Starting children's parties

[pash]

Hi,

I am in the middle of maybe starting an event organising and children's party company.

I know its very iffy working with kids and the legal requirments. Can anyone give me any pointers and advice?

Thank you x

 

[Sparky331]

Hi,

I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have to register with any of the official bodies such as Ofsted or Social Services. My wife is a childminder and has to be registered with Ofsted. In that setting you wouldn't believe the policies and procedures that have to be in place.

If I'm right in thinking anyone working directly with children should undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check. If you aren't forced to have this carried out it would be a good idea to have one done anyway on all staff who are likely to come into contact with children.

Events involving anyone, even more so with kids, need health and safety and fire risk assessments carried out depending on where these events take place. If they are in a typical village hall setting the hall committee should have carried these out and will pass the responsibility to you through the hirer's agreement. Events involving marquees or tented structures also need to be risk assessed. Just make sure any buildings you hold events or parties in are safe, especially from fire. Check the fire risk assessment and any other H & S assessments for the premises.

Hope this helps.

Bob

 

[Fuzzy]

would imagine you need a CRB check if you are going to be present ?

 

[Ashley]

Our hotel does a lot of children party, normally about 10 a week good money makers and little outlay and very enjoyable for all involved.

I've never considered we (my staff) need CRBs etc as we insist parents stay.

 

[Deleted member 3454]

Try Googling something like "legal requirements for working with children" in google.co.uk.

From what I remember from when I was involved with Sunday School at church anyone who is working with children needs to go through a CRB check. So everyone involved in the children's parties will need clearance.

 

[Fuzzy]

Our hotel does a lot of children party, normally about 10 a week good money makers and little outlay and very enjoyable for all involved.

I've never considered we (my staff) need CRBs etc as we insist parents stay.

And my LCA hate me with all their heart, I took them to court and won then they applied and I won, then I lead a sack the chief exe campaign for a year (I've nearly won ) and I can not look the wrong way without some from of enforcement notice.

Oh no, Fuzzy got wrong end of the stick then, not if the parents stay - sorry

 

[Trulli]

Yeah technically you don't need a CRB check if you are 'supervising' children it's when you are 'working' with them that you do. I was quite shocked at that when I found that out.

 

[Ashley]

Yeah technically you don't need a CRB check if you are 'supervising' children it's when you are 'working' with them that you do. I was quite shocked at that when I found that out.

why shocked?

 

[Trulli]

I was shocked because personally I just automatically assumed anyone 'dealing' with children would have to be checked.

 

[streetslocal]

You say everyone working with children should be CRB checked but people in shops and restraunts are not crb checked and they deal with children on a daily basis.

Crb checks are not a legal requirement if you are entertaining the children with adults present.

However a CRB check is a selling point.

However really what is a CRB check?

Just a piece of paper to say you havent been caught doing something wrong!!


Also as an individual you could not crb check yourself you would need a umbrella organisation to do this for you or an employer.

 

[Ashley]

to be fair she said shocked not should

but I agree all it means is not caught

 

[pash]

Thank you all for you replies. I was CRB checked a few years ago when i was working as a teaching assistant, but i guess it would need to be up-to-date. Im going to look into prop makers. I want all the props to be really safe so no one hurts themselves!

Im also going to make it clear that we will not be hired as childminders, and so we will be asking a responsable adult to be in charge of the childrens conduct and saftey whilst running around.

Lots to think about and look into! I think its going to take a little time to make sure i have things right!

 

[Trulli]

Perhaps try your towns local voluntary/community development organisation. I know ours runs a lot of free courses like child protection, polices and procedures for people dealing with children or thinking about it.

Sarah

 

[Trulli]

http://www.furnessenterprise.co.uk/furness_enterprise_home.asp

Maybe these people can help (if I've got the right area!)?

Sarah

 

[Ashley]

pmsl, they are oxygen thieves, but your not to know that. entrprise things are all bad IMO but Furness Enterprise are the worse of them all.

 

[Trulli]

Ok. Was just trying to help.

Sarah

 

I would agree with most here. I think you may have to be checked and it would be a bonus as a selling point to potential customers.

My husband and I run our own Independent Mortgage Brokers - Taylor Made Mortgages of Lincoln and we are regularly checked by our compliance people and the FSA. We use the checks to our advantage and make our clients aware that they are dealing with a sound reliable approved company. Oh; I also run Lojo Fancy Dress, so i guess I can never say that i am bored.

Take my advice. Even if you don't need the checks, the fact that you have them is a feather in your cap to beat off the competition.

Regards,

Lorraine.

 

[pash]

Thanks Trulli, you have been a very good help. Love your site by the way!

Ashley, you from Barrow? Have you had bad do's with FE?

 

[HSLS]

Definitely up to date CRB check, perhaps first aid? I always use these things as selling points, and require my tutors to have a police check.

 

[pash]

Definitely up to date CRB check, perhaps first aid? I always use these things as selling points, and require my tutors to have a police check.

Oh yes, first aid too! I did a course when i was training for the NVQ3 teaching asst, but that was a long time ago, it would be good to be up to date with that too. Thanks.

 

[Darren Talbot Cricket]

I run cricket birthday parties amongst other things and I insist all my coaches have a current CRB. You never can be too careful when it comes to children and child welfare these days. I know an organisation who can provide these if you want. I would recommend you do it just to cover yourself although in practice I'm rarely asked for it.

 

[themagicwand]

Insurance. You really need to be insured. The last thing you need is some scroat saying you pushed them over or something and their parents taking you to court.

If you're an entertainer you should (really really should) be a member of Equity, and along with membership you get full public liability insurance. Bonus.

Plus a CRB can't hurt.

But don't do it. Children are awful. I spent enough years as a magician at kids' parties to know this.

 

[Darren Talbot Cricket]

I agree about the insurance. All my coaches have public liability insurance of up to £5m. There is always the chance of a parent suing. We all live in constant threat.

I love doing the parties as even when the children are little so and so's (frequently) the parents are always grateful no matter what!

 

[pash]

I run cricket birthday parties amongst other things and I insist all my coaches have a current CRB. You never can be too careful when it comes to children and child welfare these days. I know an organisation who can provide these if you want. I would recommend you do it just to cover yourself although in practice I'm rarely asked for it.

Thank you for your help. Could you please let me know the organisation to contact about the CRB checks. Thank you again

Insurance. You really need to be insured. The last thing you need is some scroat saying you pushed them over or something and their parents taking you to court.

If you're an entertainer you should (really really should) be a member of Equity, and along with membership you get full public liability insurance. Bonus.

Plus a CRB can't hurt.

But don't do it. Children are awful. I spent enough years as a magician at kids' parties to know this.

LOL this made me laugh. So many people have said the same LOL. I love kids though, ok some are a nightmare but still it will be ok.

Im going to join Equity, thanks for that, i didnt realise they did the liability too! Thank you for your help.

Does anyone know how i can word my T&C to say we are not baby sitters and cant be held resbonsable for kids conduct and safety, without sounding harsh! I know from my own childrens parties the parents just seam to think its a cresh and sit and chat and just ignore what the kids are doing!!!!

 

[Darren Talbot Cricket]

I'm not sure you can really after all you are looking after the children and therefore are responsible for kids conduct and safety. As long as you are insured it shouldn't matter. I do agree though that parents do tend to sit and chat. At the end of the day I've had some awful parties behaviour wise and parents are always delighted by the end of it. As long as they haven't had to do anything and there are no bad injuries they don't tend to care! I had one parent once who said to me that he didn't know how I did it as the kids were all "little ****ers"!!!! Didn't know what to say to that one but he was right!!

I'm quite tough with the misbehaving ones quite early and have a yellow card system. Two yellows and they sit on their own in the corner for 5 minutes. If they misbehave again when they come back they're out for good. Once one of them gets sent away the behaviour of others seems to improve quite quickly!

 

[pash]

LOL, im guessing the parent would never have a party at home then LOL.

Yep, i see what you mean about the children being in my care, but i was thinking around the meal time (im not doing food) and if they became a bit angy with another child and decided to beat them up! I can keep them safe from my props and such, but against each other and if they are being very bad then really the responsabilities are with the host or a parent. The thing is as a party planner and entertainer thats what you are emplyed to do, just plan and entertain, which is what i will do, but your not employed as a sitter and so the looking after of the children really is not up to me apart from keeping them safe from my props and make sure i dont bump into any one and knock them flying!
Fingers crossed though i can rid some weight as i could knock them out never mind about just flying! LOL :redface:

 

[Darren Talbot Cricket]

I run my parties for an hour and a half typically and then leave so they organise food afterwards.

I have had a couple of parties where the parents have wanted food in the middle and I packed all my stuff away and left them to it and came back when they were finished.

I don't know if it's practical for you to do that but I certainly wouldn't get involved in anything food related as they always play up then, e.g. throwing food, running round the table, etc. It's always the worse part of any party!

 

[pash]

I run my parties for an hour and a half typically and then leave so they organise food afterwards.

I have had a couple of parties where the parents have wanted food in the middle and I packed all my stuff away and left them to it and came back when they were finished.

I don't know if it's practical for you to do that but I certainly wouldn't get involved in anything food related as they always play up then, e.g. throwing food, running round the table, etc. It's always the worse part of any party!

Oh god i know what you mean! The food part is way too much and im not touching that at all. Im giving them a half hour for food, before we get back to the party. Think i will use that time to gather myself together again and de-stress LOL At my friends sons party one little monkey was trying to escape through a window while everyone else had a food fight His mum was too busy eating the food he had left to notice what he was doing!!! I had to grab him back in and shut teh window, i didnt even get a thank you from her!

 

[GarethG]

I went to a party with my little girl last month at one of the "kiddie gym" type events. It was all good, but parents were required to be present at all times and food was served at the end as an almost separate event, then it was home time.

Also do remember that only last week someone was taken to court because a child was kicked in the head by another child on a bouncy castle at their party (when the parents were there) and was disabled.

Insurance is an absolute must, but not putting yourself in a position to get sued is just as important.

GG.