teaching assistant level 3
Unit 334
Support Children and Young People's Health and Safety
1.1. Describe the factors to take into account when planning healthy and safe indoor and outdoor environments and services.
When planning activities the first thing I ask myself of the desired surroundings is ‘is this a safe environment’. I would look at space, is there enough space to fit all the children into. Whether it’s a group of thirty children in a hall for PE or six children in a small room for an intervention I need to make sure there is no potential overcrowding issues that could lead to injuries. I normally do a quick risk assessment in my mind of the area looking for potential hazards. Common things I come across are objects blocking potential fire exits, foreign objects left in harm’s way, bulky items like tables or pianos.
Weather comes into factor a lot. I am mindful of the cold during the autumn/winter months and encourage children to wrap up warm when working or going outside. During the summer months I encourage sun cream and keeping hydrated with regular water breaks. When teaching sport outside say for example on the field for football, I would do a quick risk assessment by checking the ground for holes, slippy areas and other such hazards. I keep an eye on what gates are left open and the risk outside people such as grass cutters or builders could pose to a group of children.
Recently as a school me and the sports co-ordinator have been planning a dodgeball tournament and part of this has included a visit to St. Georges School to risk assess their sports hall to use. We looked at size, accessibility and mainly at how many teams we could safely accommodate. We have also done this recently at our school for a football festival which ran safely and smoothly.
For any activity we plan we make sure every child’s individual needs and requirements are catered for. We keep note of up to date medical issues as well as behavioural and emotional issues. The school has a
Support Children and Young People's Health and Safety
1.1. Describe the factors to take into account when planning healthy and safe indoor and outdoor environments and services.
When planning activities the first thing I ask myself of the desired surroundings is ‘is this a safe environment’. I would look at space, is there enough space to fit all the children into. Whether it’s a group of thirty children in a hall for PE or six children in a small room for an intervention I need to make sure there is no potential overcrowding issues that could lead to injuries. I normally do a quick risk assessment in my mind of the area looking for potential hazards. Common things I come across are objects blocking potential fire exits, foreign objects left in harm’s way, bulky items like tables or pianos.
Weather comes into factor a lot. I am mindful of the cold during the autumn/winter months and encourage children to wrap up warm when working or going outside. During the summer months I encourage sun cream and keeping hydrated with regular water breaks. When teaching sport outside say for example on the field for football, I would do a quick risk assessment by checking the ground for holes, slippy areas and other such hazards. I keep an eye on what gates are left open and the risk outside people such as grass cutters or builders could pose to a group of children.
Recently as a school me and the sports co-ordinator have been planning a dodgeball tournament and part of this has included a visit to St. Georges School to risk assess their sports hall to use. We looked at size, accessibility and mainly at how many teams we could safely accommodate. We have also done this recently at our school for a football festival which ran safely and smoothly.
For any activity we plan we make sure every child’s individual needs and requirements are catered for. We keep note of up to date medical issues as well as behavioural and emotional issues. The school has a