CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE TRAINING
Free Children and Young People Training Courses
Free, practical online courses for everyone who works with children and young people — covering safeguarding, neglect, mental health and healthy development. Self-paced, on any device, with a free certificate every time.
Free online training for people who work with children and young people
Children and young people depend on the adults around them to keep them safe, notice when something is wrong, and help them thrive. Whether you work in early years, education, children’s social care, youth work or fostering, good training helps you recognise concerns early and respond with confidence.
At Care Learning, our free children and young people courses are written for the UK workforce that supports under‑18s. Each course is practical and self‑paced, works on any device, and includes a free certificate to evidence learning for induction, supervision, appraisals and inspection.
From recognising the early signs of abuse and neglect to understanding a child’s development and mental health, our courses give you the knowledge to act with confidence. They suit people who are new to working with children as well as experienced practitioners who want a quick, reliable refresher.
Because everything is free and online, you can use these courses for induction, supervision and ongoing professional development without stretching your budget.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why training to support children matters
Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility. Statutory guidance such as Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education sets clear expectations that staff can spot the signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation — and know exactly what to do about them.
Early, well-informed action changes outcomes. When practitioners understand child development, attachment, adverse childhood experiences and mental health, they can offer the right support at the right time — and help prevent small worries from becoming serious harm.
Up-to-date training also reassures parents, carers, commissioners and inspectors that your team is competent and that children’s welfare is genuinely at the centre of your service.
Children and young people cannot always speak up for themselves, which is why the awareness of the adults around them matters so much. A worker who understands what healthy development looks like, and who knows the signs that a child may be struggling, can make the difference between a concern being missed and a child getting timely help.
Investing in this learning also helps your whole team work to the same standard, so that safeguarding and support are consistent wherever a child is cared for.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Knowledge to keep children safe and help them thrive
Topics vary by course, but our free children and young people training commonly covers:
Safeguarding children
Recognise the signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation, and know how to report and respond.
Recognising neglect
Spot the indicators of child neglect early and take the right action.
Child & adolescent mental health
Understand common mental health needs and how to offer supportive, timely help.
Development & attachment
How children develop and the importance of secure, trusting relationships.
Adverse childhood experiences
How early adversity affects children, and trauma-informed ways to respond.
Online & digital safety
Helping children and young people stay safe online and recognise risks.
WHY LEARN WITH US
Free training that counts
Designed to fit around real working life — and to count as evidence.
Completely free
Every course is free — no fees, no subscriptions and no catch.
Free certificates
Download certificates to evidence learning for induction, supervision and inspection.
Self-paced, any device
Most courses take 60–90 minutes. Learn around your day, on any device.
Aligned to guidance
Built around recognised safeguarding guidance and good practice for working with under‑18s.
WHO IT’S FOR
Made for everyone who supports children and young people
Whether you are new to the role or refreshing your practice, these courses meet you where you are.
BROWSE COURSES
Free Children and Young People courses
Choose a course to start learning. Every course is free, with a downloadable certificate when you finish.
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New courses for children and young people are added regularly, so it is worth checking back — and if there is a topic you would like us to cover, just let us know.
Help every child feel safe and supported — for free
Build the knowledge and confidence to recognise concerns early and support children to thrive. Join thousands of UK professionals training with Care Learning.