Volunteering in infants

[Minicaters]

i've already helped out at our infant school for a couple of years, so I am DBS checked, but this year they are giving us a lot of extra hoops to jump through. One of them is basically a full job application. I'd need to give not just my employer, but my salary details and notice period (why?!). Also a full history of education, employment and voluntary work, NI number. Then I'd need to sign to authorise the county council to computerise, keep and "use" this data for whatever purposes they choose. I'd also need 2 references, preferably both from my employer.

I know it is important to keep children safe, but isn't this out of all proportion to me reading with a few children every week? I'm never left unsupervised anyway. Are we going to be relying on parents signing over their salary details so kids can go on school trips? I am torn between being disgruntled and curmudgeonly and thinking that's over-reacting.

How does it work at your school?

DBS check only.

It would put me off volunteering, just from the sheer hassle.

I'd ask them if they'd given me the wrong form. Then I'd suggest they'd lost the plot completely if they thought that information was anything other than highly private and confidential! Bonkers.
Joking aside, I have a formal volunteer role in an infant school, and though I did have to confirm some medical details (understandable I think) I have never had to provide information like you've listed.

That sounds like a job application data form. Not appropriate for volunteering. We don't ask for this type of info in the school where I am a governor and as long as you have gone through the checking process and the school is happy that you are competent, then I cannot see why other info is necessary. Is the admin office staffed by new people?

I also volunteered in Infant, Junior and Secondary schools, and only had CRB check (as it was then).

This has definitely come from the head teacher, whether from county originally or not I don't know.

Thank you for these replies, you're making me feel better about it. Frankly I think they are about to lose a volunteer. Ah well, maybe I wasn't that great at it anyway!