Parent and Adult Involvement

At Waymakers, adults may be involved as parents, volunteers, visitors, or facilitators. Some people may hold more than one role. For example, a parent may also volunteer or work as a facilitator. During a session, the responsibilities associated with the role being undertaken at that time apply.

All adults are expected to follow the Waymakers Shared Agreement and uphold our values of respect, inclusion, consent, collaboration, and safeguarding.

Responsibility for children remains with parents/carers during stay-and-play sessions and transfers to Waymakers staff during designated drop-off sessions.

1. Parent Helper

Parents or carers attending to support their own child.

Responsibilities

  • Support your own child’s participation and wellbeing.

  • Assist your child to engage with activities where needed.

  • Report concerns about another child, group dynamics, or session wellbeing to a facilitator.

  • Maintain appropriate safeguarding boundaries and respect the privacy of other children and families.

  • Do not photograph other children or intervene directly with children who are not your own.

  • In stay-and-play sessions, remain responsible for your child at all times.

  • In drop-off sessions, allow facilitators and volunteers to manage activities, conflicts, and group decisions.

Requirements

  • No DBS check required.

  • No safeguarding training required.

2. Volunteer

Adults supporting the wider group under facilitator guidance.

Responsibilities

  • Support children, activities, and group wellbeing under the guidance of facilitators.

  • Assist with practical tasks such as preparation, set-up, tidying, and accessing resources.

  • Report accidents, incidents, safeguarding concerns, or other concerns to the Lead Facilitator.

  • Maintain appropriate confidentiality, safeguarding boundaries, and professional conduct.

  • Do not take sole responsibility for children or provide personal care unless specifically authorised and supervised by a Lead Facilitator.

Requirements

  • Enhanced DBS check.

  • Safeguarding training.

  • Commitment to the Waymakers ethos.

3. Visitors and Observers

Waymakers welcomes prospective volunteers, facilitators, parents, and other visitors who wish to learn more about our community and approach.

Responsibilities

  • Support the wellbeing of the group by following facilitator guidance.

  • Assist with activities only where invited and supervised by a facilitator.

  • Report any concerns to the Lead Facilitator.

  • Maintain appropriate confidentiality and safeguarding boundaries.

  • Do not photograph or record children without permission.

  • Do not take sole responsibility for children, provide personal care, or work unsupervised.

  • Remain under the guidance of a Waymakers facilitator at all times.

Requirements

  • No DBS check required for short observation visits.

  • Visitors remain under facilitator supervision at all times.

Waymakers reserves the right to end observation visits where the wellbeing or safety of children, families, or the wider group may be affected.

4. Parent Support Facilitator

Paid Waymakers staff members who are also parents within the Waymakers community and may have their own children attending sessions.

Responsibilities

  • Support children, activities, and group wellbeing.

  • Assist the Lead Facilitator with session delivery, preparation, resources, and organisation.

  • Report accidents, incidents, safeguarding concerns, or other concerns in accordance with Waymakers procedures.

  • Maintain appropriate confidentiality, safeguarding boundaries, and professional conduct.

  • Do not undertake responsibilities outside your role without agreement from the Lead Facilitator.

Requirements

  • Enhanced DBS check.

  • Safeguarding training.

  • Commitment to Waymakers policies and values.

5. Lead Facilitator

Paid Waymakers staff members responsible for the overall running of sessions. A Lead Facilitator may or may not be the parent of a child attending Waymakers.

Responsibilities

  • Support children, volunteers, visitors, and Parent Support Facilitators.

  • Facilitate activities, projects, and learning experiences.

  • Respond to accidents, incidents, conflicts, safeguarding concerns, and matters affecting group wellbeing.

  • Maintain overall responsibility for the safe, effective, and values-led running of sessions.

  • Make decisions relating to health and safety, safeguarding, group boundaries, and session management.

  • Provide or oversee agreed personal care arrangements in line with Waymakers safeguarding procedures.

Requirements

  • Enhanced DBS check.

  • Safeguarding training.

  • Relevant skills, experience, or training suitable for leading sessions.

Dynamic Risk Assessment

Lead Facilitators continually assess activities, materials, environments, and group dynamics through dynamic risk assessment.

Where activities involve higher levels of risk, facilitators will:

  • Provide appropriate supervision.

  • Support children to assess and manage risks appropriate to their age, experience, and understanding.

  • Ensure tools and materials are used responsibly and with consideration for the wellbeing of themselves and others.

  • Adapt, pause, or stop activities if safety cannot be maintained.

Waymakers recognises that learning often involves challenge, experimentation, and managed risk. Facilitators aim to support children in developing confidence, judgement, and responsibility rather than eliminating all risk from their experiences.

During Sessions

All adults are expected to follow the guidance of the Lead Facilitator in matters relating to safety, safeguarding, and group wellbeing.

Concerns and Complaints

Concerns should normally be raised with the session’s Lead Facilitator. Concerns about a Lead Facilitator may be raised with a Director of Waymakers.

This guidance should be read alongside the Waymakers Safeguarding Policy, Shared Agreement, and Health & Safety procedures.