DBS check for parent volunteers?

[Hoppinggreen]

I have a DD in year 4 and a DS in reception. I have always gone into school when I can to read with the children or give a talk or something. Not regularly, about once a term. Recently I have been going into year 4 around once a month ( not set times, just when I'm free) to teach French as the teachers are frankly totally incapable of doing if.
I was asked yesterday when I was there by DD teacher if I had a DRB check because " someone" had asked . I suppose it could be a parent but I have had a lot of parents say they they are really pleased I'm doing it and the kids really enjoy it.
In fact I DO have a DBS check as I do a French lunch club ( paid) at another school. The DBS isn't specific to the other school as it's via a private company so I suppose I could give a copy of that to school. However, I will soon be stopping running the lunch club and won't be working for the private company so surely that DBS check won't be valid?
Do parents need a DBS check to go and help at school? I am never alone with the children as the class teacher sits in as well

[WowOoo]

I needed one to help in my son's school.

I do know that a friend didn't need one at another local school.
I'd guess that most want one though.

[Seeline]

Our school required one for 'regular' helping eg reading, cooking etc regardless of whether you are in the classroom, in the corridor or in the cookery room.
They do not require them for one off helping on school trips.
I think it's required for any situation where you have the chance of building up a relationship with a child.
I'm not familiar with the new DBS things, but under the old CRBs we had to have a new one done for school, even if we already held one for eg working with cubs, church groups etc.

[Hoppinggreen]

Were you there regularly Woo?

[WowOoo]

Yes, I went in twice a week.
All the others had to have them also - even if it was just to help on a school trip once a term.
The school paid for the enhanced one.

[Hoppinggreen]

Thanks, I know the DBS check is per setting but the one I have is sort of " mobile" as it allows me to run lunch clubs at any school under the name of the private company.
However, I won't be doing that after Easter but I'm not sure if it would be valid to give to DC's school. I suppose if I have it to them now ( assuming I can find it) and just kept quiet they wouldn't know

[Hoppinggreen]

I know that's naughty but I'm assuming it's an arse covering thing and theirs would be !!

[ReallyTired]

I have a DBS check done recently as I listen to year 4 children read in school as well as one done recently because I help at church with Sunday school. Schools are required to do a DBS check for all volunteers as part of safe guarding. I imagine that the person who "asked" was probably the child protection officer whose job it is to make sure the school complies with the law on child protection.

Just fill out the form. It really itsn't that onerous. If your child's school has not got proof of a DBS check then they could fail their OFSTED.

[dilbertina]

I had to get one for being a school governor and then another one for being treasurer at the pre-school which is in the same building (and where I have absolutely nothing to do with children in any case!) as do the teachers from the school who are on the pre-school committee.... Madness - so much for simplifying the system!

[Hoppinggreen]

Thank you.
I will take in a copy of my current one and then just keep quiet.
I haven't checked but I'm assuming there's no expiry date - how long do they last?

[ReallyTired]

A DBS check is only valid on the day that it is produced. It is not a guarentee that someone is suitable to work with children. There isn't the concept of expiry dates with a DBS check. I imagine that the school will be required to do their own DBS check to please OFSTED. The school will bare the cost.

[Hoppinggreen]

Thank you.
I am going to take the one in I have got. If the school wants to do another one they can , I don't mind .

[MrsCakesPremonition]

We only need one if we are alone with the children, if we don't have one then we have to sit on the classroom with a teacher or TA. It is much more convenient to get one. The school applied online and it took a few days to arrive. Very easy. I'm not going to comment on whether it is available check.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

We only need one if we are alone with the children, if we don't have one then we have to sit on the classroom with a teacher or TA. It is much more convenient to get one. The school applied online and it took a few days to arrive. Very easy. I'm not going to comment on whether it is available check.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

We only need one if we are alone with the children, if we don't have one then we have to sit on the classroom with a teacher or TA. It is much more convenient to get one. The school applied online and it took a few days to arrive. Very easy. I'm not going to comment on whether it is available check.

[madeupstuff]

The DBS process is designed to fix the absurd 'one check per setting' issue that the CRB checks had.

The idea is that you have the initial check paid for and you then share your number (can't remember the actual name of the thing) with the 2nd and subsequent settings and they can simply log-in and check that you're up-to-date. gov.uk/dbs documents it quite well - it's not that painful.

[17leftfeet]

Sorry, can I just gatecrash the thread for a second

I had an enhanced check in December but have been sent the application for a course I want to do

Can I just provide my existing certificate?

[Galena]

I've been told I don't need one to be a school governor because I won't be alone with children.

[prh47bridge]

If you have a DBS check you can subscribe to the update service. This costs the applicant £13 per annum (free for volunteers) and allows employers and voluntary organisations to check your DBS certificate online.

If you have not subscribed to the update service it is up to the employer to decide whether they will accept an existing DBS check (this was also true of CRB checks, so in Seeline's case it was the school's choice to insist on a fresh check for everyone). If they choose to accept an existing check they should contact the countersignatory on the original application to check that the details are correct and that no additional information was disclosed. A DBS check does not have an expiry date so it is up to the employer to decide how old a check has to be before it is unacceptable.

[LizzyButtons]

I personally would expect anyone working close to children to have a regular DBS check, otherwise, what's the point of them? I wouldn't expect my child to be around people, no matter how 'familiar' in a school or any environment that requires close contact with children, without being checked appropriately.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Ours require them for any level of helping out, be it a one off or regular reading etc. You also have to have a child protection session with the head. I've just completed mine because although I can't commit to anything regular because of dd2 just now, at least I might be able to sort out something if they're short for a trip or something. They won't consider you if you haven't been through the whole procedure.

[Hoppinggreen]

I appreciate that Lizzy, as a parent I would too but all the DBS will tell them is that up until the point of application I hadn't been convicted of anything that would make me unsuitable to work with children.
Anyway, as I said once I find my certificate I will take a copy to school.
If they want to do further checks I'm not bothered.

[QuiteQuietly]

Our school does a free check for general helpers and a paid one if they are ever going to be alone with a child (eg reading in corridor). Under the new scheme, apparently the school check is valid at all schools in the county. DH is a governor and didn't need one (although he visits classes, he doesn't interact with children), but I needed one at preschool for doing craft prep at home (not at preschool!). The whole system does seem to be a backside covering nonsense.

[Degustibusnonestdisputandem]

I've had to get one to volunteer on the Nursery Committee

[Petal09]

Hi please help.
I was arrested last year (common assault) but no further action and came home same day.
Want to be a volunteer at school only helping kids read, got DBS processing as I write this, extremely nervous it will show up on the certificate???
Also I have had a few home visits from social services to do with DV but both visits were fine and the case was closed. Will that show up on DBS check ?
Asking that as all schools have the child protection rule.

[prh47bridge]

The police only include non-conviction information if it is relevant. If they took no further action because they believed you were innocent your arrest is very unlikely to show up on a DBS check. If they took no further action for other reasons it is impossible to be certain.

Unless the police were involved with the home visits they won't show up on a DBS check.