Keeping Children Safe
Safeguarding, staff conduct, safer recruitment and emergency procedures.
At Atlas, safeguarding is our top priority. We have developed comprehensive policies to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care. Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment where children can grow, learn, and thrive.
We take great care in maintaining these policies, ensuring they are regularly reviewed and followed with the utmost attention. By fostering a culture of professionalism and responsibility, we aim to give parents peace of mind, knowing their children are in the safest possible hands.
We know policy pages can feel a bit heavy, so we’ve grouped everything into simple, parent-friendly topics to help you find the right information without scrolling through one long list.
Choose a card below, use one of the popular shortcuts, or search for words like medicine, sun care, hygiene, pickup, SEND, GDPR or complaints. Each policy opens in a full-screen view, making it easier to read whenever you need it.
16th June, 2026
Next review due: September 2027.Safeguarding, staff conduct, safer recruitment and emergency procedures.
First aid, illness, medication, allergies, sun care and hygiene.
Behaviour, bullying, emotional wellbeing and helping children feel settled.
Inclusivity, SEND, reasonable adjustments, individual support and intimate care.
Arrival, collection, attendance, late pickup and pickup passwords.
Phones, gadgets, e-safety and digital safeguarding.
Cancellations, booking changes, concerns and complaints.
GDPR, privacy and how we look after personal information.
No problem. If you are unsure which policy applies, or you would like to talk through anything before booking, please get in touch with the Atlas Camps team and we’ll point you in the right direction.
The welfare of every child is our top priority. Atlas Camps has a responsibility to promote children’s wellbeing, protect them from harm and respond quickly where there are concerns about a child’s safety.
This policy applies to everyone working with or on behalf of Atlas Camps, including senior managers, paid staff, volunteers, seasonal workers, agency staff and students.
Where a safeguarding concern needs to be referred during office hours, staff will contact the Children and Families Front Door Service on 01452 426565. If the issue cannot safely wait until the next working day, staff will contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01452 614758.
Where there is no immediate concern for a child’s safety, but support may still be required, a Multi-Agency Request Form may be submitted through the Gloucestershire online portal.
If the Designated Safeguarding Lead believes there is an immediate threat to a child’s safety or wellbeing, emergency services will be contacted immediately.
This policy applies when a member of staff, volunteer or adult working with children may have:
All allegations are dealt with promptly by the senior management team at Atlas Camps. Staff are expected to raise concerns without delay, and children’s safety will always come before reputational or operational considerations.
Whistleblowing exists to protect children and to make sure adults can speak up if something does not feel right.
Every member of the Atlas Camps team has a responsibility to behave in a way that protects children, supports positive relationships and reflects our values.
Staff must avoid behaviour that could be misinterpreted or place a child, colleague or themselves at risk. This includes inappropriate language, favouritism, unnecessary one-to-one situations, private communication with children, or any conduct that falls below the standards expected of adults working with children.
Concerns about staff conduct will be taken seriously. Depending on the nature of the concern, action may include further training, management support, disciplinary action or referral through safeguarding procedures.
Atlas Camps is committed to recruiting staff safely and fairly. Our recruitment process is designed to assess suitability, experience, values and safeguarding awareness before someone works with children.
Where required for the role, Atlas Camps will complete the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service checks before staff work with children unsupervised. DBS checks are one part of our wider safer recruitment process and do not replace good supervision, training or safeguarding practice.
If information is returned through a DBS check, it will be reviewed carefully and fairly. Decisions will consider the nature of the information, the role being applied for, safeguarding responsibilities and any relevant risk assessment.
Staff are expected to tell Atlas Camps if anything changes that may affect their suitability to work with children. Any concerns raised during employment will be managed promptly and, where required, in line with safeguarding and disciplinary procedures.
Although rare, a child being unaccounted for is treated as a serious incident. Staff will act immediately, calmly and in line with our safeguarding procedures.
A lockdown may be used where there is a potential threat in or near the venue, such as an intruder, police incident, dangerous animal, environmental hazard or other emergency.
Following any lost child or lockdown incident, Atlas Camps will complete records, inform relevant parties, review what happened and update procedures or staff training where needed.
We want every child to have a safe, happy and active day with us. Scrapes, bumps and poorly moments can happen when children are busy playing, so each Atlas Camps venue has at least one Level 3 paediatric first aid trained member of staff on site.
Parents and carers can help us by making sure all medical, allergy and dietary information is up to date on their booking, and by speaking to the Camp Manager at drop-off if there is anything important we need to know that day.
All injuries are assessed by a qualified first aider and recorded. Where needed, parents/carers will be contacted during the day, and a bump note or accident record will be shared at collection.
If a child needs urgent medical care and we cannot reach a parent/carer straight away, we will act in the child’s best interests and follow emergency procedures.
Children should only attend Atlas Camps when they are well enough to take part in the day safely and comfortably. If a child becomes unwell during the day, we will contact parents/carers and may ask for the child to be collected.
For sickness and diarrhoea, children must not attend camp until they have been clear of symptoms for 48 hours. This helps protect other children, families and our staff team.
We can only administer medication when we have written permission from a parent/carer. Parents/carers must complete an Administering Medicines form before any medication can be given by our paediatric first aid trained staff.
Medication must be clearly labelled with the child’s name, dosage instructions and any relevant medical guidance. Where administering medication requires specialist medical or technical knowledge, our team may not be able to administer it unless suitable arrangements have been agreed in advance.
Atlas Camps aims to be a nut-free setting. While we cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment, we take practical steps to reduce risk and ask all families and staff to support this approach.
Please do not send children to camp with foods containing nuts, including:
We also ask that homemade or pre-prepared food, such as birthday cakes or sweets, is not brought in to be shared with children or staff.
Parents/carers should ensure allergies, medical needs and medication are included on the booking form and flagged to the Camp Manager at drop-off. Children are reminded not to share food, including with siblings, and our team encourages good hygiene before and after eating.
Staff and volunteers must not bring or consume nut products at Atlas Camps venues and must follow good handwashing and hygiene practices.
Atlas Camps wants children to enjoy the warmer weather safely. When the sunshine arrives, we adapt the day so children can still have fun while taking sensible steps to reduce the risks linked to heat and sun exposure.
Our team will encourage children to drink regularly, take shade breaks, wear sun hats where provided, and reapply sun cream during the day.
It would be really helpful if parents/carers could support us by:
Children should be able to apply their own sun cream wherever possible. Staff will remind and encourage children to reapply, and will provide age-appropriate support where it is suitable and safe to do so.
During our morning briefing, staff will remind children about being safe in the sun. This may include wearing hats, drinking plenty of water, taking shade breaks and letting an adult know if they feel too hot or unwell.
Fun remains at the heart of the day, but we will adapt activities during warmer weather. Where needed, activities may be moved into shaded areas, indoors, or into spaces with good ventilation.
We will build in regular drinks breaks and shade breaks, especially during the hottest parts of the day.
On hot days, we may use water-based games to help children cool down and enjoy the summer weather. These activities will still be supervised carefully, with regular breaks for water and shade.
Where water games take place outside, we will monitor the amount of time children spend in direct sunlight and adapt the session where needed to keep everyone as comfortable and safe as possible.
If the weather becomes particularly hot, we may reduce high-energy outdoor activities, increase indoor or shaded play, add extra drink breaks, or adjust the timetable to protect children and staff.
Atlas Camps is committed to providing a safe, clean and healthy environment for children, staff and visitors. Good hygiene is an important part of keeping children well, supporting their wellbeing and helping everyone enjoy their time at camp.
We encourage positive hygiene habits through daily routines, staff role modelling and age-appropriate reminders.
Children and staff are encouraged to wash their hands thoroughly:
Staff will support younger children in learning effective handwashing using soap and warm water.
We maintain high standards of cleanliness by:
Cleaning routines are monitored so procedures are followed consistently.
Children are encouraged to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow, dispose of tissues appropriately, maintain good toileting habits and wear suitable clean clothing for the setting.
Staff will act as positive role models and offer gentle reminders and support where needed.
Children who are unwell or have a contagious illness should remain at home until they are well enough to return and are no longer infectious.
Parents/carers must inform us if their child has a contagious illness or infection, vomiting or diarrhoea, a high temperature or fever, or any condition that may require additional hygiene or care measures.
If a child becomes unwell during a session, we may contact parents/carers and ask for the child to be collected.
For sickness and diarrhoea, children must not attend camp until 48 hours have passed since they were last symptomatic.
If a child requires medication during camp, parents/carers must update their child’s medical information on their online account and speak directly with the Camp Manager or designated lead.
Where medication does not require specialist training to administer, parents/carers will be asked to complete an Administering Medicines Permission Form. All medication must be clearly labelled and provided in its original packaging.
All staff are responsible for maintaining high standards of hygiene, following infection control procedures, monitoring children for signs of illness, reporting hygiene concerns to management, and supporting children to develop healthy hygiene habits.
Parents/carers are expected to keep children at home when they are unwell or contagious, provide spare clothing where appropriate, tell us about relevant medical conditions or illnesses, and support good hygiene practices at home.
Working together helps us maintain a safe and healthy environment for all children.
Atlas Camps should feel fun, friendly and safe for every child. We support children to make positive choices, build confidence, include others and enjoy their day as part of the Atlas team.
Our team uses encouragement, clear expectations and calm conversations to guide behaviour. We always aim to understand what a child may be communicating through their behaviour and support them in a fair, consistent and caring way.
We promote positive behaviour by setting clear expectations, praising good choices and helping children understand the impact of their actions. Where a child needs support, staff may use reminders, redirection, time to calm down, or a conversation with the child to agree next steps.
Parents/carers may be contacted if behaviour is ongoing, unsafe, or if we feel working together would help the child have a better experience at camp.
Bullying is not accepted at Atlas Camps. This includes repeated unkind behaviour, exclusion, intimidation, name-calling, physical behaviour or online/digital behaviour connected to camp.
If bullying is reported or suspected, our team will listen, record concerns, support the children involved and take appropriate action. Parents/carers may be contacted where needed, especially if further support or follow-up is required.
Some children may feel nervous when joining camp, attending a new venue, meeting new staff or trying new activities. We support children with warmth, reassurance and gentle encouragement.
Where helpful, we may use calm spaces, buddy support, predictable routines, check-ins with staff, or small steps into activities. Parents/carers are encouraged to share anything that may help their child settle, including worries, triggers, communication needs or successful strategies used at home or school.
If behaviour places the child, other children, staff or the venue at risk, we will act quickly to keep everyone safe. This may include removing a child from an activity, contacting parents/carers, agreeing a support plan, or in serious cases asking for the child to be collected.
Our aim is always to help children rejoin positively where it is safe and appropriate to do so.
At Atlas Camps, we believe every child and every member of staff deserves to feel welcome, respected and valued. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where children can participate, feel safe, build confidence and enjoy their time with us.
We celebrate the diversity of our children, families and team members, and we aim to create a space where differences are respected and kindness is actively encouraged.
Every child will be treated with kindness, dignity and respect. We recognise that children bring different experiences, cultures, strengths, needs and personalities to camp, and these differences help make Atlas a richer and more welcoming place.
Children should not be excluded from activities because of their race, religion, gender, disability, background or any other personal characteristic.
We aim to make our activities accessible to as many children as possible, including children with physical, learning, sensory, communication or emotional needs.
Where a child may need additional support, we will work with parents/carers to understand what reasonable adjustments may be possible within our mainstream, group-based holiday club setting.
Atlas Camps should be a safe space free from discrimination, bullying or harassment. Our behaviour and anti-bullying procedures help staff respond to concerns and support children to express themselves while being mindful of others’ feelings and needs.
Staff receive guidance and training to help them support children with different needs, promote inclusion, and respond sensitively where barriers to participation may arise.
Open communication with families is essential. Parents/carers are encouraged to tell us about anything that may help their child feel settled, included and able to take part. This may include routines, triggers, communication needs, sensory needs, medical information, successful strategies used at home or school, or any relevant support plans.
Some children receive additional support at home, school or in other settings. Atlas Camps is committed to working with families so children can continue to receive suitable support during the school holidays wherever this is possible and safe within our setting.
If your child requires additional support or has a specific plan at school, such as an EHCP, My Plan or similar, please include this on your booking form and contact us before your child attends. This allows us to liaise with you and, where appropriate, the camp venue, so we can consider the best support available.
If your child receives 1-to-1 support in school, Atlas Camps will discuss suitability with you on a case-by-case basis. Where external 1-to-1 support is needed, parents/carers are responsible for arranging this support with the chosen provider.
Before an external supporting adult attends one of our settings, Atlas Camps will need to complete appropriate safeguarding and compliance checks.
Where it is necessary for a child to have support to thrive safely in a mainstream setting, it is important that we know this in advance and that suitable support is in place. Without this, Atlas Camps may not be able to provide the level of care needed for the child to thrive.
We respect and acknowledge the cultural and religious backgrounds of children and families. Where possible, we aim to offer activities and interactions that reflect diversity and give children opportunities to share, learn and understand one another.
Our approach is rooted in kindness, honesty and child-centred decision making. We aim to be as inclusive as possible, while also being clear about what our provision can safely offer.
If you have any questions about inclusion, SEND or additional support, please contact us at info@atlascamps.co.uk. We are always happy to talk through your child’s needs and give each case the care and consideration it deserves.
Principles of Intimate Care
As some children receive additional support both at home and at school, Atlas Camps is committed to providing a way they can continue to receive that support within our settings and enjoy the school holidays, as best possible.
Every child has the right to be safe
Every child has the right to personal privacy
Every child has the right to be valued as an individual
Every child has the right to be treated with dignity and respect
Every child has the right to be involved and consulted in their own intimate care to the best of their abilities
Every child has the right to express their views on their own intimate care and to have such views taken into account
Every child has the right to have levels of intimate care that are as consistent as possible
Our Policy
At Atlas Camps, all children that attend our settings must be toilet trained and able to go to the toilet without assistance.
We are aware that some children can have the occasional accident amongst the excitement of camps. If this applies to your child, then we would kindly ask if you could please send them to camps with some extra clothes, just in case. All staff at Atlas Camps will remind children as much as they can with toilet breaks at different times within the day.
In the event that a child in our care does happen to have an accident, our staff will help instruct your children with changing. With ratios considered, Atlas Camps staff will assist in the changing process in a 'hands off' manner to safeguard everyone, where at all possible. If two members of staff are removed from the main group of children, this will affect the number of staff members and the staff-to-children ratio. As keeping children safe is at the forefront of everything we do, this is why we ask your child/children are able to get themselves changed where at all possible. Atlas Camps staff will help instruct your child what to do in the event they do have an accident. We can do this from the other side of the door so that their privacy, safety and dignity is not compromised.
Note: In every case, a degree of subjectivity and common sense will be applied. However, the above policy will be followed in all cases, where at all possible.
Drop-off and collection are two of the most important points of the day. Our procedures are designed to keep children safe, give parents confidence, and make sure every child is accounted for from arrival through to collection.
Children must be signed in by a parent/carer or authorised adult when they arrive. Our team records attendance and keeps this updated throughout the day.
If a child is booked in but does not arrive, our team may contact parents/carers to confirm the child’s whereabouts. This helps us make sure children are safe and that our registers remain accurate.
Children must be collected by a parent/carer or authorised adult. Where a pickup password is required, the collecting adult must be able to provide the correct password before the child is released.
If a member of staff is unsure about the identity of the collecting adult, or if the correct password cannot be provided, the child will remain with us while we contact the parent/carer or emergency contacts for confirmation.
If a child needs to be collected early, parents/carers should let the Camp Manager know as soon as possible. The child will still need to be signed out by an authorised adult before leaving the venue.
If a parent/carer is running late, they should contact the camp phone as soon as possible. Children will remain supervised by Atlas Camps staff until they are collected.
Repeated or significant late collection may result in additional charges and may require a conversation with our team to agree a safe plan going forwards.
If a child is not collected and we have not heard from the parent/carer, we will attempt to contact the parent/carer and all listed emergency contacts.
If we cannot make contact and there are concerns for the child’s welfare, we will follow our safeguarding procedures and contact the appropriate local authority or emergency services for advice.
Parents/carers are responsible for keeping contact details, emergency contacts and collection permissions up to date. This is vital so that we can contact the right people quickly if plans change or support is needed.
Atlas Camps is built around active play, creativity, friendships and real-world fun. We therefore take a careful approach to phones, gadgets, photography and online safety so children can stay present, safe and fully involved in camp life.
We ask that children do not use mobile phones, smart watches, tablets, gaming devices or other internet-connected gadgets during the camp day unless this has been agreed with the Camp Manager for a specific reason.
If a child brings a device to camp, it should remain safely stored away and should not be used to take photos, record videos, access the internet or contact others during the day. Atlas Camps cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to personal devices brought onto site.
Staff phone use is restricted during camp sessions. Personal phones should not be used around children unless there is an agreed operational, safeguarding or emergency reason.
Where staff need to communicate with the office, parents/carers or emergency services, they should use approved camp procedures and keep the child’s safety and privacy at the centre of any decision.
Photos and videos may only be taken in line with Atlas Camps procedures and parent/carer permissions. Images must never be taken on personal devices for personal use.
Where we use photos or videos for Atlas Camps marketing or updates, we will only do so in line with consent and our privacy/data protection procedures.
Children should not access online content during camp unless this is part of a supervised, approved activity. Any use of digital content must be age-appropriate, safe and supervised by staff.
If a child attempts to access unsuitable content, share inappropriate material, record others without permission or use a device in a way that affects safety or wellbeing, staff will intervene and parents/carers may be contacted.
Our smartphone-free approach helps children engage with activities, build friendships and enjoy the simple magic of camp: playing, creating, exploring and having a brilliant day with others.
We understand that plans sometimes change. Because our staffing and child ratios are planned around bookings, cancellation options depend on how much notice is given and how the cancellation is processed.
Our team numbers, activity planning and venue arrangements are organised around expected attendance. Late cancellations can mean we have already committed staff and resources for that place.
Where possible, we encourage parents/carers to manage cancellations through their online account, as this gives the most flexible account credit option.
We want every child and family to have a positive experience with Atlas Camps. If something has not gone as expected, we encourage parents/carers to tell us so we can listen, respond and improve where needed.
If a parent/carer feels a concern has not been resolved, or the matter relates to Ofsted requirements, they may contact Ofsted directly.
Ofsted contact number for complaints: 0300 123 1231
Atlas Camps handles personal information carefully and responsibly. We collect and use information so that we can safely manage bookings, care for children, communicate with families, meet legal requirements and run our services effectively.
Atlas Camps does not sell personal data. Information is only shared where there is a lawful and necessary reason, such as safeguarding, legal requirements, booking administration, payment processing, service delivery or where a parent/carer has given permission.
For questions about how Atlas Camps handles personal information, please contact:
Data Protection Lead
Atlas Camps
Unit 24, Parlour Farm
Bisley
GL6 7NH
Phone: 01453 497457
Email: dpl@atlascamps.co.uk
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