessments, respond confidently to changing situations, balance safety with play and exploration, and support positive outcomes for children through safer, child-centred practice.
