Out-of-School Settings Safeguarding: Call for evidence

Overview

The Department for Education is calling for evidence to help shape future safeguarding policy for the Out-of-School Settings (OOSS) sector. This diverse sector includes providers such as tuition centres, sports and arts clubs, youth groups (e.g. Scouts and Brownies), holiday camps/activity centres, and faith-based education settings. Approximately 1 in 10 adults (or around 4.5 million adults in England) work or volunteer in OOSS, and up to 80% of children regularly attend at least one activity.

Why your views matter

It seeks your input on:

• Existing safeguarding practices in OOSS
• Potential options to strengthen safeguarding across the sector

To support future policy development, this call for evidence also seeks insights into:

• How parents, carers, and organisations currently assure themselves
• Challenges to providing consistent safeguarding practices
• Further support or action needed to improve safety in OOSS

Your input will help inform reforms to improve safeguarding in OOSS, help ensure that children attend safe and trusted settings, and give parents and carers confidence that they are choosing safe settings for their children.

We’ve extended the call for evidence until 21 September 2025, to give even more people time to share their views.