Why Risk Assessments Matter for Children’s Activity Providers — Especially in Irregular or Shared Spaces

What Is a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is a practical, structured way of identifying anything that could cause harm to children, team members or members of the public — and putting steps in place to reduce or eliminate that risk. It’s the process of thinking ahead:

· Identify risks

· How serious an impact could this risk pose

· Consider multiple levels of risk controls

· Implement risk assessment and control tasks

Risk assessments are about preparation and prevention. They don’t need to be overwhelming or full of legal jargon — they just need to reflect how you keep your environment safe, tailored to your specific activity and setting.

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Why Are Risk Assessments So Important?

In childcare, risk assessments go far beyond ticking boxes. They’re a legal requirement — and a vital part of creating safe, supportive environments where children can thrive. Here’s why they matter:

To prevent harm: Children are naturally curious, active and unpredictable. Even in the safest environments, accidents happen — but a good risk assessment reduces the chance of those accidents occurring or reduces the impact, if they happen.

To build trust: Parents/carers want to know that you take safety seriously. Being able to show that you regularly assess and manage risks builds trust in your business. It shows that you are proactive, responsible and focused on children’s wellbeing.

To support your staff: If you have a team, risk assessments give them clarity. They know what to look out for, what their responsibilities are, and how to respond if something happens. It creates consistency and confidence — especially in teams with part-time or rotating staff.

To protect your business: Should something go wrong, being able to demonstrate that you had appropriate risk controls in place is a critical part of showing due diligence. It can help with insurance claims and support you against further legal exposure.

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Why They’re Even More Important When You Use Irregular or Unfamiliar Venues

Many children’s activity providers don’t operate from a fixed location. You might hire church halls, school gyms, scout huts or shared leisure facilities. You may also run pop-up sessions outdoors, in hired classrooms, or even in private gardens.

These settings change all the time and that adds risk.

You might be using:

· A venue you’ve never used before

· A space where equipment is stored by other people

· A location maintained by the venue owner

· A place that’s only available at certain times, giving you a short setup window

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This creates extra challenges:

· You don’t control the environment.

· Hazards may appear between sessions (like cleaning materials left out, broken equipment, or new trip hazards).

· You may not be informed when things change.

That’s why you need a clear, repeatable risk assessment process every time you arrive, especially if you rotate between venues or only use them occasionally.

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Tudu Risk Assessments: A Smarter Approach to Managing Risk

When it comes to keeping children safe, risk assessments are your first line of defence. That’s why we always recommend creating a dedicated risk assessment for each venue you use, even if they seem similar. Many venues may share common risks, but each space will also have unique features that need to be considered individually.

By treating each location as its own environment, you’re showing a thorough understanding of the risks present — and more importantly, that you’ve taken steps to manage them.

Some real-world examples:

· The town hall might have old cast iron radiators along the walls — checking that they’re switched off or cool to touch before use is essential to avoid possible burns.

· The sports centre where you run a weekly session may have a fire escape that’s often left open. A quick check before children arrive could prevent a serious safety risk.

· For those summer outdoor sessions in the park, checking the area for sharp objects, broken glass, or animal waste is a must before setting up.

Each venue has its own risk profile — and recognising that is key to keeping everyone safe.

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What If You’re Using a New or Unexpected Venue?

We understand that things don’t always go to plan. Maybe your regular hall is closed, or you've had to move sessions last-minute. If you don’t have a specific risk assessment for the new location, it’s still crucial to carry out a general risk assessment before using the space.

That’s why we recommend preparing a “General Venue Risk Assessment” in advance — something you can use in any location when needed. This should include basic safety checks such as:

· Are all doors and exits working and secure?

· Are the fire escapes clearly marked and accessible?

· Do you know the venue’s fire evacuation procedure?

· Are radiators or heaters safe?

· Has anything been left behind by previous users that could pose a hazard?

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When It’s Not Safe, Don’t Be Afraid to Cancel

If the space doesn’t meet your basic safety standards, or you’re unable to complete the required checks, it’s okay to cancel the session. While that may be disappointing (and even financially inconvenient), running a session in a space that hasn’t been risk assessed could put children, staff, and your business at risk.

Should an accident occur, and it’s found that no appropriate risk assessment was in place, you could be held liable.

How Peachy Makes Risk Assessments Easier

At Tudu, we know how easy it is to forget a paper checklist, or to assume someone else has done the pre-session safety sweep. That’s why we built a smarter way to manage risk.

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With Tudu, you can:

· Create and store risk assessments for each activity or location digitally

· Create Ad-Hoc risk controls that you or your team check before each session

· Create scheduled checks for equipment, fire safety, hygiene, or venue-specific risks

· Tudu automatically creates your scheduled / Ad-Hoc risk-checklists for you and your team to complete on your tablet/phone.

· Track completed tasks in real-time, with automatic reminders and accountability

· Archive old assessments and keep records digitally.

Whether you run weekly classes in a rented room or organise large-scale holiday clubs across multiple sites, Tudu gives you a consistent way to manage safety — and protect the children in your care.

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Final Thoughts

Risk assessments aren’t about red tape, they’re about protecting people. They help prevent injuries, ensure your team knows what to do, and give parents confidence in your service.

If you’re using a venue irregularly, or working in unfamiliar spaces, the risks are higher, but they’re also manageable. With a smart, consistent process in place, you can make every space a safe one.

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