CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School First-Aid Needs and Provision Risk Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Employers and those responsible for health and safety in maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England. Use for employee provision and, where applicable, to consider pupils, visitors and other non-employees.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Assessing and reviewing the first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel required for school employees, while considering pupils, visitors and other non-employees where applicable.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Injured or ill employees may not receive immediate attention if first-aid equipment, facilities or personnel are not adequate and appropriate for the circumstances of the workplace.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record the first-aid needs assessment findings and determine the equipment, facilities and personnel required for the school. Document the basis for the provision and identify any actions needed to address gaps.
Local assessment and additional controls
Relevant workplace hazards and risks may not be reflected in the first-aid provision, resulting in provision that does not match foreseeable injury or illness scenarios.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Identify and record the workplace hazards and risks relevant to the school and explain how each affects the required first-aid equipment, facilities or personnel. Reassess when hazards, activities, premises or working arrangements change.
Local assessment and additional controls
The size of the organisation may not be considered, leading to first-aid provision that is insufficient or unsuitable for the number of employees and the circumstances of the workplace.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record the relevant organisation size and explain how it has informed the quantity, distribution and accessibility of first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel. Do not assume that a small workforce removes the need for an assessment.
Local assessment and additional controls
Staffing arrangements may leave employees without timely access to appropriate first-aid personnel, equipment or facilities during foreseeable working periods.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record relevant staffing arrangements, including working patterns and periods when employees may be present, and determine the first-aid personnel, equipment and facilities needed for those circumstances. Identify arrangements for any period where usual personnel or facilities may not be available.
Local assessment and additional controls
Premises and workplace layout may result in first-aid equipment or facilities being inaccessible or too distant for the circumstances of the workplace.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record relevant premises characteristics and determine where first-aid equipment and facilities should be provided or located. Consider accessibility across the school premises and document any location-specific provision or further action required.
Local assessment and additional controls
School activities may create injury or illness risks that are not adequately addressed by the selected first-aid equipment, facilities or personnel.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record the activities undertaken at the school and the associated foreseeable injury or illness risks. Determine whether the activities require additional, different or more accessible first-aid equipment, facilities or personnel, and record the rationale.
Local assessment and additional controls
Foreseeable attendance by pupils, visitors or other non-employees may not be considered, creating avoidable gaps in arrangements for people who are not employees.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Where pupils, visitors or other non-employees are present or foreseeable, record that attendance and consider whether to make first-aid provision for them. Keep this consideration distinct from the provision required for employees, and document any additional arrangements proposed.
Local assessment and additional controls
The first-aid needs assessment may not be kept aligned with changes in workplace circumstances, resulting in outdated equipment, facilities or personnel provision.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Define review triggers and arrangements for revisiting the assessment, including changes to workplace hazards and risks, organisation size, staffing, premises, activities or foreseeable attendance. Record review findings, proposed changes and responsible owners without assigning unverified completion status.
Local assessment and additional controls