Toy safety regulations are not written for the children you work with.
UK toy safety regulations were built around a typically developing child. For the professionals and children who fall outside that standard, ToyScope provides CPD workshops and specialist written assessments across the UK.
Most risk assessment processes in professional settings do not cover toys specifically. Not where they came from, not whether the safety marking means anything for a child who mouths everything, not how to assess something that is technically compliant and completely wrong for the child who will use it.
UK toy safety regulations were written around a typically developing child. They do not account for neurodivergent children, mixed-ability groups, or children who interact with objects in ways the manufacturer did not design for. A toy can pass every test and still be the wrong toy.
In 2021/22, OPSS tested 2,260 products from online marketplaces and found 81% were non-compliant. Toys remain the second-largest category of product recalls and safety notifications on the OPSS Product Safety Database.
In a nutshell, the regulations do not cover the children you work with, and the products your budget pushes you toward are the most likely to be non-compliant to begin with. I built ToyScope to work on three levels:
My hands-on CPD workshops give professionals a framework for making and documenting toy safety decisions in the real conditions of their setting, built from UK regulatory standards and current developmental research
The Specialist Toy and Play Advice service produces written reports for individual children with complex needs, commissioned by the OTs, therapists, and SENCos working with them
And alongside both of those, I work with other national organisations and charities to push for the regulatory changes that would close the gap at a national level.
Your FREE Toy Safety Essentials
Before you book anything, take a look at what is already here. Three types of free resources, covering the fundamentals of toy safety, specialist guidance on mouthing behaviours beyond typical age ranges, and monthly UK recall roundups from the OPSS Product Safety Database.
A free video course covering UK safety markings, common hazards, marketplace red flags, and how to make quick risk decisions. No registration. No fee.
A specialist resource for professionals and families supporting children who continue mouthing objects beyond age 3
Every month I check the OPSS Product Safety Database and publish a summary of the UK toy alerts worth acting on, with photos and guidance for professional settings. Join the mailing list and it arrives direct to your inbox.
Is this for you?
OTs working with disabled or neurodivergent children who need advice on toys matched to a specific developmental profile, and families who need something more detailed than a general recommendation.
Managing procurement across a mixed setting where a 'safe for 3+' label tells you almost nothing useful about the child in front of you.
Balancing EYFS requirements and mixed-ability groups against procurement budgets that push toward marketplace products with non-compliance rates above 80%
Choosing equipment that needs to work therapeutically and safely, for children who may interact with materials far beyond what the manufacturer anticipated
Choosing play materials as communication tools, for children whose sensory profiles mean the age label is the least useful thing on the packaging.
Responsible for what goes into your setting and for justifying those decisions. When purchasing is questioned, you need something that holds up to scrutiny
THE TOYSCOPE NEWSLETTER
Monthly toy recall roundups and professional guidance on toy safety, SEN play environments, and risky play, straight to your inbox.
People on my mailing list get:
Important updates on toy safety recalls
Quick tips about play setup, storage and safety
Expert advice on toy selection and procurement
Exclusive guides and resources
By subscribing, you agree to receive regular emails from ToyScope, and to our privacy policy. No spam. Your data stays with me, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe.
Here is how you can work with me
Online workshops for individual professionals, running bi-monthly at £25 per person. Bespoke sessions for schools, nurseries, and therapy services at lengths from one hour to a full day. All grounded in UK regulatory frameworks and current developmental research. Everyone leaves with a certificate of attendance and something they can use the following day.
A comprehensive written report matching toys and play materials to an individual child's developmental profile, sensory needs, and interests. For children with disabilities or complex developmental differences where standard guidance is not sufficient. Commissioned by professional referral (OTs, therapists, and SENCos can refer directly).
Expert guidance for toy designers and manufacturers based on current developmental research and real-world experience in special education. I provide insights into diverse play patterns across age groups and neurodivergent play styles to help create truly inclusive, developmentally appropriate toys.
Media & Speaking Requests
With specialised knowledge in toy safety and child development, I offer clear, practical insights for media outlets and events. As a special education expert, I provide commentary on:
Essential toy safety advice and recalls that parents often miss
Balancing protecting children and allowing them to explore
Supporting diverse developmental needs through appropriate toy selection
If your request is for Child Safety Week in June, please contact in advance for availability.
Toy safety is a dynamic process, rather than a single rule. Each child, family, space, toy and situation is different, so I am not teaching rules, but skills for making safety decisions in a moment. Join me in training your risk-aware eyes, supportive hands and trusting heart.
