Safeguarding in out-of-school activities: A vital priority
Out-of-school setting (OOSS) activities offer children and young people a wealth of opportunities for personal growth, social development, and skill acquisition.
However, as the latest case in the news regarding Swim England, who announced last week they are reviewing all historic safeguarding investigations amid concerns children have been left at risk of harm, there are concerns about the regulation and practice standards within OOSS, particularly in sports.
In 2022, The Whyte review, commissioned following allegations of abuse in British gymnastics, not only found evidence of emotional and sexual abuse, but other abusive practices such as excessive weight-taking of gymnasts which was, at times, ‘accompanied by an uneducated attitude to diet and a humiliating choice of language’. Historically we have seen safeguarding failures in football, cricket and tennis to name but a few.
Safeguarding ensures that children are protected from harm, abuse, and neglect and it is essential that all out of school setting activities (OOSS), sports, tuition and the creative arts, whether provided by large organisations or sole providers, have safeguarding firmly on the radar.
Why Safeguarding Matters
Safeguarding practices foster a culture of trust, enabling children and young people to feel comfortable sharing their experiences and concerns. Best practice through robust safeguarding measures helps to identify and mitigate risks, reducing the likelihood of harm occurring or prevent harm in the face of immediate risk. Sound policy, protocols and practice not only results in children's emotional, physical, and psychological well-being prioritised, but also ensures that organisations providing OOSS activities adhere to and meet the specific legal requirements necessary to protect children.
Key Safeguarding Principles
Any organisation of individual providing OOSS tuition or activities must have a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy in place. The policy should be clear and comprehensive, tailored to the nature of activities provided, and should outline the organisation's commitment to safeguarding and the procedures to follow in case of concerns. In addition to a child protection focus, under the umbrella term of safeguarding, policy should be in place for:
- Staff behaviour, often referred to as staff code of conduct. (Note this includes expectations of volunteers);
- A complaints procedure;
- A confidentiality policy or guidelines;
- A whistleblowing policy;
- A health and safety policy;
- A fire safety plan;
- An emergency response plan which should detail measures for safe evacuation, invacuation and lockdown should an emergency occur. These should be bespoke to each individual setting where activities are delivered.
Training
All staff, volunteers, and any contracted providers working with children should receive regular safeguarding training. This training should cover topics such as child abuse, recognising signs of harm, reporting procedures, risk assessment and how to create a safe environment. All staff and volunteers should know the procedures in place for reporting concerns, conducting investigations, and taking appropriate action.
To fully meet legal requirements, a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) should be appointed, supported by deputies, all of whom who should complete DSL training. It is essential for OOSS organisations to have an internal clear line of accountability for safeguarding and to make staff aware of how to and when to contact external supporting agencies such as Children’s Social Care, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and the Police.
Recruitment and Vetting
Rigorous recruitment and vetting processes should be implemented to ensure that only suitable individuals are working with children. This includes relevant Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, references, and interviews.
Health and Safety
All OOSS providers have a legal duty of care to try to ensure the environment is safe for people who visit or attend each activity being run. This means reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that attendees will be safe at the venue, whether indoors or outdoors.
As stated earlier, staff and volunteers should understand the risk assessment process and regular risk assessments should be conducted to identify and minimise potential risks to children. This involves reviewing activities, premises, equipment and outdoor spaces.
First Aid
In line with the DFE guidance for OOSS it is essential to ensure that appropriate first aid training, general first aid / paediatric first aid, is provided to staff and volunteers. Declarations of medical needs should be part of registration processes and procedures for emergency administration of medication agreed with parents prior to commencement of any activity.
Emergency Planning
Anticipating potential threats and assessing risks are essential, and emergency response plans should be tailored to the specific location and building. Most important is the need to adequately prepare and train all staff and children, ensuring a strong security culture and regular exercises to familiarise everyone with various threat scenarios.
By prioritising safeguarding, all OOSS providers can create a safe and positive environment for children to learn, grow, and thrive.
For details of the forthcoming SSS Learning online training courses for OOSS providers, DSLs, staff and volunteers contact support@ssslearning.co.uk
SSS Learning Safeguarding Director
