Accident & incident record

What you need to know

The plain-English guidance that comes with this document.

• Record it at the time, and tell the parent the same day. The EYFS requires you to keep a record of accidents and injuries and to inform parents. A note written at the time and shown to the parent (with their signature) is both good care and your evidence you handled it properly.
• Know what has to be reported to Ofsted — and RIDDOR. Certain serious accidents, injuries, illnesses or a child's death must be notified to Ofsted (usually within 14 days), and some are RIDDOR-reportable. Build the habit of asking "does this need reporting?" every time — the answer's usually no, but the times it's yes really matter.
• Watch for the safeguarding angle — and note the lower bar from September 2026. An injury that doesn't quite add up, or a pattern of accidents, should make you think — and possibly link to your pre-existing injury records and safeguarding policy. Record facts, not assumptions. From 1 September 2026 the EYFS requires you to report any allegation of harm or abuse to Ofsted (the word "serious" has been removed from that threshold), so if an accident raises a safeguarding concern, follow your safeguarding policy and err on the side of reporting.
• Only paediatric-first-aid-trained staff should give first aid to children. The EYFS requires PFA-trained staff on site (and childminders to hold it). Note who gave the first aid and that they're trained.
• Spot patterns and prevent the next one. A run of the same accident in the same spot is your risk assessment telling you something. Feed incidents back into your risk assessments and change the environment.
• It's sensitive data — store it securely. Keep it confidential, share only with those who need it, and keep each child's records safe.
• Professionally structured starting point — adapt and sign off. A manager tailors reporting thresholds and routes to your setting and regulator; it's not "compliant out of the box". England-led — Wales/Scotland/NI have their own regulators and notification rules.