Health and Safety Procedures

Overview

This 60-minute lesson is designed for Year 12 students studying in early years education contexts, focusing on health and safety procedures within early years settings. This is lesson 7 in the 30-lesson unit Safe Learning Environments. It aligns with the National Curriculum for England’s focus on safeguarding and health and safety responsibilities in childcare and education, specifically addressing learning outcomes from the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework.

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Learning Objectives

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

• Demonstrate understanding of key health and safety legislation impacting early years settings (National Curriculum: Health and safety - KS5 Care and Early Years).
• Explain the importance and role of health and safety policies and procedures in maintaining safe environments.
• Identify common health and safety hazards in early years settings and appropriate preventative measures.
• Apply knowledge to create or assess a simple health and safety checklist.

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Curriculum Links

• Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework (particularly safeguarding and welfare requirements)
• National Curriculum England KS5 - Health and well-being, Safeguarding
• Department for Education: Supporting staff and setting standards in early education

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Resources Needed

• Copies of simplified EYFS welfare and safeguarding section excerpts
• Examples of health and safety policies and procedures from early years settings (printed or digital)
• Whiteboard or flip chart + markers
• Scenario cards depicting common hazards
• Health and Safety checklist template (for group activity)
• Projector for key presentation points (optional)

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity – Real Life Reflection (10 minutes)

• Task: Students each recall or research a recent news story or personal experience related to a health and safety issue in an early years setting or school.
• Purpose: Activate prior knowledge and engage with real-world relevance.
• Teacher Role: Facilitate a brief group discussion, noting key issues like slips, trips, infections, etc.

2. Introduction to Health and Safety Legislation (15 minutes)

• Presentation & Discussion:
  • Brief key points from the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) with focus on employer and employee responsibilities.
  • Overview of EYFS safeguarding and welfare requirements related to health and safety.
• Use of Visuals: Display key pieces of legislation and how they translate into daily practice.
• Check Understanding: Q&A with students about why policies matter.

3. Policies and Procedures Role-Play (15 minutes)

• Activity: In pairs, students select one policy/procedure (e.g., fire safety, infection control, equipment checks).
• Role-play: One student acts as a new staff member asking questions, the other explains the policy and its importance.
• Feedback: Other pairs observe and give constructive feedback.
• Objective: To understand how policies protect children, staff, and visitors.

4. Hazard Identification and Checklist Creation (15 minutes)

• Small Group Task: Using scenario cards, identify hazards in a setting (e.g., broken toy, wet floor, unsecured cupboard).
• Create a health and safety checklist to manage these hazards.
• Share: Groups present their checklist and justify choices.
• Teacher Role: Highlight good examples, relate back to legal requirements and EYFS standards.

5. Plenary & Assessment (5 minutes)

• Quick Quiz: Use oral questions or written exit tickets such as:
  • Name two health and safety policies in early years settings.
  • Why is risk assessment important?
  • What legislation supports health and safety in early years?
• Homework: Reflective journal entry: “Why do health and safety policies matter in protecting children’s well-being?”

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Differentiation

• Provide simplified written materials for students needing support.
• Challenge higher ability students with additional scenario complexities or asking them to link policies to safeguarding breaches.
• Use peer mentoring during role-play for scaffolding learning.

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Assessment and Feedback

• Formative assessment via role-play and group presentations to gauge understanding of policies.
• Oral quiz during plenary to assess recall and comprehension.
• Homework reflective journal to encourage personal engagement with the topic and deeper understanding.

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Teacher’s Notes

• Emphasise the holistic nature of safeguarding linked with health and safety.
• Encourage students to think critically about how policies translate into practice, not just theory.
• Link the lesson to future lessons on risk assessment and emergency procedures to build a cohesive understanding.

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This detailed and dynamic lesson plan, grounded in the National Curriculum and EYFS statutory expectations, is designed to engage Year 12 learners actively and prepare them for real-world professional practice in early years settings.