Post | September 2026 | 1 min read
DBS Changes: Update to Working With Children from 1st September
From 1 September 2026, changes introduced by the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will remove the current supervision exemption for volunteers working specifically with children.
As a result, any roles including volunteers who frequently teach, train, instruct, care for, or supervise children (including those involved in overnight activities) will be classed as undertaking Regulated Activity and must have an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List information.
The change is designed to strengthen safeguarding and ensure that individuals barred from working with children cannot undertake these roles, even when supervised.
This means that all such activity is now considered to be Regulated Activity if it’s carried out frequently or if it meets the period condition. The period condition means:
- On more than 3 days in a 30-day period
- Overnight (between 2am to 6am)
Remember this only came into force on the 1st September 2026.
See here for the details direct from the DBS website: Regulated activity: removal of the supervision exemption (comes into force 1 September 2026) - GOV.UK (save this in your favourites).
This link is the current guidance leaflet on Regulated Activities with Children: Regulated activity with children in England and Wales - GOV.UK