Playground Risk Assessment Checklist for Schools
A playground is one of the highest-use, highest-risk areas in any school, so a regular risk assessment is part of your duty of care. This checklist gives staff a practical, plain-English routine for spotting hazards early, and shows where a professional inspection takes over.
The three levels of checking
Good practice has three tiers: a quick routine visual check by staff (often daily or weekly), a more detailed operational inspection each term, and an independent annual main inspection by an RPII-qualified inspector against BS EN 1176. The checklist below covers the routine and operational checks your own team can do.
The checklist
Surfacing
- Any splits, holes, trips or worn patches in the safety surfacing?
- Is the surface still firmly bonded, with no lifting edges?
- Any standing water that suggests a drainage problem?
Equipment
- Loose bolts, fixings or foundations that have worked free?
- Sharp edges, splinters, protruding screws or broken components?
- Worn ropes, chains, bearings or moving parts on swings and rotators?
- Damaged or missing platform guarding and barriers?
Entrapment and fall zones
- Any new finger, head or clothing entrapment points?
- Are the safety zones around equipment clear of obstructions?
Boundaries and site
- Is the fencing secure, and are gates closing and latching properly?
- Any vandalism, litter, glass or animal fouling to clear?
What to do when you find a fault
Log it and grade it: is it an immediate danger, or something to monitor and plan for? If a piece of equipment is dangerous, take it out of use straight away and cordon it off, then arrange a repair. We can fix faults on equipment of any make.
When to bring in a professional
Your own checks catch day-to-day wear, but the annual main inspection needs an independent, RPII-qualified inspector who assesses the whole area to the standard and gives you a written, risk-rated report — strong evidence of your duty of care. For hazards specific to the youngest children, see our guide to nursery playground hazards. To book an inspection or a repair, get in touch.
Related questions
How often should a school playground be risk assessed?
Best practice is three tiers: a routine visual check by staff (often daily or weekly), a more detailed operational inspection each term, and an independent annual main inspection by an RPII-qualified inspector. Together these keep the area safe and evidence your duty of care.
Who can carry out a playground inspection?
Staff can carry out the routine and operational checks. The annual main inspection should be done by an RPII-registered inspector, who assesses the equipment and surfacing to BS EN 1176 and provides a written, risk-rated report.
What should we do if we find a dangerous fault?
Take the equipment or area out of use immediately, cordon it off to keep children clear, log the fault, and arrange a repair as soon as possible. We repair equipment of any make and can advise on making the area safe in the meantime.
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