School Parade or March Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Temporary stages, risers and PA rigs — Install only rated platforms with guardrails and toe-boards, level and pin modules, load within specification, secure cables, brief a competent person to inspect before use, and close the structure immediately if movement, creaks or loose fixings are detected.
• Emergency reroute or evacuation — Prepare alternate routes and shelters, brief a universal “stop, face-in, listen” command, maintain emergency-vehicle access, authorise a single decision-maker to suspend, reroute or abandon, and use runners to relay orders if electronic comms fail.
• Vehicles within procession — Permit only inspected, insured vehicles with trained drivers at walking pace, position spotters at each corner, maintain a child-free exclusion bubble around wheels, prohibit reversing in crowds, and pre-check tow hitches, brakes and emergency cut-offs.
• Weather hazards (heat, cold, wind, lightning) — Monitor forecasts and heat index, provide shade and water stations, adjust dress code to conditions, shorten or reroute in high winds, suspend for lightning under a pre-briefed shelter plan, and issue timely updates via SMS and steward announcements.
• Missing child or separation — Implement buddy pairs and class groups with visible identifiers, complete headcounts at assembly, mid-route stops and dispersal, set rendezvous points, brief pupils to “stop and stay” if separated, and assign sweepers at the rear to recover stragglers.