Children learn best when the environment is predictable, safe and calm. Let’s discuss some examples on real-life safety examples and how we work with families at Swan Academy (Department of Education, 2022).

Example 1: Climbing Equipment

Hazard: Falling/ slipping

Observation: educator notices children rushing and pushing to climb ladder of the slide 

Controls: Soft-fall rubber,close supervision, regular checks, one by one turn taking rule, educator staying close to the ladder and slide (Australian Government Department of Health, 2025).

Why: Helps children build confidence and strength safely all while enjoying play.

Example 2: Loose Shoelaces

Hazard: Tripping

Observation: Educator notices the shoe laces of one of the children are untied.

Controls: Educators tie the shoe laces securely and explain to the child to notice and check the shoe laces before running. 

Why: This helps to prevent any accidents and develop safe habits in children. This aligns with EYLF Outcome 3 (Department of Education, 2022).

Example 3: Small toys 

Hazard: Choking 

Observation: Educator observes a broken piece of a toy in the common play area with other toys. A child is playing with the toys and can  easily pick it up and put it in their mouth.

Controls: Educator eliminates the hazard and explains to children to be aware of small toys. They also check all the other toys as well for any damages. Children are gently encouraged to tell the educators when they see any broken, very small toys in the play area (ACECQA, 2020).   

Why: It builds trust and helps children be aware of their surroundings. This prevents any choking risks and ensures safe play (ACECQA, 2020).

Example 4: Spills on floor 

Hazard: Slipping 

Observation: Educator observes spilled drink on the floor and saw that children are playing, running in that area 

Controls: Educator quickly cleans the spill using paper towels and mop. They also place a wet floor sign so that the children can be careful in that area. Children are also made aware to slow  down and check their water bottle and avoid future leaks.

Why: It prevents accidents and teaches children to be aware of their surroundings (NSW Government, 2020)


In summary, these small examples show  that risk assessment is not only a major document but is an important  part of every single day. Swan Academy makes sure that children are safe, comfortable, and self-assured by means of effective communication supported by observation, supervision, and planning. With the help of early hazard detection, quick response, and continuous  decision-reviewing, we create an environment in which children can freely explore and parents can be reassured of safety (NSW Government, 2020).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome to Swan Academy: Our Commitment to Health, Safety and Wellbeing

At Swan Academy, the well-being of children with respect to their health, safety, and happiness is the top  priority. We believe that the children can only learn if the environment is safe, supportive, loving, and caring. The blog's goal is to widen the vision of the families regarding the health and safety activities, which are not only of the most importance to us but also performed daily, besides the ways these practices have contributed to a healthy, safe, and confident atmosphere for their child (The Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority, 2022). Children are always in a rapid growth phase. They are always curious, enthusiastic and have lots of questions in their mind. They have the power of imagination, creativity and curiosity. The children with every movement are constantly seeking answers., For example, How to take care of their bodies? How to be safe? How to communicate with others and even nature? Furthermore, it is true that they are dependent on a...
Read more

Good health habits

Good health habits help children to grow, learn in such a way that they are healthy, strong and safe.  At Swan Academy, we work in a very simple and clear way to promote the children's health and wellbeing all day long. 1. Handwashing & Personal Hygiene Handwashing is our top and most highly practiced hygiene procedure. Children wash their hands:  upon arrival before and after eating after using the toilet after nose blowing after outdoor activities after participating in messy activities The educators demonstrate the right handwashing technique and use children’s language like “Germs are our enemies and we kill them by washing hands.” In my placement, I always see the educators very often helping the children get the handwashing skill right and assisting the younger ones in turning the taps on and off. This way we are introducing a fun activity for children to wash their hands and they can enjoy washing hands later turning this into a habit (Australian Government Departme...
Read more