A professional insight from AMP Fire Protection

At AMP Fire Protection, we carry out many fire risk assessments (FRAs) across the UK each year — and increasingly, we are seeing a worrying pattern in schools, nurseries, academies, and childcare settings.

More and more, we are being called into environments where the organisation believed they were compliant…
…but in reality, their fire safety measures were dangerously inadequate.

And the most concerning part?

These establishments had recently passed Ofsted inspections.

The Growing Problem: “We Have an FRA… So We’re Fine.”

Just this week, we were contacted by an academy trust responsible for several schools. They had discovered — only after internal review — that their fire risk assessment was not adequate or up to date. This wasn’t the first time we’ve seen this happen, and sadly, it’s becoming the norm.

Across many sites we attend, we encounter FRAs that were:

• Completed by non-competent persons

• Written by staff members or site managers without proper training

• Missing key actions or containing outdated information

• Carried out using generic templates that don’t reflect the building’s actual risks

One creche and café venue we attended had:

• No fire alarm system

• No fire extinguishers

• No emergency lighting

• A fire exit that was seized shut

And yet — they had passed their Ofsted inspection.

The manager genuinely believed fire safety was the landlord’s responsibility. Ofsted had seen a “fire risk assessment” on site, ticked the box, and moved on.

Where the System Breaks Down: Ofsted Are Not Fire Safety Professionals

This is the central issue.

Ofsted inspectors are not trained fire safety specialists.

Their inspection handbook requires them only to check the presence of a fire risk assessment —
not to determine whether:

• It was completed by a competent fire risk assessor

• It is suitable and sufficient

• The actions have been completed

• The premises meet the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

This means a setting can present any document labelled “Fire Risk Assessment”, and it will be accepted as evidence of compliance.

In reality, this creates a dangerous loophole.

Children, staff, and visitors may be placed at significant risk — not because the setting doesn’t care about safety, but because they assume passing Ofsted equals being compliant.
It does not.

Why Schools and Childcare Settings Are Particularly Vulnerable

From our experience at AMP Fire, schools, nurseries, academies, and childcare venues face unique risks:

• Frequent staff turnover

• Misunderstanding around landlord vs tenant responsibilities

• Buildings with aging infrastructure

• Rapid repurposing of rooms and spaces

• High occupant vulnerability (children, infants, SEND pupils)

• Limited budgets and reliance on internal staff “doing their best”

These environments need robust, professional, and regularly reviewed fire safety planning — far beyond what a basic template FRA or a quick inspection can provide.

“Competent Person” Requirements — A Legal Obligation, Not a Suggestion

The law is clear.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a fire risk assessment must be completed by a competent person — someone with:

• Sufficient training

• Knowledge

• Skills

• Experience

• Understanding of fire safety legislation

A member of staff with no fire safety background does not meet this requirement, even with the best intentions.

A tick from Ofsted does not override UK fire safety law.

The Consequences of Inadequate Fire Safety

Beyond the obvious risk to life, the repercussions for schools and childcare providers can include:

• Enforcement notices from fire authorities

• Insurance refusal in the event of a fire

• Legal liability for senior leaders

• Reputational damage

• Closure of premises

These are outcomes we help clients avoid every day — but awareness is critical.

How AMP Fire Helps Schools & Childcare Providers Get Back on Track

At AMP Fire, we specialise in supporting educational and childcare settings with:

• Competent, accredited fire risk assessments

• Clear, prioritised action plans

• Fire alarm, extinguisher, and emergency lighting installation & servicing

• Compliance advice for academy trusts and multi-site organisations

• Training for staff and Responsible Persons

Our goal is simple:
To ensure no school or childcare provider is left believing they are compliant when they are not.

If Your Setting Has Passed Ofsted — But You’re Still Unsure

You are not alone.

We encourage any school, nursery, or childcare provider to ask:

• Was our FRA completed by a competent assessor?

• Is it up to date?

• Have the actions been completed?

• Would it stand up to scrutiny from the Fire and Rescue Service?

If the answer to any of these is “no” or “I’m not sure”, we can help.

🔥 Get a Professional Fire Risk Assessment from AMP Fire

Visit www.ampfire.co.uk or speak to our team for free advice.

Don’t wait for an incident — or an enforcement notice — to discover your assessment isn’t sufficient.

Let’s keep children, staff, and premises safe with proper fire safety, not tick-box compliance.