Home / Who we help / Nurseries and pre-schools
Nurseries, pre-schools and early years settings
Fire risk assessments for nurseries and pre-schools
We assess fire safety in nurseries and pre-schools, including evacuation arrangements for young children, access-controlled doors, sleeping areas and shared premises. You'll receive a clear assessment and a practical action plan.
Since 1999
Fire safety across the East Midlands
49
educational premises we work with
FPA & IFSM
Fire Protection Association
and Institute of Fire Safety Managers
What we assess in nurseries and pre-schools
We consider how children move through the setting during the day, including sleep times, staff changes, drop-off and collection.
Babies, non-walkers and sleep rooms
We review how staff would evacuate babies and sleeping children, including the use of evacuation cots or other equipment and any difficulties presented by upstairs rooms or stairs.
Staffing and evacuation roles
We consider who would move and account for each group of children at different points in the day, including staff breaks, and how new starters and drills support those arrangements.
Safeguarding and locked exits
Keypads, magnetic locks and child-safety gates help keep children secure. We assess how these arrangements affect emergency escape, without assuming that every door or locking system works in the same way.
Pushchairs, displays and escape routes
We look at corridors, exits and stairs, including buggies at drop-off, furniture and artwork displays, to see whether they could obstruct escape or contribute to fire spread.
Kitchens, laundry and electrical equipment
Cooking appliances, bottle warmers, tumble dryers and other electrical equipment need suitable precautions. We review these everyday hazards alongside the storage of bedding and other combustible materials.
Shared premises and changing numbers
For nurseries in halls, schools or converted buildings, we consider shared escape routes and responsibilities. We also review changes such as extra rooms or additional children that may affect existing arrangements.
What you receive
A fire risk assessment for your setting and an action plan with prioritised recommendations.
The report is designed to provide a clear record of findings and recommendations, which you can share with Ofsted, the local authority, your insurer or the fire and rescue service if asked.
Quoted to the size and type of your setting.
Common questions
We share a building with a school or community centre. Who is responsible?
The answer depends on who controls each part of the building. The nursery and the building operator may both have duties, especially for shared alarms, corridors and exits. We look at the arrangements you rely on and identify anything that needs agreeing with the other organisation.
Does Ofsted look at fire safety?
Yes. Ofsted considers how registered early years providers keep children safe, including their fire safety arrangements. We make a point of recording the precautions and good practices already in place, not just the gaps. We want an inspector to see a fair picture of your nursery: what you’re doing well, what needs attention and what you’ve done about it. You can share the report and action plan alongside drill records and evidence of completed work. It’s useful evidence, but note that it isn’t an approval from Ofsted.
How often should we do fire drills, including during nap times?
There isn’t one drill timetable that suits every nursery. Drills should be regular enough to prepare staff and reflect different parts of the day, including sleep times. We’ll look at the children’s ages, your routines and drill records, then advise on a sensible approach.
Are keypads, magnetic locks and child-safety gates allowed on exits?
They’re not automatically a problem. Keeping children secure matters too; the key question is whether everyone can get out safely in an emergency. We look at how the doors and gates actually work and flag anything that could delay escape.
Will the assessment disrupt the children?
We’ll work around drop-off, meals and sleep times wherever possible, and follow your safeguarding procedures. We’ll need to see the rooms and speak with someone who understands how your staffing and evacuation arrangements work.
How often should our fire risk assessment be reviewed?
It needs regular review, and an earlier review may be needed if something significant changes. Taking in more children, opening another room, changing age groups or altering staffing can all affect the arrangements. We’ll recommend a review date in the report and send a reminder when it’s due.
Are follow-up visits included?
A follow-up visit isn’t usually included. It’s useful to keep evidence of completed actions, such as dated photos, invoices or logbook entries, alongside your report. If you’d like us to come back and update the assessment after work has been carried out, we can quote for that separately.
Your assessment is just the starting point
Once we understand your setting and how it runs day to day, we can help with staff training, written fire safety policies and routine servicing. You deal with the same team, and we use what we’ve learned about your setting rather than starting from scratch each time.
Based on your setting
Staff training
Fire safety awareness for all staff and fire marshal training for room leaders, using your own exits, sleep room, locked doors and assembly point. Staff can talk through what they’d actually need to do in an emergency.
Tailored to your setting
Fire safety policies and evacuation plans
Written policies and evacuation arrangements tailored to your setting and how it runs, including your sleep room and locked doors.
Regular checks and servicing
Routine testing, inspections and servicing
Fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, PAT testing and fire door inspections. We keep track of the services we provide and remind you when they’re due. If we find a defect that needs repair, we’ll explain what needs attention.
We don’t carry out repairs: where we find defects, we record them with recommendations and can point you to a qualified contractor.
Ask about training and servicingNot sure what you need? Talk to us.
Phone: 07859 741 285
WhatsApp: Message us
Email: info@acefiremidlandsltd.com
We cover Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. If you are elsewhere in the Midlands, get in touch too and we should be able to still help.
We reply within one working day.