Safeguarding for Children's Clubs and Classes

This course introduces the essential safeguarding knowledge needed by employees and volunteers in children’s clubs and classes. It explains how to recognise possible abuse, respond appropriately, report concerns and help create a safer environment for children.

This opening lesson explains the course learning outcomes and how to navigate, pause and return to the training. It also introduces the available accessibility features, including read-aloud tools, browser zoom and translation.

Learn what safeguarding means for children, who is responsible and how key terms such as significant harm and thresholds of need are used. The lesson also introduces the relevant legislation and guidance across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Explore how abuse can happen and the practical barriers that help reduce risk in children’s clubs and classes. This includes appropriate behaviour, policies, risk assessments, professional safety and maintaining a child-centred approach.

Learn about the main categories of child abuse and the signs and indicators that may suggest a child is at risk. The lesson also covers specific forms of abuse, exploitation, bullying, radicalisation and the different places abuse can occur.

Understand the different ways a child may disclose abuse and the barriers that can prevent them from speaking out. Learn how to listen, respond calmly and appropriately, and why you must never promise confidentiality.

Learn your responsibility to report concerns, who they should be reported to and how to create an accurate written record. The lesson also covers allegations involving staff or volunteers and the appropriate use of body maps.

Apply the principles of recognising, responding, reporting and recording through case studies based on children’s clubs and classes. The scenarios help you decide on an appropriate course of action when safeguarding concerns arise.

The final assessment contains 12 questions selected from the General Children and General Children Scenarios question banks. You need 80% to pass, can retake the assessment as many times as required and will receive your certificate by email after passing.

Download a body map template to retain after completing the course. It can be used to record visible signs of harm or injury when documenting a safeguarding concern.

Complete a short feedback questionnaire about the course and your training experience. Your responses help the course team improve future versions of the learning.