- Purpose
This policy sets out how First Kick Football manages risk assessments across all activities, settings, and events to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, staff, and visitors.
- Legislative Framework
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS 2024) – Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE 2025)
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
- Principles
Risk assessment is a legal requirement and an integral part of safeguarding and health and safety.
The aim is not to eliminate risk entirely but to reduce risk to an acceptable level while enabling play, learning, and physical activity.
Risk–benefit thinking is encouraged, recognising that safe risk-taking supports children’s development.
All staff share responsibility for identifying and reporting hazards.
- Responsibilities
Operations Director – overall accountability for health and safety, compliance, and monitoring of risk assessments.
Director of Office Operations (Claire) – ensures risk assessment systems are maintained and staff training is up to date.
Head of Foundation (Tom Hutton) – oversees risk management within community projects.
Head of Mini Kickers (Chris Ganner) – ensures programme-specific risk assessments are in place and reviewed.
Holiday Club Managers – carry out site-specific daily risk assessments, maintain records, and escalate concerns.
All Staff – remain vigilant, follow risk control measures, and report hazards immediately.
- Types of Risk Assessment
General risk assessments – covering premises, equipment, and routines.
Activity risk assessments – for specific sports, trips, or special events.
Dynamic risk assessments – ongoing assessments carried out in real time during activities.
Fire and evacuation risk assessments – covered in the Fire Safety Policy.
Specialist risk assessments – e.g. for manual handling, COSHH, or high-risk activities.
- Procedures
Risk assessments will be completed and recorded before activities begin.
Daily checks will be completed by Holiday Club Managers and logged.
Significant findings will be shared with staff and, where appropriate, parents/carers.
Accidents, incidents, and near misses will be reported, recorded, and used to inform future risk assessments.
All risk assessments will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner if circumstances change.
- Cross-References
Health and Safety Policy
Fire Safety Policy
Manual Handling Policy
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
- Review
This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if required by legislation, Ofsted, or organisational changes.