Schools have repeatable slips and trips risk patterns: wet entrance thresholds, muddy routes, algae in shaded corners, crowded bottlenecks, steps and ramps used at peak times, and playground paths that stay damp. A slips and trips risk assessment for schools helps you identify these hazards, record who may be harmed (pupils, staff, visitors), confirm what controls you already have, and plan actions with owners and deadlines. UK risk assessment guidance commonly follows the structure of identifying hazards, deciding who might be harmed and how, evaluating controls, recording findings, and reviewing.
If your assessment identifies that grip needs improving on steps, ramps, entrances or walkways:
School-specific hazard hotspots (where to look first)
1) School entrances and thresholds
- water tracked in during wet weather
- mud/grit build-up at doors and queue routes
- polished floor finishes at bottlenecks
- worn matting or curled edges
- poor drainage outside doors causing puddling
Related: Anti-slip school entrances →
2) Steps, landings and handrails
- worn step edges and poor edge definition
- inconsistent risers/repairs creating changes in level
- damp treads in outdoor staircases
- poor lighting on approaches
- handrails loose or missing on key routes
Related: Anti-slip stair nosing →
3) Ramps and step-free routes
- persistent damp on slopes
- algae in shaded routes
- steep sections and turning points
- step-free route must remain open (phasing constraints)
- surface polishing from footfall
Related: Anti-slip ramp surfacing →
4) Walkways, paths and playground routes
- leaf debris and algae films
- uneven paving and trip edges
- poor drainage and shaded damp patches
- pinch points and crossing routes
- winter icing exposure
Copy/paste slips and trips risk assessment template for schools
School / site:
Area assessed: (e.g., main entrance, KS1 yard route, ramp to reception, external steps to hall)
Assessor:
Date:
Review date:
Pupil age range: (optional)
Times of peak use: (drop-off, break, lunch, pick-up)
1) Hazards identified
Tick and add notes:
Slip hazards
- Rainwater tracked in at entrances
- Mud/grit tracked in from playground
- Spillages (food/drink/cleaning)
- Algae/moss on shaded outdoor routes
- Polished surfaces at bottlenecks
- Inadequate cleaning method/frequency
Trip hazards
- Uneven paving / broken edges
- Loose mats / curled edges
- Obstacles/clutter (bags, cones, equipment)
- Trailing cables (events)
- Damaged step edges / inconsistent risers
- Poor lighting / glare
Exact locations / notes:
2) Who might be harmed and how?
- Pupils (including running/play behaviour)
- Staff
- Parents/visitors
- Contractors/deliveries
- People with reduced mobility
How: slips, trips, falls, sprains, fractures, head injuries.
3) Existing controls (what's already in place)
- Cleaning regime (frequency + method):
- Matting/water management at entrances:
- Wet floor signage/barriers:
- Housekeeping controls (who checks, how often):
- Defect reporting system:
- Step/handrail checks:
- Winter plan (gritting/ice):
- Supervision during peak times:
4) Risk level and adequacy
Likelihood: Low / Medium / High
Severity: Low / Medium / High
Overall risk: Low / Medium / High
Are current controls adequate? Yes / No
If No, list gaps:
5) Actions required (owner + deadline)
| Action | Priority | Owner | Due date | Interim controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Action examples (choose what's relevant):
- Improve matting and cleaning at entrance thresholds
- Adjust cleaning frequency in wet weather
- Treat algae-prone shaded routes
- Repair uneven paving / damaged step edges
- Improve lighting in key approaches
- Add anti-slip treatment to steps/ramps/entrances/walkways
- Introduce a quick daily visual check for high-risk zones
6) Communication and monitoring
How actions will be communicated to staff:
How compliance will be monitored:
Who signs off completion:
7) Review triggers
Review after:
- incident/near miss
- changes to surfaces, cleaning regime, layout, or footfall
- seasonal change (winter/wet weather)
- scheduled review date
Quick school checklist (5 minutes)
Use this as a walk-round prompt:
- Are entrance thresholds wet or muddy at peak times?
- Are mats secure, flat, and maintained?
- Are step edges clear and in good condition?
- Do ramps have persistent damp or algae?
- Are outdoor paths uneven or ponding?
- Are high-traffic routes polished?
- Are there recurring bottlenecks and turning points?
- Is lighting adequate on approaches and steps?
- Is winter gritting planned for known icy routes?
Turning the assessment into a quote-ready remediation scope
If your actions include improving grip or treating slip hotspots, you'll get faster quotes if you provide:
- marked-up photos of the exact zones
- surface type and condition notes
- access windows (holidays/weekends/after-hours)
- whether step-free routes must stay open (phasing)
- safeguarding/site controls required