Important Updates to Safeguarding Training Requirements

Following feedback from clubs and reviewing interactive content delivery mechanisms that have become available in the last few years, the British Judo Association (BJA) are pleased to confirm we have updated the accepted Safeguarding Course criteria which will see the BJA accept both Face to Face (FtF) and online courses for validation and revalidation.

A recommendation was submitted to the BJA Board in June 2024 to move to accepting both FtF and interactive online classroom courses (L2) for safeguarding initial and revalidation courses such as Learning – UK Coaching, and we are pleased to say that from 1^st August, we will be accepting both FtF and interactive online classroom courses (L2) for safeguarding initial and revalidation for Coach and Club Welfare Officer (CWO) qualification for their Safeguarding course requirement. As good practice, we would prefer Coaches and CWO to attend a FtF class where possible, but will accept an interactive online classroom course if this isn’t possible.

British Judo presently requests that Coaches and CWOs new to the role complete a FtF course (minimum of three hours and Level 2 standard) either via UK Coaching or within a local provider, i.e. another sport such as RFU or in their occupation, such as teachers etc. Following this, they would then be required to complete a cycle of revalidation every three years, alternating between an online and FtF course.

During Covid, this requirement was suspended, and new starters and revalidations were all completed via online courses. Therefore, we didn’t accept online classroom for new coaches/CWOs during the Covid lockdowns. Instead, we advised to wait until face-to-face courses became available.

Other sports have opted to continue with the online model recognising the impact of new styles of learning and cost implications to both the learner and organisation/clubs.

The Safeguarding (SG) and Membership Teams have seen an increase in requests for British Judo to move to online classroom training citing an increased lack of FtF courses available in certain geographical areas.

A survey was therefore completed via the BJA’s Club Support Team with a sample group of coaches who completed Safeguarding courses across both online classroom and FtF. Feedback varied based on learner experience, but the main factor was the quality of the delivery, not the location, i.e. online classroom or FtF in a training room.

What is an Interactive Classroom?

As part of the new criteria, online courses must be completed within an interactive classroom. We reviewed the following paper Sport safeguarding training | CPSU (thecpsu.org.uk) and in addition Safeguarding training and learning requirements – CPSU guidance – NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit (thecpsu.org.uk), which outlines the following:

The BJA are presently producing our own safeguarding course which will be offered as FtF and interactive online classroom courses (L2), giving choice to attend UK Coaching or our own equivalent course. This will be overseen, and quality assured by BJA Safeguarding Communities of Practice Trainers Group, led by BJA Head of Inclusion, Safeguarding and Wellbeing and launched in Autumn 2024.

If you want to check your course fulfils the ‘interactive online classroom’, please contact Safeguarding@britishjudo.org.uk

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