Somerset Council’s Health and Safety Service has published new playground safety guidance for all schools and settings. The guidance aims to strengthen the safety, maintenance and oversight of school playgrounds while ensuring pupils continue to access safe, challenging, high‑quality play experiences.
What the new guidance includes
The Playground Safety Info Sheet outlines the essential requirements for managing play areas, including:
• Legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Expectations for planned inspections and routine checks
• Standards for equipment condition, surfacing and supervision
• Clear processes for accident and incident reporting
• Weather‑related and seasonal precautions
It also explains the use of BS EN 1176, the recognised benchmark for playground equipment safety, covering structural strength, fall protection, entrapment risks, sharp edges and manufacturer maintenance requirements. Schools should use BS EN 1176 as their reference point when assessing equipment safety and liaising with installers or maintenance contractors.
New Weekly Playground Safety Checklist
A key addition to the guidance is a Weekly Playground Safety Checklist designed for caretakers, site managers or nominated staff. This checklist supports consistent monitoring of:
• Access routes and housekeeping
• Condition of equipment (including fixings, moving parts and entrapment points)
• Surfacing (impact‑absorbing materials, wear and defects)
• Surroundings (fencing, gates, trees, vandalism and debris)
• Weather and environmental issues such as standing water, ice, leaf fall and drainage
• Signage visibility and condition
The checklist can be printed and kept in a logbook, providing a clear record of inspections, defects identified, actions taken and escalation where necessary.
Inspection Requirements
The guidance confirms the following inspection regime:
• Annual formal inspection by SC Grounds & Landscaping (grounds@somerset.gov.uk)
• Termly formal visual inspection by SC Grounds & Landscaping (grounds@somerset.gov.uk)
• Regular school checks on a daily or weekly basis, depending on use
• General grounds checks to ensure the wider area is safe, well maintained and free from hazards
Why this matters
Effective playground safety management helps schools to reduce avoidable accidents and identify defects before they escalate. It also ensures compliance with legal and best‑practice standards in order to provide safe but challenging play opportunities for pupils, along with maintaining high‑quality learning environments.
Learn more
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