What Insurance Do I Need for My After-School Program?

Are you operating an after-school program or daycare? For many, this is a noble mission that provides a vital service to families and a bridge from the school to the home. From an insurance and risk management perspective, these “bridge hours” between school and home introduce a unique set of liabilities. When the structured school day ends, the risk profile of your facility changes.

Whether you are a school administrator adding an enrichment program or a daycare owner extending your hours, here are some things you should know for your insurance plan.

Risk Changes After School

During the standard school day, activities are highly structured and strictly academic. After 3:00 PM, programs often shift toward physical play, sports, and free-form enrichment. This shift increases the likelihood of:

• Bodily Injury: Increased physical activity leads to more slips, trips, and falls on playgrounds or in gyms.

• Supervision Gaps: As parents arrive at staggered times for pickup, the constant transition of children creates a higher risk for “lost” students or unauthorized pickups.

• Staff Fatigue: Employees working the late shift may be more susceptible to lapses in supervision or protocol.

4 Essential Insurance Coverages

Don’t assume your standard General Liability policy covers everything. After-school programs often require specialized endorsements or separate policies.

1. Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions)

While General Liability covers “slips and falls,” Professional Liability covers your staff’s professional judgment. If a parent claims a child was injured or fell behind because of improper supervision or a failure to follow an IEP (Individualized Education Program) during after-school hours, this is the coverage that responds.

2. Abuse and Molestation Liability

This is a non-negotiable coverage for any organization working with minors. It provides a legal defense and covers settlements in the event of an allegation against a staff member or volunteer. In addition, make sure you have a rigorous, documented employee screening process and a “Two-Adult” rule in place.

3. Student Accident Insurance

Consider this a “goodwill” policy. Student Accident Insurance pays for a student’s medical bills regardless of who was at fault. By covering a child’s stitches or X-rays immediately through this policy, you can often prevent a small injury from turning into a large, combative liability lawsuit.

4. Hired and Non-Owned Auto (HNOA)

Do your staff members ever use their personal cars to pick up supplies for the program or to transport a child in an emergency? Your primary business auto policy might not cover this. HNOA protects your organization if an employee is involved in an accident while using their own vehicle for your program’s business.

After-School Program Checklist

To keep your premiums low and your students safe, implement these “Gold Standard” practices:

• The Sign-Out Audit: Use a digital or strictly monitored paper system for pickups. Ensure every person picking up a child is on the approved list and has their ID checked—every single time.

• Ratios and Transitions: Maintain strict staff-to-student ratios. Accidents most commonly occur during “transition times” (e.g., moving from the classroom to the playground).

• Playground Inspections: After-school kids are often older and “harder” on equipment than morning preschoolers. Conduct a daily “quick sweep” of the playground to check for broken equipment or debris before the kids go out.

• Medical Records Access: Ensure after-school staff have immediate access to allergy information and emergency contacts. The front office might be closed, so the after-school team must have their own secure, portable records.

In the eyes of the law, your “Duty of Care” doesn’t diminish just because the school day is over. In fact, courts often hold after-school programs to a very high standard because the environment is less formal. Documenting every safety drill, staff training, and incident is your best defense against a claim of negligence.