In September 2012 the government issued a new definition of what is deemed ‘regulated activity with children’. Most school or educational settings will require anyone who undertakes regulated activity with children to have an Enhanced Disclosure (CRB check).
KEAP has received full information directly from the CRB on what is regulated activity and who needs to have a CRB check and who does not, and we have simplified this information to make it relevant and useful for freelance artists and practitioners.
The new definition of regulated activity relating to children relates both to what activity you are doing and also how often you are doing it:
(i) Unsupervised activities: teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children, or provide advice/guidance on well-being, or drive a vehicle only for children;
(ii) Work for a limited range of establishments (‘specified places’), with opportunity for contact: for example, schools, children’s homes, childcare premises. Not work by supervised volunteers
Work defined above is only regulated activity if done regularly i.e. carried out by the same person frequently (once a week or more often), or on 4 or more days within a 30-day period, or overnight.
Also, for activity undertaken regularly in a number of different establishments, but only infrequently in each: each establishment is only arranging the activity infrequently, so each establishment is not a regulated activity provider in relation to that activity.
So, if you are running a one day workshop in a school with or without the supervision of a teacher, you do not need a CRB check because whilst you are in a school setting, in contact with children, you are only doing it once, so you do not meet the frequency criteria outlined above.
This also applies if you are running one day workshops in lots of different schools because you are only in each school once.
If you are running weekly activities in the same school or you are in one school 4 times within one month, then you do need a CRB check.
There is a lot more detail around CRB checks, and the full information from the CRB is available here.
We know that many schools will still be requesting CRB checks for anyone who works in the school, regardless of how often, so you may find it useful to point schools towards this information. If the job role does not fit the ‘regulated activity’ description above then it is our understanding that it is unlawful to request one.
Reference to whether CRB checks are required for visiting staff in schools is available on the OfSTED website and clearly states that only visiting staff who have regular and unsupervised access to children need a CRB check. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/schools/for-schools/safeguarding-children#chkstaff
A useful leaflet created for the Disclosure and Barring roadshow is available here DBS Roadshow 2012 leaflet
If after reading the above information, you do require a CRB check, KEAP can process one for you, the cost is £56. We will need proof that you meet the criteria for regulated activity.
If you require further information please contact Helen Reynolds on helen.reynolds@keap.org.uk or 01872 275187
