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AIBU?

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Original poster

DBS and soft play

110 replies

Bareoness · 06/01/2026 06:17

AIBU to have assumed that’s staff at soft play / play cafe places etc have a DBS?

I was at a party at one a few days ago and saw a petition this particular soft play had set up. The petition was to have this matter discussed in parliament in the hope of making it law. I’ve linked the petition.

I realise a basic DBS are only as good as the day it is granted and someone could go out and commit a crime the very next day and it won’t show, but surely that’s not a reason not to have them?

I also realise that in most cases you supervise your own child at these places. But I’m sure some of you will have been to these places and lost sight of your child for 5mins or they’ve legged it off to the loos without you knowing.

It just seems such a basic not to enforce and are t basic ones about £25 so not hugely costly (that said I realise small businesses are struggling).

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/748554?fbclid=IwY2xjawPJhzBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETB4a080Z3dlcUZPTThPVk1wc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvPIgJzX2ohxyYcY62gOJw_wOQhS0kRYnv08BZ5D-skg_qEyI57_fWz5DlkS_aem_X_--qj0nBTkapl-uVDTaug

AIBU - excessive and not needed.

Not unreasonable - seems sensible to have even if not foolproof.

Petition: Require DBS checks for all staff in Soft Play centres.

We want the Government to amend safeguarding legislation so that all staff working in Soft Play environments are required to undergo DBS checks, ensuring consistent child protection standards across all childcare and play settings, and closing what we...

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/748554?fbclid=IwY2xjawPJhzBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETB4a080Z3dlcUZPTThPVk1wc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvPIgJzX2ohxyYcY62gOJw_wOQhS0kRYnv08BZ5D-skg_qEyI57_fWz5DlkS_aem_X_--qj0nBTkapl-uVDTaug

OP posts:
Muchtoomuchtodo · 06/01/2026 07:42

firstofallimadelight · 06/01/2026 07:03

The rules are currently that people who are responsible for children have DBS, staff in soft play are no more responsible for the children than the hundreds of other parents in the building.
i do think DBS should be renewed annually or three yearly. I was a childminder I had one dbs for the 17 years I did the job.

My DBS for volunteering at a Scout group needs updating annually. I’ve subscribed to their update service to make sure it happens.

How did you not update yours for 17 years as a childminder? That’s very worrying.

WilderHawthorn · 06/01/2026 07:41

Those places have huge staff turnover and lots of casual staff that just support parties, plus, a DBS is crap. I have an enhanced one for my role and even that doesn’t feel particularly ’deep dive’. Everyone will come back clear until they’re actually caught for something anyway

fashionqueen0123 · 06/01/2026 07:39

Seems pointless to me. They are usually behind a till or cleaning it after hours or serving food. Same as a pub, shop, leisure centre or anywhere like a zoo etc where kids are!

TheNightingalesStarling · 06/01/2026 07:37

I kind of see the point as they could become "trusted" by the children if they see them regularly.

(I work with children and our DBS has to be renewed every three years)

omggggggg · 06/01/2026 07:31

Most of the staff in these centres are minimum wage teenagers and they don’t look after your children. Any of the parents could be weirdos. It’s your job to watch your children at all times

Londonrach1 · 06/01/2026 07:29

The staff are not responsible for children in soft play the parents are

DarlingYou · 06/01/2026 07:28

In all honesty, I don’t think it’s worth it tbh. As you said, it’s only there to protect children from the convicted essentially as anyone could commit a crime the next day. Also, I don’t know one soft play that lets children in without an adult supervising? Soft play workers are not in a position of care. No different than taking your kids to a play area in a pub or at a cafe

Teddlesisagoodboy · 06/01/2026 07:27

Even if they were dbs checked there are all the other parents in the building that could be dodgy. Just don't assume your children are safe anywhere, stay alert and aware of where they are. Talk to them about things to be aware of and things that make them uncomfortable, what to do if someone is acting strange etc, that's all you can do

Celestialmoods · 06/01/2026 07:03

They don’t care for the children and are never left alone with children even if one is separated from parents, so I don’t see why they would need a DBS any more than anyone working in a cafe, or a toy shop or anywhere else that caters for families. Parents are there to supervise their children.

Whats the point of making small businesses pay out more for no reason?

firstofallimadelight · 06/01/2026 07:03

The rules are currently that people who are responsible for children have DBS, staff in soft play are no more responsible for the children than the hundreds of other parents in the building.
i do think DBS should be renewed annually or three yearly. I was a childminder I had one dbs for the 17 years I did the job.

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