Policies & Safeguarding 17 of 21

17. Welcoming and safeguarding children with a disability


Compton House Cricket Club is committed to ensuring cricket is open, and accessible, to all members of the community and they are supported to achieve their potential in any capacity whether as a player, employee, volunteer, coach or official. This principle applies regardless of, age, race, disability, ability, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation or background.
1. In the first instance, the club should discuss the child’s needs and abilities with the child and his or her parents/carers. For many children with a disability, parents and carers will be able to offer practical advice on adaptations or arrangements that can be made to enable their child to participate.
2. It is good practice to agree a support plan with the parents and the child, and to review this regularly. The club welfare officer should be involved in this process. It may be necessary or useful to involve the child and the parent / carer in the plan itself, if this will help meet the child’s needs and allow them to participate.
3. Remember, many children may have hidden disabilities (or special needs) – such as an autistic spectrum disorder, or deafness, or another condition that is not obvious. It is important during the registration process and/ or welcome meeting to offer the opportunity for parents to meet someone in private to discuss their child, if they would like to do so. This forms part of our ‘Welcoming’ approach for all children, including those with disabilities.
4. Children with disabilities have particular vulnerability to abuse and neglect – club personnel should be aware of these, see:
www.thecpsu.org.uk/resource-library/2013/ safeguarding-deaf-and-disabled-children-and-young-people