'Written by...' information on risk assessments

[sarah707]

Risk assessment for - writing risk assessments

Date - 24.4.11

Written by - Sarah707

Hazard - failure to meet the statutory requirements of the Eyfs and own advice

Risk - loss of current Ofsted grade and action at inspection

Control - go through every single risk assessment and check it says 'written by - and my name' at the top.

Guess what I am doing this weekend?

[desiderata]

Brilliant Sarah! I feel may be doing same. My last inspector never said anything about itxx

[WibbleWobble]

i have my name on all of mine....

wow..does that mean...i mightve got something right for a change!!

we cant have that can we?

mandy xxx

[PixiePetal]

I have not got my name on mine and Inspector didn't say anything - will update at some point as you can be sure it will catch me out at a later date!

Thanks

[Hebs]

not got it written on mine either

[Pauline]

I do happen to have my name on mine, however if I didn't and the inspector said anything I might well just point out that as a childminder it is MY business, I am the sole proprietor, I am responsible for the running of my business, no one else could write the RA for MY business as they would not know it as well as me, I wouldn't even want an assistant to write them as it is MY business at the end of the day. So surely common sense should prevail and it should be perfectly obvious that it is ME who has written them.

At a nursery, playgroup etc., yes, you would need to know who has written them.

[sarah707]

I totally agree Pauline but a childminder on here was only picked up on this one only a few weeks ago.

The Eyfs says we must keep the following information -

a record of the risk assessment clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident.

The member had her RAs in a file with her name on the front but the inspector said that was wrong and it must be on every RA.

She got an action ... if I get one particular inspector next time I know she will look for anything to find wrong because that's how she operates

I am not prepared to take the risk especially when the Eyfs is so clear (for once!) on the subject.

[onceinabluemoon]

ok... mine are bound in a booklet, with my childminding name on the fornt and each RA is dated.

Am I supposed to now totally print them all again with my name on or can I just sign them all?

[sarah707]

On the top of most of mine (I'm not reprinting them) I have just written 'written by Sarah'.

Others which were due their annual review anyway (I do a few a month) have been re-typed to include the information.

[rickysmiths]

ok... mine are bound in a booklet, with my childminding name on the fornt and each RA is dated.

Am I supposed to now totally print them all again with my name on or can I just sign them all?

I would just print your name on the top of each one.

[rickysmiths]

I reviewed and re-typed all of mine last September, I put my name on them, signed and dated each one with a review date.

[TheBTeam]

I have the date written on mine, hubby and i share risk assessments so will write written by us both! just to dot the i's and cross the t's so to speak, but then the eyfs review is relaxing on them anyway, so they are being very picky in a childminding setting!

[LittleVoice]

Thank you for pointing this out Sarah, I don't have them on mine either so i wil be adding them on. While i can see Paulines point of view i can just see me getting an inspector who is set in their ways and may pick up on it so it can be one less thing they can moan about!!

[sarah707]

I have the date written on mine, hubby and i share risk assessments so will write written by us both! just to dot the i's and cross the t's so to speak, but then the eyfs review is relaxing on them anyway, so they are being very picky in a childminding setting!

Ah but there's no guarantee that will happen... and even if it does it'll be Autumn next year before we see anything in writing.

I'm due inspection sooner rather than later so I'm not taking any chances!

All done now... relaxing time soon

[MAWI]

Hi Sarah

I agree with you. Definatley best to have all areas covered. My inspection last week, she went through all my Risk assessments with a fine toothcomb. I HAD put my name on and dated and signed everything. I had handwritten any reviews and just signed and put date to any small amendments rather than printing all off again and she was happy with this.
If I changed anything, she also wanted to see the date and signature too. She almost caught me one one RA, but luckily I had dated it on the next sheet. I had a whole folder full of RA's and reviews and she almost got me on a scribble adjustment that I had made, but could back it up and show her the proof that it was dated. It does seem that if they can pick up you on the tiniest thing, they will.

[breezy]

mine checked RA's for name, date etc and stated it had to have my full name on which luckily all but one recently reviewed one had!.

[TheBTeam]

Ah but there's no guarantee that will happen... and even if it does it'll be Autumn next year before we see anything in writing.

I'm due inspection sooner rather than later so I'm not taking any chances!

All done now... relaxing time soon

Oh yes i agree, i did go through and date mine, but no names as yet, when i get them out for my monthly checks at the beginning of may they can have our names on them then, if i remember (what our names are that is!!!)

[miffy]

I do happen to have my name on mine, however if I didn't and the inspector said anything I might well just point out that as a childminder it is MY business, I am the sole proprietor, I am responsible for the running of my business, no one else could write the RA for MY business as they would not know it as well as me, I wouldn't even want an assistant to write them as it is MY business at the end of the day. So surely common sense should prevail and it should be perfectly obvious that it is ME who has written them.

At a nursery, playgroup etc., yes, you would need to know who has written them.

But Pauline, Ofsted inspectors DO NOT always have common sense!

Miffy xx

[Penny1959]

My annual risk assessment of my setting does have all the requirements - who wrote it, date, review date.


All identified risks and actions are in my 'evidence diary' - so the date is there as entered on appropriate page - but not signed. It is my personal evidence diary. If my assistant comes across a risk - she tells me - and I write it in the evidence diary and of course what she or I did about it.

This I believe covers the the requirements of 'Suitable premises' on page 33 of Satutory guidance.

However as all my other 'risk assessments' are just generic checklists for outings (all 6 of them) they are not dated, signed, nor have a review date.

I believe this covers the requirement forrisk assessment for 'outings' on page 24 of statory guidance which says
For each type of outing providers must carry out a full risk assessment which includes an assessment of required aduld:child ratio. This assessment must take into account the nature of the outing and consider whether it is appropriate to exceed the normal ratio requirements (as set out in this document) in accordance with providers procedures for supervision of children on outings. This assessment must be reviewed before embarking on each specific outing.

It says nothing about in writing or date, or by whom. My main annual risk assessments says I will refer to my checklists before going on an outing - which I do. I then just write any risk found and action in my evidence diary. Any insopector pulling me up on this would be asked to justify their action against the EYFS - which they would not be able to as I am (I believe) doing what is required.


Penny

[Dragonfly]

But Pauline, Ofsted inspectors DO NOT always have common sense! well said Miffy

My RA were fine had my inspection this year, but as always depends what the inspectors like I dont have my name on mine.