Playground, gym, PE, sports and fitness equipment inspections
27 Feb 2024
Schools have a legal obligation to ensure that equipment used for physical activities is safe to use.
To do this, schools need to ensure that a suitable contractor is used to carry out and document annual inspections of all playground, gymnasium, PE, sports and fitness equipment.
To support the annual inspections, throughout the year, trained schools staff should also carry out and document their own inspections as below.
School maintenance survey - 6 additional questions
To check that schools where the local authority is the employer are completing these inspections and documenting them, from the summer of 2024, six additional questions (not scored for the time being) will be added to the School Maintenance Surveys (SMS’s).
The questions below along with the supporting notes for schools, explain:
- what is required/will be asked
- how to select a suitable contractor
- upcoming staff training dates
- suitable inspection checklists.
Does the school carry out and document annual inspections of outdoor play and gymnasium equipment? Annual inspections are to be carried out by an organisation on the Outdoor Annual - Register of Play Inspectors International.
- The Local Authority (LA) is currently working with ROPSA Playsafety who are on the Outdoor Annual - Register of Play Inspectors International
- ROSPA Playsafety: Alyson Pugh (Director & Operations Manager), 01793 317470, apugh@rospaplaysafety.co.uk
- Other suitable organisations can also be found by using the link above.
Does the school carry out and document routine inspections (weekly, visual) of the outdoor play equipment? School staff carrying out these inspections should have completed the ROSPA play equipment inspection training provided by the local authority.
- The LA has been working with ROSPA Playsafety to provide training for school staff to be able to carry out the routine inspections (weekly, visual) of the outdoor play equipment
- Two dates are remaining for schools who still need to book on this school play area inspection training. Book via Ealing CPD Online on the links below:
- No further training dates planned for this year so any remaining schools should book now without delay
- The weekly inspection checklist below has been created by ROSPA (formatted by the LA) that schools must adapt and use as required. There are two versions of the checklist, one in MS Excel and one in MS Word. Schools can use either version of the checklists:
Does the school carry out and document operational inspections (monthly, hands-on) of the outdoor play equipment? School staff carrying out these inspections should have completed the ROSPA play equipment inspection training provided by the local authority.
- See note above regarding training
- The monthly inspection checklist has been created by ROSPA (formatted by the LA) that schools must adapt and use as required
- There are two versions of the checklist, one in MS Excel and one in MS Word. Schools can use either version of the checklists:
Does the school carry out and document regular inspections of any outdoor gym equipment in accordance with the written instructions or training provided by the manufacturer/supplier? The inspection frequencies will vary depending on the equipment and the manufacturer.
- Here is an example of written inspection/maintenance instructions provided by a supplier: Fresh air Fitness
- If any school has an issue contacting the manufacturer/supplier or they do not provide any inspection instructions/training, please contact Raj Chowdhury, schools health and safety.
Does the school carry out and document annual inspections of PE and sports equipment (including PE, gymnastics equipment, trampolines and also any fitness equipment kept such as multi-gym machines and cross-trainer machines). Annual inspections are to be carried out by an organisation endorsed by the Association of Physical Education.
If the school has fitness equipment such as multi-gym machines and cross trainer machines, does the school carry out and document regular inspections in accordance with the written instructions or training provided by the manufacturer/supplier? The inspection frequencies will vary depending on the equipment and the manufacturer.
- Here is an example of written inspection/maintenance instructions provided by a supplier: Gymgear
Further information
If any school has an issue contacting the manufacturer/supplier or they do not provide any inspection instructions/training, to contact Raj Chowdhury, schools health and safety, contact details below.
Contacts
