Choking Hazards and Small Parts Toolbox Talk

This choking hazards and small parts toolbox talk template from Health & Safety Zone provides early years practitioners and nursery staff with clear, practical guidance on preventing choking incidents in childcare settings.

The template addresses the most common choking hazards – whole foods such as grapes, whole nuts and hard candy, small detachable toy parts, beads, and loose hardware – as well as the risks created by inadequate supervision and unsafe cleaning practices that leave debris on surfaces. The guidance includes step‑by‑step actions for safe food preparation, toy inspection, storage, and emergency response, ensuring staff can act confidently and quickly. Each hazard is linked to the relevant EYFS statutory requirements and UK health‑and‑safety legislation.

Use this toolbox talk for:

• Nursery and child‑minder settings
• Preschool classrooms
• Any early years environment with children under five
• Staff induction and ongoing safety briefings

The toolbox talk is designed to be brief yet comprehensive, ideal for daily briefings, shift handovers, and parent information sessions.

Fully editable – customise the DO and DON’T lists, add site‑specific signage, or incorporate local policies to suit your setting.

It helps settings demonstrate compliance during inspections and reduces the risk of costly incidents.

Compliant with: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework 2024, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and HSE guidance on preventing choking in children.