guidance for out-of-school settings (OOSS) providers
The new Department for Education (DfE) guidance has stemmed from a lengthy consultation with organisations, linked to out-of-school settings, across the UK.
Organisations representing: youth and sports clubs; Ofsted; local authorities and religious bodies were all consulted to ensure a diverse and considered response. Created specifically with reference to legislation and guidance in England, it is also useful for OOSS providers in other parts of the UK.
Am I an out-of-school settings provider (OOSS)?
The classification of organisations as OOSS providers is very broad. It can be hard to know whether this definition applies to you or your organisation.
Most OOSS providers can be neatly defined as community activities, after-school clubs and tuition providers. However, the settings of these services can vary massively. They are provided in a range of venues (people’s homes, religious sites, commercial offices etc.), and fees may or may not be charged.
In simple terms, the government define an OOSS provider as any institution which “provides tuition, training, instruction, or activities to children in England without their parents’ or carers’ supervision that is not a:
college
16-19 academy
provider caring for children under 8 years old, which is registered with Ofsted or a childminder agency”
What’s changed?
October 2020 saw the release of this new non-statutory guidance on how OOSS providers can safeguard those in their care. This guidance covers the baseline requirements for organisations to know they are implementing effective safeguarding practice.
Whilst these guidelines are not compulsory, it makes sense to get your organisation as ‘compliant’ as possible.
Non-statutory guidance is often the first step towards stricter legislation and rules. Bringing your business processes in line with these new guidelines could save you a lot of hassle in the future.
This guidance is applicable alongside the existing DfE statutory guidance for safeguarding children. You can find this here. There is also specific guidance in place for charities, which can be found here.
What does it cover?
The new guidance is broken down into 4 sections, each with a relevant section dependent on whether you are a:
Large provider (5 or more volunteers or paid staff members).
Small provider (4 or fewer volunteers or paid staff members)
Volunteer, paid employee or lone provider
These 4 sections combined provide the basis for effective safeguarding practice in OOSS, they cover:
Health & Safety
Safeguarding & Child Protection
Suitability of staff & Volunteers
Governance
The sections cover some of the key elements of safeguarding, such as: How to train and appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL); What to do if a child discloses neglect or abuse; and protecting children from radicalisation. The guidance also includes handy example scenarios that help put the guidance into context.
What’s next?
If you’re wanting to review the practices you have in place, or if you’re a new business just getting started, you’ve come to the right place!
Our safeguarding experts have studied the guidance and produced a universal basic safeguarding checklist that you can use for your organisation. This covers the essential elements of the sections outlined in the guidance, to help you in your safeguarding journey.
It might be 56 pages long but we always recommend thoroughly checking the guidance yourself. You can find this here.
For more information about how Personnel Checks can assist you with safeguarding in your organisation, give us a call, on 01254 355688, or drop us an email, at letstalk@personnelchecks.co.uk. Continue reading to access your FREE safeguarding basics checklist!
OUT-OF-SCHOOL SETTINGS (OOSS) SAFEGUARDING CHECKLIST
Following this checklist ensures you’ve got the best foundations in place to safeguard the children in your care. There are many other regulations in place dependent on the size of your organisation and the services offered.
This checklist is for guidance only and should not be considered as legal advice. You can find the full guidance here.
Health & Safety
Have you considered the suitability and safety of the setting for employees and take steps to reduce any risks identified?
Do you have first aid training and/ or a first aid kit to hand?
Do you have awareness of what to do in an emergency? (for example, call 999 if a child is having an asthma attack).
Do you have a fire safety and evacuation plan?
Do you have more than one emergency contact number for each child, where possible?
Do you know of any medical concerns or allergies of the children in your care?
Safeguarding & Child Protection
Do you have a safeguarding and child protection policy in place?
Have you taken training on specific safeguarding issues that can put children at risk of harm? (for example, abuse and neglect, peer-on-peer abuse, extremism and radicalisation).
Do you have clear procedures on what to do if you have concerns about a staff member, volunteer or another adult who may pose a safeguarding risk?
Have you appointed a designated safeguarding lead (DSL), who has undertaken safeguarding and child protection training?
Can you provide parents with a named individual so they can raise safeguarding concerns?
Do you know the local authority designated officer (LADO) and know the local referral route into children’s social care?
Suitability of staff and volunteers
Have all staff and volunteers had relevant pre-employment checks? (e.g. DBS check)
Do you carry out regular performance reviews to check the suitability and training requirements of staff and volunteers after their appointment?
Governance
Do you have a clear complaints policy in place?
Do you have an effective whistleblowing policy in place, that all staff are aware of?