Soft Play Maintenance Plan for Centres and Nurseries
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Quick answer: A soft play maintenance plan has four layers: a visual check before opening every day, a hands-on routine inspection every week, a more detailed operational inspection every one to three months, and an annual inspection of the play frame by an independent, qualified inspector. Write every check down, take damaged items out of use straight away, and keep the records. Permanent enclosed play frames are covered by BS EN 1176-10 and the inspection and maintenance guidance in BS EN 1176-7.
Cleaning keeps soft play hygienic. Maintenance keeps it safe and working. Most of the venues and nurseries that contact Soft Play Market have a cleaning rota but no written maintenance plan, and that's the part an insurer or inspector will ask to see after an incident. This guide sets out a practical plan for a commercial soft play centre, café play area or nursery: what to check, how often, who should do it, and what to record.
Why does a soft play centre need a maintenance plan?
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 you have a duty to keep equipment safe for visitors, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require you to assess risks and act on them. A written plan with dated records is how you show that you've done that. It also saves money: a loose netting tie or a split seam fixed this week is cheaper than a closed section next month.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Your insurer, local authority and equipment installer may set their own requirements, so check with them.
What should a soft play maintenance schedule include?
| Frequency | Who | What |
|---|---|---|
| Daily, before opening | Trained member of staff | Visual walk-round: obvious damage, foreign objects, loose padding, exits clear, ball pit level, floor dry |
| Weekly | Trained member of staff | Hands-on check: netting and ties, padding fixings, covers, zips, slide joins, platform edges, ball condition |
| Every 1–3 months | Manager or trained operational inspector | Operational inspection: structure, fixings, wear, stability, and a review of the daily and weekly records |
| Annually | Independent qualified inspector | Full annual inspection of the play frame against BS EN 1176, with a written report |
Busy centres often do the operational inspection monthly. A small café corner with loose foam pieces and no frame won't need a frame inspection, but still needs the daily and weekly checks.
What should staff check every day?
- Walk the whole frame and the toddler area before opening.
- Look for sharp objects, food, dropped coins and hair clips, especially in ball pits and under slides.
- Check padding is in place on posts and platform edges.
- Look for torn covers or exposed foam.
- Make sure netting has no holes large enough to trap a head or limb.
- Check the ball pit is topped up to its normal depth and that no broken balls are in it.
- Confirm fire exits and routes are clear (this also feeds into your fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005).
Sign and date the sheet, even when nothing is wrong. "No issues" is still a record.
What does a weekly soft play inspection cover?
The weekly check is hands-on. Staff should pull, press and test, not just look:
- Pull on netting ties, cable ties and fixings. Replace any that are brittle or loose.
- Press padding on posts and beams. It should be firm and fixed.
- Check slide joins and run-outs for gaps or lifting edges.
- Look at stitching on high-wear covers: steps, landing mats, crawl tunnels.
- Check zips and Velcro on loose foam pieces.
- Sieve or scoop a section of the ball pit and remove cracked or dented balls. A crushed ball can have a sharp edge.
- Check floor mats in the toddler area sit flat and don't slide.
For what to do with damage you find, see our guide to repairing or replacing soft play.
What is an annual independent inspection and do I need one?
For a permanent play frame, an annual inspection by an independent, competent inspector is the accepted standard in the industry and what most insurers will expect. The inspector checks the structure, materials, entrapment points, impact areas and wear against BS EN 1176, and gives you a written report listing risks by priority.
Look for an inspector who is registered with a recognised scheme for play inspectors, and who is independent of the company that built or sells your frame. Keep each report and record how and when you dealt with each item on it. Book the next one when you receive the report so it doesn't drift.
How do you look after ball pit balls in a busy centre?
Balls wear out faster than anything else in a soft play centre. Build them into your plan:
- Remove cracked, dented and faded balls at the weekly check.
- Wash on a regular cycle: warm water with mild washing-up liquid, in mesh bags or a large tub, then air-dry fully before they go back. No washing machine, no bleach, no very hot water. Our guide on how often to clean ball pit balls covers frequency.
- Keep a stock of spares so you can top up after removing damaged balls.
We sell 7cm balls in boxes of 750 in one colour for £142.50, with the per-ball price dropping at 3, 7 and 14 boxes (down to 16.5p), and an 800 mixed-colour pack for £178.80. They're made in the EU, free from PVC, BPA and phthalates, and EN 71 tested. See bulk ball pit balls for venue quantities.
What records should a soft play centre keep?
- Daily and weekly check sheets, signed and dated.
- Operational inspection notes.
- Annual inspection reports and the actions taken.
- A defects log: what was found, when, who found it, what was done, when it went back into use.
- Accident and incident records.
- Cleaning records.
- Staff training records for whoever does the checks.
Keep them for several years. If there's a claim, these records are often your best evidence.
How much does soft play maintenance cost?
The daily and weekly checks cost staff time, typically 15 to 30 minutes a day for a medium centre. Annual inspection fees vary with the size of the frame, so get quotes from more than one inspector. Consumables (cable ties, replacement padding, repair patches, balls) are a steady running cost worth budgeting monthly rather than treating as surprises.
Frequently asked questions
Can staff do the annual inspection themselves?
Staff should do the daily, weekly and operational checks. The annual inspection should be done by someone independent and qualified.
Do loose foam blocks need inspecting?
Yes, as part of your weekly check: covers, zips, foam firmness and whether pieces still sit flat.
What should we do if we find a serious defect?
Close that section straight away, record it, and don't reopen until it's repaired and checked.
Can you supply equipment for several sites?
Yes. See our trade programme or email info@softplaymarket.co.uk.