Guides

Safeguarding: questions parents can ask a school or club

Every school and organisation that works with children should have ways of keeping them safe. Parents are entitled to ask about them.

Questions to ask

• Is there a named person responsible for safeguarding, and how do I contact them?
• Is there a written safeguarding or child protection policy I can read?
• What checks are carried out on staff and volunteers?
• How are online activities and devices supervised?
• Who should my child talk to if something worries them?
• How will you contact me if there is a concern?

What good answers look like

Staff should be able to answer clearly and without defensiveness. Policies should be easy to find, often on the school's website.

For private tutors and clubs

Ask about background checks, where sessions take place and whether another adult will be nearby. For online tutoring, ask whether sessions are recorded and who can see the recordings.

If you have a concern

Raise it with the named safeguarding lead. If you think a child is in immediate danger, contact the police or local emergency services.