What is Professional Indemnity Insurance?

Professional indemnity insurance (PII) covers claims arising from professional negligence — situations where a client alleges that your professional advice, instruction, or coaching caused them harm or financial loss. For children's activity providers, this might include claims that incorrect teaching technique led to an injury, that a progression framework was inappropriate for a child's ability level, or that you failed to identify and accommodate a special educational need.

While public liability covers accidents and incidents (a child slips on a wet floor), professional indemnity covers the quality of your professional service (a coach teaches an unsafe technique). Many governing body membership schemes include basic PII cover, but it is worth checking the level and scope of that cover, particularly if you deliver activities outside the governing body's direct remit.

PII is not a legal requirement for most activity providers, but it is strongly recommended, especially if you provide one-to-one coaching, deliver accredited qualifications or assessments, offer specialist services for children with additional needs, or advise parents on their child's development or progression.