The snapshot is based on the safety observations made by early childhood education and care staff and the pre-primary education staff in their daily work, which have been collected in the city's risk management system since autumn 2023. The snapshot contains 1 000 observations over a two-year period from 2023 to 2024. The observations analysed by Laura Salmi, an intern at the City of Tampere, concern everyday situations such as minor accidents, near misses and other safety-related observations that staff record as part of their normal work.
- Serious accidents are rare in the data, and the majority of observations relate to minor, transient incidents that have not caused serious harm to children. Above all, the observations provide us with an opportunity to identify areas for improvement and to strengthen the everyday safety practices that are already in place, says Mirva Ritari, Regional Director for Early Childhood Education and Care.
Based on the snapshot, the city is developing, for example, operational procedures, supervision and staff induction. The aim is to ensure that everyday life in early childhood education and care and in pre-primary education is as safe as possible for children and that staff are well equipped to anticipate different situations.
- Safety observations are part of the City of Tampere's knowledge-based management. An open culture of reporting and systematic handling of observations is a valuable tool that has a positive impact on the everyday life of early childhood education and care, says Henri Rikander, Safety Manager of the City of Tampere Education Services .
The snapshot will serve as a basis for future monitoring and development work. The safety observations will provide the city with up-to-date information on the situation in early childhood education and care and in pre-primary education, and measures can be targeted where they matter most in the daily lives of children and staff.
