Keeping children safe in out-of-school settings

This page gives you information and tips on choosing a safe club, class or activity for your child outside of school. It also has information for providers.

Out-of-school settings (OOSS) include:

• community and youth centres
• holiday clubs
• sports training
• private tuition
• places of worship

There’s currently no single organisation responsible for overseeing these settings. It’s important for parents and carers to check they’re safe.

The Government has provided guidance for providers – GOV.UK.

Watch our video guide on what a safe setting looks like.

Good providers will welcome your questions and be happy to explain how they keep children safe. If they cannot, consider sending your child to a different provider.

• Who is the lead person responsible for safeguarding children and first aid? And what training have they had?
• How will my child’s needs be supported, including using the toilet, changing, feeding, and medication?
• My child has special educational needs or disability (SEND). How will you manage this?
• Will my child have unsupervised access to the internet? How is internet access monitored and filtered?

Look out for these positive signs of good safeguarding practices:

• policies and procedures on Child protection, Health & safety, Internet safety, Complaints (available on request)
• staff have appropriate checks, qualifications and regular training
• the provider asks you for parental consent and emergency contact details
• the environment is safe and staff know what to do in an emergency (such as a fire)

Our safeguarding team continue to work with providers to make sure their training is up-to-date and in line with the latest guidance.

Read this guide on the safeguarding arrangements you should expect from activity clubs, tutors and coaches: Using after-school clubs, tuition and community activities – GOV.UK.

If you are an Out-of-school setting (OOSS) provider, you can register to access free training from the Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership (PSCP). It gives an overview of the Government’s guidance: After-school clubs, community activities and tuition: safeguarding guidance for providers – GOV.UK.