Oversight
In November 2022 the Department for Education (DfE) published a report about out of school settings which covers a vast and diverse range of providers.
Their executive summary noted that:
- the sector is complex and safeguarding activity is challenging
- there is significant potential for safeguarding harm
- legal powers are piecemeal and not widely understood
- take up of free support from local authorities was low
- there is limited awareness by parents of how unregulated the sector is.
The proposals from the report were that they should:
- Fund capacity to support and oversee the sector
- Explore mandatory guidance on safeguarding standards
- Consider legal compulsion to register with the local authority
- The local authority to check settings comply with standards
- Consider other agencies having the commitment and resource
- Establish a registration and regulation system
Out-of-school-settings include uniformed organisations, sports and leisure clubs, tuition centres and supplementary schools, faith-based organisations, arts and many others. They range from being part of an umbrella organisation or membership to a national body, through to being run by community groups, private companies, charities and private individuals. They can be staffed therefore by paid individuals, volunteers or parents.
Read the report here.