Developing a Safety Plan

Overview

This 60-minute lesson is lesson 20 out of 30 in the unit Safe Learning Environments for Year 12 students. It focuses on collaboratively developing a safety plan for a hypothetical early years setting. The lesson aligns closely with the National Curriculum for England, particularly with guidance relating to Health and Safety in childcare environments and Personal Development.

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National Curriculum Links

Unit: Safe Learning Environments
Relevant Programmes of Study:

• Health and Safety (Early Years Provision):

  • Pupils should understand how to maintain a safe and healthy environment in early years settings.
  • Recognise risk assessment procedures and how to implement them.
  • Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities and early years health & safety legislation.

• Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education:

  • Pupils develop skills to take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others.
  • Developing teamwork and collaboration skills within a professional context.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify the key components of an effective safety plan applicable to an early years setting.
2. Collaborate effectively to design a detailed safety plan tailored to a hypothetical nursery environment.
3. Apply relevant health and safety legal requirements and safeguarding protocols as required by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.
4. Communicate clearly the importance and practicalities of safety measures in early years settings.

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Resources Required

• Large flip chart paper or whiteboard
• Markers and pens
• Safety plan template handouts (basic headings provided)
• Early years setting scenario brief (hypothetical case study)
• Copies of relevant EYFS safety guidelines extracts
• Timer or stopwatch

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction and Recap (10 minutes)

• Activity: Quick brainstorming
  • Ask students: "What are the major hazards in early years settings? What makes a safety plan effective?"
  • Write ideas on the board categorised as Physical Safety, Health and Hygiene, Safeguarding, Emergency Procedures, and Staff Training.
• Teacher Points:
  • Reinforce links to EYFS safeguarding and health and safety requirements.
  • Highlight the importance of compliance with statutory guidance.

2. Presenting the Scenario (5 minutes)

• Distribute a hypothetical early years nursery setting brief. For example, a setting with indoor and outdoor play areas, a kitchen, and children with varying needs (allergies/medical conditions).
• Explain: "Your group will work together to develop a safety plan for this nursery."

3. Group Collaborative Work: Developing the Safety Plan (25 minutes)

• Divide the class into pairs or a single group of 6 (depending on preference) to work collaboratively.
• Provide a structured safety plan template containing sections like:
  • Risk Assessment & Hazard Identification
  • Health & Hygiene Procedures
  • Emergency Procedures (fire, first aid, evacuation)
  • Safeguarding & Supervision Practices
  • Staff Training and Communication
• Students discuss, assign responsibilities, and write/draw elements of their safety plan on large paper.
• Circulate to prompt deeper thinking on legal frameworks such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and EYFS safeguarding statutory guidance.

4. Presentation and Peer Review (15 minutes)

• Each group presents their safety plan succinctly (up to 5 mins).
• Class discusses what is comprehensive and any areas for improvement.
• Teacher highlights strengths and realigns any misconceptions with national curriculum expectations.

5. Plenary and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Reflective discussion or quick written exit ticket:
  • “Why is collaboration essential when designing safety plans in early years settings?”
  • “How would the safety plan change if the setting cared for children with additional medical needs?”
• Summarise key takeaways and preview next lesson focus.

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Assessment and Feedback

• Formative assessment through observation of group work, engagement in discussion, and contribution to the safety plan.
• Use a success criteria checklist related to National Curriculum and EYFS standards:
  • Have all key components been addressed?
  • Does the plan reflect legal responsibilities?
  • Is the communication clear and appropriate for the setting?
• Provide verbal feedback during and following presentations, focusing on how well students integrated health and safety laws and safeguarding into their plan.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Provide additional scaffolding in the template for students who need it (e.g., prompts/question starters).
• Challenge more able students by asking them to consider specific policies related to emerging risks such as infection control or technological safety (digital security in nursery).
• Ensure all students can participate collaboratively by allocating roles (facilitator, recorder, presenter etc.) suitable to their strengths.

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WOW Factor Suggestions for Teachers

• Incorporate real EYFS case studies to analyse in follow-up lessons.
• Use a digital collaborative tool (e.g., a shared Google Jamboard) for remote or in-class interactive planning.
• Roleplay emergency scenarios based on the safety plan developed to deepen practical understanding in future lessons.
• Invite a guest speaker (such as a local early years health and safety officer) for an insight session after completing this unit.

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This lesson plan ensures students understand and confidently develop safety plans compliant with the National Curriculum in England, preparing them for responsible practice in early years environments.