The Disclosure and Barring Service defines a volunteer is a person who performs an activity which involves spending time, unpaid (except for travel and other approved out-of-pocket expenses), undertaking a role which aims to benefit a school.

Changes to DBS Requirements for Volunteers from 1 September 2026

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 has changed the definition of regulated activity for volunteers working with children.

From 1 September 2026, any volunteer who teaches, trains, instructs, cares for, or supervises children and does so:

• on more than three days within any 30-day period, or
• overnight (between 2:00 am and 6:00 am where there is an opportunity for face-to-face contact with children),

will be undertaking regulated activity with children, regardless of whether they are supervised by another person.

Volunteers undertaking regulated activity must have an Enhanced DBS Check with Children's Barred List information before carrying out their role.
This change affects individuals who were previously excluded from regulated activity solely because they were supervised, including:

• School volunteers, such as reading helpers supervised by a teacher.
• Assistant sports coaches supervised by a lead coach.
• Staff and volunteers working in youth groups, charities, community organisations, or outdoor activity centres where they work with children under supervision.

Existing Volunteers in Regulated Activity

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026 confirms that where a school or college has an existing volunteer who will now be in regulated activity from 1 September 2026 because of the changes brought in by the Crime and Policing Act 2026, they must check their children’s barred list status.

This should be done by obtaining an enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list information. 

Schools and colleges are able to obtain a standalone barred list check. They may do this where either: 

• the school or college wishes to allow the volunteer to undertake regulated activity prior to obtaining the enhanced DBS check certificate; or
• the school or college has recently obtained an enhanced DBS check without children’s barred list information, and there has been no break in service since that certificate was issued. 

Where a volunteer works across multiple settings and meets the frequency requirement collectively, the settings should work together to determine which organisation will obtain the DBS check. The volunteer can then share the certificate with the other settings.

Volunteers are encouraged to join the DBS Update Service when applying for their DBS check. Registration is free for volunteers and allows DBS certificates to be used across different educational settings, subject to eligibility and status checks.

Volunteers Not in Regulated Activity

Volunteers who are not undertaking regulated activity (not working frequently or overnight) may still require safeguarding checks, depending on the nature of their role.

Whilst volunteers play an important role and are often seen by children as being safe and trustworthy adults, the nature of voluntary roles varies, so schools and colleges should undertake a written risk assessment and use their professional judgement and experience when deciding what checks, if any, are required.
 
Schools and colleges must:

• Undertake a written risk assessment.
• Consider the nature and level of contact the volunteer will have with children.
• Use professional judgement when determining whether any DBS check is required.

Under no circumstances should a volunteer for whom no appropriate checks have been obtained:

• be left unsupervised, or
• undertake regulated activity.

Risk Assessment Considerations

The written risk assessment should take account of:

• The nature of the volunteer's work with children.
• What the school knows about the volunteer, including information provided by staff, parents or other volunteers.
• Whether the volunteer has employment or volunteering experience where referees can comment on their suitability.

Whether a DBS check is appropriate for the role, including: 

• an Enhanced DBS Check without Children's Barred List information; or
• a Basic DBS Check where access to children is limited.

A record of the risk assessment should be retained within the school's personnel records.

The Buckinghamshire Council Safeguarding in Employment Team has developed a Volunteer Risk Assessment Template to support schools in making these decisions. 

Where DBS Checks are carried out on volunteers, these should be entered on a school’s Single Central Record.

Please note that the same proof of right to work checks must be carried out on volunteers as on paid employees.  Only those who have the right to work in the UK can volunteer.

Examples

Volunteer Reading Helper

Ms O'Connor volunteers in a school every week. She regularly takes a group of children to a separate classroom and works with them independently.

Outcome: Ms O'Connor works with children frequently and is unsupervised. She is undertaking regulated activity and requires an Enhanced DBS Check with Children's Barred List information.

Volunteer Parent Helper

Mr Roberts helps on occasional day school trips several times a year. Teachers remain responsible for supervising both the children and volunteers throughout the trip.

Outcome: Mr Roberts is not working with children frequently, intensively or overnight. His role is not regulated activity.

There is no requirement for an Enhanced DBS Check with Children's Barred List information. The school should instead consider other safeguarding measures such as:

• Appropriate supervision arrangements.
• Volunteer induction.
• School Code of Conduct.
• Personal care and toilet arrangements.

Volunteer Parent Helper on a Residential Visit

Mrs Newsted volunteers on a three-day residential school trip. She stays in the same accommodation as the pupils and may be required to assist in an emergency during the night.

Outcome: Mrs Newsted has the opportunity for access to children overnight and is therefore undertaking regulated activity. She requires an Enhanced DBS Check with Children's Barred List information.

Downloads

Volunteer Risk Assessment Template