The risk assessment should cover anything with which a child may come into contact.

The premises and equipment should be clean, and providers should be aware of the requirements of health and safety legislation (including hygiene requirements). This should include informing and keeping staff up-to-date.

A health and safety policy should be in place which includes procedures for identifying, reporting and dealing with accidents, hazards and faulty equipment.

Significant changes or events which must be reported to Ofsted include:

• significant changes to the premises, for example structural alterations or an extension;
• something which adversely affects the smooth running of the provision over a sustained period of time;
• changes to the outside of the premises such as adding a pond or taking down fencing.

Where children stay overnight, it may be appropriate for the Fire Safety Officer to inspect the sleeping area.

Staff should understand their roles and responsibilities in the event of a fire.

Fire exits should be clearly identifiable; fire doors should be free from obstructions and easily opened from the inside.

Regular evacuation drills should be carried out and details recorded in a fire log book of any problems encountered and how they were resolved.

The premises should be clean, adequately ventilated and well lit. Daylight should be the main source of light. Where, in exceptional circumstances this is not possible, the provider should ensure that lighting is of good quality and children have adequate access to daylight.

Calculations of available indoor space should be based on the net or useable areas of the rooms used by the children (that is, not including storage areas, thoroughfares, dedicated staff areas, cloakrooms, utility rooms, kitchens and toilets).

Wherever possible, there should be access to an outdoor play area, and this is the expected norm for providers. In provision where outdoor play space cannot be provided, outings should be planned and taken on a daily basis (unless circumstances make this inappropriate, for example unsafe weather conditions).

There should be adequate space to give scope for free movement and well-spread activities.

In addition to the area per child stated in the requirements, there should be space within the premises to store children's records, toys and personal belongings. There should also be sufficient space to use and store any specialist equipment needed, for example, by disabled children. This equipment should be quickly and easily accessible by staff at the provision so that it can be used by those children whenever it is required. Security should be considered.

Rooms should be maintained at a temperature which ensures the comfort of the children and staff, including non-mobile children.

Except in childminding settings, there should be a separate baby room for children under the age of two, but they should be able to have contact with older children and be transferred to the older age-group after the age of 18 months or as appropriate for their individual stage of development.

Provision should be made (space or partitioned area) for children who wish to relax, play quietly or sleep, equipped with appropriate furniture. This may be converted from normal play space providing children can rest and/or sleep safely without disturbance. Each child should have their own bed linen, flannel, and hairbrush if they are used (these may be provided by parents or providers). Sleeping children should be frequently checked.

Where children are staying overnight, they should each have a suitable bed or cot and clean bedding.

There should be an area which is adequately equipped to provide healthy meals, snacks and drinks for the children as necessary. Ideally, the provision will have a full kitchen. Where this is not possible, appropriate alternative arrangements should be made for the hygienic preparation and storage of food and drinks.

There should be suitable facilities for the hygienic preparation of babies' feeds if necessary. Suitable sterilisation equipment is used for the sterilisation of babies' feeding equipment and dummies.

There should be at least one toilet and one hand basin for every ten children over the age of two. Except in childminding settings, there should normally be separate toilet facilities for adults. There should be adequate washing and toileting facilities for children who stay overnight.

There should be suitable hygienic changing facilities for changing any children who are in nappies and providers should ensure that an adequate supply of clean bedding, towels, spare clothes and any other necessary items are always available. Children should not be allowed access to any laundry facilities that are provided on site.

Where the early years provision takes place in a communal building such as a community centre or village hall, the part of the premises used by the early years provision should be for the sole use of the provision during the hours of operation. Ideally, the premises should have their own kitchen and toilet facilities but, where this is not possible, the provider should take steps to ensure that other users do not have a negative impact on the quality or safety of provision.

There should be an area where confidential information and necessary records can be kept and where staff may talk to parents confidentially. Staff should have a room or area available for breaks, away from areas being used by children.