The benefits of outdoor learning and play are far too important to forfeit, and by far outweigh the risks of an accident occurring.

Outdoor learning risk management

As an organisation, Learning through Landscapes is committed to children being able to experience challenging play and learning activities in the day-to-day environment of their school or nursery grounds.

Taking a balanced approach is a requirement

Under the new International Standard (ISO) on Benefit Risk in sport and recreation, all schools and early years settings should seek to take a balanced and proportionate approach to risk management. This is an approach we have long supported, and we are glad to see such a clear standard being applied.

You can read more about the ISO in this article here from the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport, or from the webinar hosted by Play Scotland.

In addition, below is a list of the UK organisations who encourage a benefit risk approach to managing risk in schools, early years and childcare. These vary from Government Organisations, to Play or Outdoor Learning organisations. In addition, the International School Grounds Alliance Risk Declaration demonstrates this is not just a UK approach, but one which is embraced globally.

“When planning and providing learning opportunities, the goal is not to eliminate risk, but to weigh up risks and benefits. No child will learn about risk if they are wrapped in cotton wool”

Health & Safety Executive, 2012

Managing Risk in Schools, Outdoor Learning and Play: a shared approach

Our Risk Management System

Below are the Risk Benefit Assessments that we use. They are intended to cover our activities – including play and outdoor learning in schools and early years settings.

Our Risk Benefit Assessments are designed to ‘stack’ – any given activity may require a Generic Location, a Generic Activity and possibly a Specific Activity. Specific Activities are ones that pose increased risk potential and require an increased level of control measures, group engagement and staff skills.

The implementation of these is supported by our well qualified and experienced staff, our monitoring by LtL Management and an all staff feedback system. This leads to continual improvement and a high level of engagement by all staff, something we value deeply alongside the paperwork side of risk management.

Your outdoor learning risk assessment benefits

Before making any changes to your risk assessments, you should satisfy yourself that it still meets any requirements that your Local Authority or Organisation has as policy. Do please call us for informal advice, or consider booking Risk Benefit training with us.

Generic location risk benefit assessments

School Playground Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Beach, Shoreline and Water Edge Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Urban Environment Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Woodland & Forest Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Park and Parkland Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Outdoor Activity (routine and expected) Risk Benefit Assessments

Playground Tour & Venues Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Outdoor Learning Training Event Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Indoor Training Event Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Construction Site Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Generic Flora & Fauna Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

School Playground Play and Loose Parts Play Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Work with vulnerable adults and young people outdoors

Download the document here

Pollinators & Beekeeping in School Grounds Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Specific Outdoor Activity Risk Benefit Assessments

Play with Ropes Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Outdoor Tool Use Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Fire & Cooking Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Outdoor Conferences and Large Events Risk Assessment

Download the document here

Gardening & Tree Planting Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Tree & Obstacle Climbing Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Tepee / Pop up outdoor classroom

Download the document here

Large catapult risk assessment

Download the document here

Other related documents

Dynamic Risk Benefit Assessments

Download the Document here

Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA)

Download the Document here

LtL Health and Safety Policy

Download the Document here

General Staff Working Risk Assessments

Lone Working Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Office Working Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Homeworking Risk Assessment

Download the Document here

Travel abroad risk assessment

Download the document here

Forest School Risk Assessment

We ‘stack’ our Risk Assessments. This means that for activities that fall under a formal Forest School approach we would include the woodland risk assessment for venue, the loose parts play risk assessment and then specific risk assessments such as fire and cooking or tool use.

If you are looking for Forest School Risk Assessment, or Forest School Risk Benefit Assessment, please use the downloads above.

We can also offer specific advice on your site and setting, as well as introduce you to people and organisations who can advise more.

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