Out of school settings report welcomed by the council

Monday, 16 January 2023 17:40

By Adam Clark

A new national report that found children are facing sexual abuse and corporal punishment in after school clubs has been welcomed by Rochdale Borough Council, which has been calling for tighter regulation in the sector since 2018.

The Department for Education report found that there were multiple safeguarding risks at what are known as “out-of-school settings” (OOSS). They include sports clubs, tuition centres and uniformed youth groups.

Since 2018 Rochdale Borough Council has been calling for tighter regulation of out-of-school settings and through an award-winning campaign, encouraging parents and carers to ask about safeguarding measures at places their children attend.

Many parents are unaware that the clubs, groups or activities they send their children to may not be regulated or safe. The focus of the council’s hard-hitting Safe After School campaign was to raise awareness and support parents and providers to think about what makes it safe for children to attend.

After raising awareness of the issue and getting several local organisations to improve their practices, Safe After School won the innovation in Children's Services award at the 2021 Municipal Journal (MJ) Local Government Achievement Awards.

The new report that has been welcomed by the council is based on an 18-month study in 16 areas, commissioned and funded by the Department for Education (DfE). It investigated safeguarding risks in the sector and the effectiveness of the powers available to local authorities to deal with them. It found there was “significant potential for safeguarding harm”.

The dangers have been acknowledged by the Department of Education, which has now promised to take action. The Local Government Association is also calling for councils to be given greater powers to oversee and regulate these kinds of settings, including being able to shut down illegal schools.

Councillor Rachel Massey, Rochdale Borough Council’s cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “While it’s pleasing to see that the risks we have been highlighting in our Safe After School campaign have now been featured in a national report, we now need to see action taken to improve the regulations of out of school settings. Locally, we saw a fantastic response from many providers who worked with us positively to improve their practices to make sure no child is put at unnecessary risk but there are still too many gaps in the system.”

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something happening in our Borough?

Let us know by emailing newsdesk@rochvalleyradio.com

All contact will be treated in confidence.

More from Local News

Two men arrested and 300 cannabis plants seized after early morning raids in Rochdale

Over 300 cannabis plants have been taken off the streets of Rochdale after neighbourhood officers raided two illegal growing operations in partnership with the local council.
Bury teacher banned for life after engaging in sexual activity with child

A former teacher at Tottington High School has been permanently banned from the classroom after a professional misconduct panel found he engaged in sexual activity with a pupil.
GMP’s ‘headset heroes’ answer over a million calls in a year as response times reach record highs

Greater Manchester Police’s control room teams are being recognised for their vital role in emergency response as part of International Control Room Week.
Further arrests in Rochdale and Manchester as GMP intensifies crackdown on historic child sex abuse

Specialist investigation team arrests more suspects and secures major convictions as survivors of non-recent exploitation continue to come forward
Seven Sisters tenants reaction to the news they could soon be removed

Billy Jackson has called Rochdale’s Seven Sisters home for 40 years. But shock decision means 2025 will be his final year in the iconic tower blocks.
Festive magic arrives in Bury as North Pole Safari Trail transforms town centre

Free augmented reality trail, festive lights switch-on and family events launch Christmas celebrations in Bury
Replacement mosque plans approved despite concerns about parking

Plans to knock down and rebuild a mosque in Prestwich have been approved despite a 1,630 person petition opposing it.
Andy Burnham ‘taken aback’ by decision to move hundreds out of Seven Sisters towers

Andy Burnham was ‘taken aback’ by a decision to clear Rochdale’s iconic ‘Seven Sisters’ tower blocks, forcing hundreds from their homes.
Nine-bed HMO built ‘without permission’ discovered after neighbours complain

Council enforcement officers discovered a nine-bed HMO had been created without permission after a complaint from neighbours, councillors have heard.
Rochdale’s music legacy takes centre stage with iconic Cargo Studios reunion

Rochdale’s rich musical heritage was centre stage at a packed launch event marking the beginning of a new borough-wide celebration called ‘Rochdale Music Stories’, featuring big names like Peter Hook, Clint Boon and Andy McCluskey.
Naked man stops traffic on Rochdale Road in Bury in shocking mid-morning incident

A naked man caused disruption on a busy Bury road on Wednesday morning, swatting at cars and attempting to open vehicle doors before being detained and taken to hospital.
Seven Sisters tower blocks to be emptied over safety concerns

Residents of the iconic tower blocks that have dominated the skyline of Rochdale since the 1960s have been told they will be evicted due to safety concerns.