Nursery owners and managers will know that their daily lives are all about spinning a lot of plates at the same time. On any given day, nursery staff are looking after children, liaising with parents, preparing activities, managing paperwork and probably a lot more. So, naturally, something will occasionally go wrong, leading to an insurance claim.

Jason Brown, Everywhen’s Head of Product – Care and Charity said: “While every incident is different, our underwriters have found that similar types of claims crop up again and again. The claims we most commonly see relate to plumbing and workplace accidents.

When plumbing has other plans

“A leaking pipe probably isn’t among the first thoughts about the key insurance risks faced by nurseries, but water damage is one of the most common issues we see. As high-traffic premises, nurseries rely heavily on water-based facilities like toilets, sinks, kitchens and heating systems.”

A small leak that’s easy to initially miss may quickly develop into a much larger problem, damaging the building in the process and may even force a temporary closure.

Jason Brown continues: “We have seen claims in the region of hundreds of thousands of pounds, showing just how costly these incidents can be. While nobody can prevent every leak or burst pipe, good building maintenance can make a real difference.”

Regular plumbing inspections, quickly dealing with any minor issues and making sure staff know where the stopcocks are, can all go a long way towards preventing damage.  If the unexpected does happen, having insurance cover in place can help protect the nursery from costly repairs and business interruption.”

Cover varies by provider, so it’s important to check the policy documents and speak to the broker if there are any queries.

Nursery work never stands still

Working in a nursery is nothing like working at a desk. Staff spend much of the day moving around, setting up equipment, mopping up spills, helping children, and much more. This means that workplace accidents can and do happen. Everywhen sees lots of claims relating to slips, trips and falls, particularly involving wet floors and everyday workplace hazards.

Most nursery owners work hard to create a safe environment for everyone, but even well-run settings can’t completely remove risk. That’s why it so important to have ongoing health and safety training, regular risk assessments and good housekeeping practices.

Simple things like keeping walkways clear, dealing with spills as soon as they happen, and storing equipment away properly, can make a huge difference. Employer’s liability cover can help if a member of staff is injured, because of their work, and makes a claim for compensation against the nursery.

Developing good habits

No one enjoys paperwork, but when it comes to managing risk, good record-keeping is worth the effort. One important step a nursery can take is to create a clear record of the measures it is taking to keep everyone safe, including children, staff, and visitors. These should include:

• – Maintaining staff training records
• – Making risk assessments
• – Fire safety checks
• – Equipment inspections
• – Accident and incident reports
• – Safeguarding records
• – Maintenance logs

Keeping these records up to date can also help to identify issues before they become bigger problems. In addition, if there is a need to make a claim, they hold a lot of invaluable information that the insurer will want to know. The key thing is that it’s not just about what actions were taken at the time, it is about there being a clear record of the actions.

Jason Brown concludes: “Risk management is an important part of the day to day running of any nursery. Therefore, it’s very important to consider the insurance options available and how the right cover may prove to be a valuable support for any nursery owner, not least in terms of their peace of mind!”