What this section is about
Indoor safety includes impulsivity, self-injury, climbing, accessing medication, sharp objects, unsafe appliances, water risks, fire risks, damaging property or hurting others during distress.
Avoid saying
- They get into mischief.
- They are destructive.
- They do silly things.
Better ways to explain
- My child lacks consistent awareness of danger indoors.
- Adult supervision is needed to prevent access to unsafe items.
- During dysregulation, my child may act impulsively and place themselves or others at risk.
Example wording
My child requires close supervision indoors because they do not consistently recognise danger. They may climb, access unsafe items, use objects unsafely or act impulsively when distressed. We use adult supervision and safety measures to reduce risk.
Evidence that helps
- Incident diary
- Photos of locks/safety equipment
- School/home risk assessments
- or professional letters
- Behaviour logs
Common mistakes
- Not mentioning home risks
- Forgetting safety adaptations
- Forgetting impulsivity
- Forgetting self-injury
- Forgetting risks during meltdowns
Part of the Bright Steps Ultimate Guide. For the full interactive walkthrough with printable templates, sign in and visit the DLA Guide.