With the clocks going back, many schools find that darker mornings and afternoons bring new challenges for staff, pupils, and visitors. Reduced daylight increases the risk of slips, trips, falls, and site security issues, and it can also highlight gaps in maintenance or supervision routines that went unnoticed during summer months.

Are there significant changes to the school site due to the changes in the season with darker mornings and afternoons? Does this mean you need to reflect on your risk assessments to manage these changes.

What Risk?

When daylight reduces, so does visibility. This affects:

• Lighting and line of sight around paths, car parks, and entrances
• Staff and pupil safety at arrival and departure times
• Vehicle and pedestrian interactions in poorly lit car parks
• Supervision levels during after-school clubs, lettings, and cleaning routines
• Security and safeguarding, especially in larger or multi-building sites
• Events including parents evening, school plays, that can create hazards such as non-obvious trips and fall due to poor lighting and lack of risk assessing
• Fire Alarm Activation and your assembly point, the route to your assembly points and including the assembly areas must have suitable emergency lighting (refer to your FRA) 

Even small lapses—like a broken light fitting or poorly marked kerb—can result in an avoidable accident or safeguarding concern.

Key Checks to Include in site Risk Assessment

Here’s what NASPM recommends reviewing as part of your seasonal safety audit:

1. External Lighting – Check all light fittings, timers, and sensors are working. Walk the site at dusk to spot dark patches or blind corners.
2. CCTV – Ensure that your CCTV is working properly, and that the picture quality is not affected by the darkness.
3. Pathways and Car Parks – Inspect for uneven surfaces, wet leaves, moss, or poor drainage. Repair or clean as necessary.
4. Signage and Wayfinding – Ensure directional signs, fire exits, and emergency assembly points are visible at night.
5. Access Control – Review gate locking times and staff access routes for after-hours activities.
6. Supervision and Staffing – Update rotas for early or late duties, including cleaning, clubs, and site maintenance.
7. Personal Safety – Remind lone workers to sign in and out, carry phones or radios, and avoid isolated areas after dark. Monitoring of your lone working staff including contractors
8. Emergency Procedures – Rehearse lockdown, evacuation, and power failure scenarios during darker conditions.
9. PPE – Hi-vis clothing, and also warmer uniform for extended outside working periods 

Common Issues We See in Schools Each Autumn

From our NASPM audits and member feedback, the same problems arise year after year:

• Fire assembly points and external pathway routes not having emergency lighting.
• Heating systems not maintained or tested in preparation for winter months. 
• External lighting left untested until something fails.
• Car parks without marked pedestrian walkways.
• Poor visibility of CCTV footage due to glare or darkness.
• Cleaning teams working alone in unlit or unsecured areas.
• Gates or playground areas left open longer than intended.

A short site walk at dusk can identify most of these issues before they become incidents.

Top Tips from NASPM Experts

• Test at the right time – Check lighting and visibility when it’s dark, not during the day. Review the CCTV from the previous night.
• Update risk assessments now – Note any changes in lighting, supervision, or timings. Review event specific hazards and risks.
• Communicate changes – Make staff and external users aware of new procedures for access or parking.
• Schedule maintenance early – Electricians and caretakers are busiest this time of year; plan ahead.
• Review lone worker arrangements – Ensure staff who stay late can contact help if needed.
• Have a Plan B – preparing for critical incidents such as the loss of power, services, and how the school would manage this in the short term and medium term to ensure that the school can remain open

How NASPM Can Help

NASPM members can access:

• A Seasonal Site Safety and Lighting Risk Assessment Template
• Guidance on Lone Working Policies and After-Hours Procedures
• Email support from qualified health and safety specialists
• Training resources on Risk Assessment and Duty of Care

If you’re not yet a member, now is the perfect time to join and prepare your site for the darker months ahead.

Next Steps

• Schedule a dusk walk of your site this week.
• Update your lighting and access control checks.
• Share this blog with your leadership, caretaking, and cleaning teams.
• Visit the NASPM Resource Hub for templates and guidance.

Stay visible. Stay vigilant. Stay safe.
NASPM – helping schools protect building users and reputations all year round.