Choosing support for a child: first-visit questions

Before you visit - What does a typical first session look like, and how long is it? - How many staff and young people are present? - Are sessions ground-based or ridden? Is a helmet or special clothing needed? - What does it cost, and what is the cancellation and bad-weather policy?

Safety and safeguarding - Who is the safeguarding lead, and can I see the safeguarding policy? - What background checks do staff have? (DBS in England and Wales, PVG in Scotland, AccessNI in Northern Ireland.) - What insurance is in place, and what does it cover? - What happens in an emergency, and who is first-aid trained?

Fit and comfort - How do you adapt for sensory preferences, anxiety or communication differences? - Can my child watch first, or leave the session if they need to? - Are there toilets, shelter and parking? Is the site step-free? - How will you share progress with me?

A gentle reminder Please do not send medical records or detailed personal history in a first enquiry. A good provider will talk these through with you properly and securely.