21/08/2026
Important safeguarding update for schools, colleges and childcare settings
From 1 September 2026, the rules around regulated activity with children in England are changing.
The Government is removing the supervision exemption, which previously meant that some volunteers carrying out activities such as teaching, training, instructing, caring for or supervising children were not classed as being in regulated activity when they were supervised by someone else.
What is changing?
From 1 September, volunteers carrying out these activities will be considered to be in regulated activity when they:
• volunteer on more than 3 days in a 30-day period, or
• take part in an overnight activity.
These volunteers will need an enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list information.
The change particularly affects volunteers. Paid staff working with children are already covered by regulated activity requirements.
What about occasional volunteers?
Parents, carers and other occasional volunteers will generally not be affected if their involvement does not meet the frequency requirements.
For example, someone helping occasionally at a PTA event or on a school day trip would not automatically require the additional barred list check.
However, volunteers attending overnight school trips will be considered to be in regulated activity and will require the appropriate enhanced DBS check.
What should education settings do now?
Schools, colleges and childcare providers should review:
• current volunteer roles
• how frequently volunteers work with children
• arrangements for overnight trips
• existing DBS checks
• safeguarding and recruitment processes ahead of 1 September 2026
DBS checks for eligible volunteers are free of charge.
Safeguarding requirements continue to develop, and understanding what these changes mean in practice is important for everyone working across education.
Read the full Department for Education guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-or-volunteering-in-regulated-activity-with-children/regulated-activity-removal-of-the-supervision-exemption-comes-into-force-1-september-2026
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