Children's ministry & Sunday school Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Electrical sockets and cables — Fit socket covers only where policy supports, prefer locking covers, and route cables under guards. Keep PAT-tested portable kit out of play zones, and position AV gear behind barriers. Supervise plug-in points during sessions and power down before children enter storage areas.
• Craft tools and materials — Provide age-suitable scissors, glue, and tools; store blades inaccessible to young children. Use non-toxic supplies, supervise hot glue guns by adults only, and allocate tidy zones with trays. Clean spills promptly, and brief children on safe tool passing and seated crafting.
• Communicable illness in groups — Ask parents to keep unwell children at home; follow exclusion timings for vomiting/diarrhoea. Provide handwashing on arrival, clean high-touch points, and ventilate rooms. Offer alternatives for shared items, and inform parents of exposures while protecting confidentiality.
• Supervision ratios and line-of-sight — Set age-appropriate ratios (e.g., 1:6 primary, 1:3 under-fives), keep rooms glass-panelled or doors ajar, and position leaders to maintain clear sightlines. Use a headcount at transitions, buddy leaders for breaks, and never leave a group unattended, even briefly.
• Room layout and trip hazards — Clear cluttered walkways, secure rugs and cables, and maintain dry, even floors with mats at entrances. Mark changes in level with high-contrast tape, provide child-height storage for craft boxes, and complete a pre-session sweep to remove obstructions before children arrive.