Child Safety for After-School Clubs
Practical online and offline safety guidance for after-school club leaders, volunteers, and coordinators responsible for children outside school hours.
After-school clubs provide valuable enrichment for children, but they also carry unique safeguarding responsibilities. Whether you run a homework club, drama group, or sports session, you need clear policies for device use, supervision, and incident response. This guide helps club leaders create a safe environment and respond effectively when concerns arise.
Why this matters
Children in after-school settings are often in mixed age groups with less structured supervision than during the school day. They may use personal devices, connect to shared Wi-Fi, or interact with older young people. Club leaders who understand online safety risks can intervene early and create a culture where children feel safe to speak up.
Quick wins
Display a safeguarding poster with key contacts visible to all children and staff
Time: 10 minutes
Check that the club Wi-Fi has appropriate content filtering enabled
Time: 15 minutes
Agree a simple device use policy and share it with parents at the start of term
Time: 30 minutes
Common challenges
Managing personal devices brought from home
Create a clear acceptable use agreement that parents and children sign before the club starts. Specify whether personal devices are permitted, and if so, under what conditions. Consider a device collection box for sessions where screens are not needed.
Mixed age groups with different levels of online maturity
Separate younger and older children for any activities involving devices or internet access. Ensure that content and supervision are appropriate for the youngest child present, and brief older children on their responsibility to set a good example.
Volunteers without formal safeguarding training
Ensure all volunteers complete basic safeguarding awareness training before working with children. Provide a simple one-page guide covering your club's reporting process, key contacts, and what to do if a child discloses an online safety concern.