Outdoor Play Equipment
The management will complete a 6 monthly garden appraisal form upon inspection by a senior staff member. Any outstanding recommendations will be dealt with 4 weeks following the inspection.
Outdoor play equipment will be checked each day before use.
This will be carried out by the room whose responsibility it is to ensure the garden is maintained during that month.
Every nursery room is aware of who has this job for the month on their monthly job rota.
The member of staff responsible for checking the garden that month will sign to say the garden equipment has been checked and any danger points recorded and given to the management.
Staff should take into account:
- Structure - bending, warping, cracking, loosening, breaking.
- Surface finish - protective coating missing, rust or other.
- Consumable items - missing, bent broken, loosened, worn, open hooks.
- Edges - protrusions, sharp points or sharp edges.
- Pinch or crush point - exposed mechanisms, junctures or moving components.
- Mechanical devices - worn bearings lack of lubrication, secure or other moving parts, excessive motion, unduly noisy motion, incorrect clearance, missing covers.
- Guard or hand rails - missing, bent or broken.
- Access - missing or broken rungs, steps or treads, loosening.
- Foundations - cracked, loose in ground.
- Protective surfacing - compacted, displaced to ineffectual level, not extensive enough to cover possible impact area, unsanitary.
- Drain holes - blocked, covers cracked or missing.
Staff should indicate in writing on the garden check form:
- The date
- Comments they have made
- Action taken
- Action recommended
- Management response