Children don’t spend every waking moment in the company of their parents. Children can leave their parents’ care from a very early age, sometimes very soon after birth, and enter childcare, later go to school and often attend sport and excursions without parents. Even if you don’t use childcare and home educate your child, at some point your child is bound to go to sport, theatre, Scouts or other community activity where they interact with other carers, adults and their peers, without a parent nearby.

How will you know your child is safe? Information on specific types of child care, schools and organised groups can be found in the Nurtured section, however, this section includes some safety issues when your child is in the company of other carers and peers.