Glossary

Children's Activity Business Glossary

Clear, jargon-free definitions of the terms you'll encounter when starting and running a children's activity business in the UK.

A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R S T V W55 terms

Accessibility

The degree to which your venues, activities, and communications are usable by people with disabilities or additional needs.

Block Booking

A prepaid package of classes, typically aligned to a school term, offering a discounted per-session rate in exchange for upfront commitment.

British Gymnastics

The national governing body for gymnastics in the UK, responsible for coaching qualifications, club affiliation, and the sport's development.

Breakeven Analysis

A calculation that determines how many enrolled children or sessions you need to cover your costs before generating profit.

Consent Form

A form signed by parents or guardians giving permission for their child to participate in activities and for you to act in loco parentis.

Class Register

A record of attendance for each session, used for safeguarding, fire safety, and tracking participant engagement.

Credit Pack

A prepaid bundle of session credits that can be redeemed flexibly across different classes or dates, popular with multi-activity providers.

Churn Rate

The percentage of enrolled families who leave your programme in a given period, the inverse of retention rate.

Conversion Rate

The percentage of enquiries or trial attendees who go on to become paying, enrolled customers.

CPD (Continuing Professional Development)

Ongoing learning and training that coaches and teachers undertake to maintain and improve their skills, often required by governing bodies.

Customer Lifetime Value

The total revenue you can expect from a single family over the entire period they remain enrolled with your business.

DBS Check

A criminal record check carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service, required for anyone working with children in the UK.

Disclosure and Barring Service

The government body responsible for processing criminal record checks and maintaining the children's and adults' barred lists in England and Wales.

Duty of Care

The legal obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in your charge during activities.

Data Protection

The legal framework and practical measures for protecting personal information you hold about children and families.

Drop-In Session

A pay-as-you-go class that does not require advance booking or commitment, offering flexibility for families who cannot commit to regular blocks.

Direct Debit

An automated payment method where fees are collected regularly from a parent's bank account, providing predictable cash flow for your business.

Enhanced DBS

The highest level of DBS check, required for roles with regular unsupervised access to children, including barred list checks.

Employers' Liability Insurance

A legal requirement if you employ staff, covering claims from employees who are injured or become ill because of their work.

Emergency Action Plan

A documented procedure for responding to emergencies such as serious injuries, fire, missing children, or medical incidents during your activities.

First Aid at Work

A three-day qualification covering workplace first aid, often required for at least one person at your activity sessions.

GDPR

The General Data Protection Regulation, which governs how you collect, store, and use personal data including children's and parents' information.

Governing Body Affiliation

Formal membership or licensing arrangement with a national governing body, often required for insurance, venue access, and credibility.

Health and Safety

The legal framework and practical measures for preventing accidents and maintaining a safe environment for children, staff, and visitors.

Holiday Camp

Multi-activity or specialist day programmes offered during school holidays, often requiring separate Ofsted registration.

Inclusion

The practice of ensuring all children, regardless of ability, background, or circumstance, can meaningfully participate in your activities.

Lesson Plan

A structured outline of the activities, objectives, and timings for a single teaching session, ensuring consistency and progression.

Make-Up Class

A replacement session offered to a child who missed their regular class, helping maintain value perception and customer satisfaction.

Mixed-Ability Group

A class containing children at varying skill levels, requiring differentiated teaching to meet each child's needs.

National Governing Body (NGB)

The official organisation responsible for regulating and developing a specific sport or activity in the UK, such as Swim England or British Gymnastics.

Net Promoter Score (NPS)

A customer satisfaction metric measuring how likely parents are to recommend your business to others, based on a single survey question.

Ofsted

The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, which inspects and regulates childcare providers in England including some activity providers.

Occupancy Rate

The percentage of available class spaces that are filled with paying customers, a key measure of capacity utilisation and revenue potential.

Public Liability Insurance

Insurance that covers claims made against your business if a child or member of the public is injured or their property is damaged during your activities.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Insurance that protects against claims of professional negligence, such as providing incorrect instruction that leads to injury.

Paediatric First Aid

A specialist two-day first aid course focused on treating infants and children, required for Ofsted-registered providers and recommended for all children's activity businesses.

Photography Policy

A documented policy governing the taking, storing, and sharing of photographs and videos of children during your activities.

Progression Framework

A structured pathway of skills and milestones that children work through as they develop, giving parents and children clear goals and evidence of progress.

Risk Assessment

A systematic process of identifying potential hazards in your activities or venues and putting controls in place to minimise the risk of harm.

Regulated Activity

A legal term for activities involving close contact with children that require an Enhanced DBS check with barred list check.

Revenue Per Head

The average income generated per enrolled child, used to measure pricing effectiveness and identify upselling opportunities.

Retention Rate

The percentage of enrolled families who continue booking from one term or period to the next, a critical measure of customer satisfaction and business health.

Referral Programme

A structured incentive scheme that rewards existing families for recommending your business to new customers.

Safeguarding

The actions taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm, a legal duty for all children's activity providers.

Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

The designated person responsible for managing safeguarding concerns and acting as the main point of contact for child protection matters within an organisation.

Staff-to-Child Ratio

The required number of qualified staff per group of children, which varies by age group, activity type, and regulatory framework.

Single Central Record

A register that records the recruitment and vetting checks carried out on all staff, including DBS checks, qualifications, and right to work status.

Swim England

The national governing body for swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, and open water swimming in England.

SEN (Special Educational Needs)

Additional learning or developmental needs that require adjusted approaches, equipment, or support to enable full participation in activities.

Seasonal Demand

The predictable fluctuations in enquiries and enrolments throughout the year, driven by school terms, weather, and family routines.

Term-Time

The standard school term schedule used by most children's activity businesses to structure their programme of regular weekly classes.

Timetable Management

The process of scheduling classes across venues, time slots, and instructors to maximise occupancy while meeting customer demand.

Trial Session

A free or reduced-price introductory class that allows families to experience your provision before committing to a full booking.

Venue Hire

The arrangement for renting a space to deliver your activities, typically your largest single operating cost.

Waiting List

A queue of families wanting to join a fully booked class, essential for managing demand and maintaining high occupancy rates.