Drop of classes 4 year old - safe?

[DirtyDancing]

A lot of the classes I'm looking at for my DS are drop off at age 4. So tennis; gymnastics; ballet etc. Swimming is as well, but you can watch from the side.

It feels uncomfortable . I am essentially leaving him with adults I don't know. In some ways it's the same as his preschool- I left him with adults I didn't know. But school is a much more regulated environment with CRBs. I'm worried gym club is just built on trust.

But I'm very happy to be 🔥 told I'm over thinking this, as clearly lots of parents drop their kids off as there are long waiting lists for these classes!

I drop my 3 year old off at ballet. There are approx 20 children and 4 adults in the class so I'm happy that she is safe.

Anyone involved in the running of children's activities has to have a full DBS check just as school staff do.

And yes, as above. All the ballet teachers are CRB checked. Just realised I also leave her at her swimming lesson while I go for a coffee!

Yes, my ds goes to a Saturday morning class. He's there for 1.5 hours and loves it.
The key I think I'd to make sure you're using a reputable organisation preferably recommended by others so you'll feel confident.

All teachers will be DBS checked - please ask to see their registration if you are worried, but it will be totally standard. Like pre-school, there will be ratios (hence the waiting lists) and as it's a short period of time in a room full of other DC the same age, it's much less likely that anything untoward will occur - you'll be expected to get them changed yourself etc. rather than at school.

Try not to worry!

Thank you for taking the time to reply everyone and for being kindly reassuring to me. It is time for me to loosen the reins a very very little I know!

The majority of classes these days will have DBS checked staff, child protection policies & many will be affiliated to a national organisation whose policies they have to follow.

I used to be a rainbow leader. Parents drop them off and they start age 5. We all had to have up to date DBS checks, and there were limits on how many kids we could have and we had child protection policies which are to protect us, as much as the kids. I would assume all sports clubs will have very similar rules.