An out-of-school setting can mean many things, from places like community and youth centres, sports clubs, and places of worship to individuals offering tuition in their own home or providing coaching at a playing field or local park.
Whilst most OOSS are safe spaces which provide fun, educational activities and classes for children of all ages, there is no single responsible body with complete oversight of these settings, or the quality and safety of their provision.
As a parent or carer, you will want to be reassured that your child is safe while they are not in your care.
To help keep your children safe during community activities, after-school clubs and tuition, the Government has released guidance to help.
Download ‘Keeping Children Safe during Community Activities, After-School Clubs and Tuition: Questions to help parents and carers choose out-of-school settings’ guidance
This new government guidance can help you choose a safe out‑of-school-setting for your child. The guidance for parents and carers sits alongside a code of practice for providers, which lays out the minimum level of safeguarding practice providers should have in place to reduce the risk of harm to children in clubs, tuition or community-led activities.
You should also read the guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak).