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DBS checks: volunteers

When using volunteers, you should carry out a risk assessment and use your professional judgement to decide what checks are needed. Use our template risk assessment to save time creating your own.

Last reviewed on 16 July 2025See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 13581
Contents
  1. Do a risk assessment to identify the risk level
  2. Decide what checks are needed
  3. If the volunteer refuses to undergo a DBS check

Do a risk assessment to identify the risk level

Your written risk assessment should cover: 

  • The nature of the work, including:
    • If it’s considered regulated activity
    • The level of supervision involved – see the section below for more details
  • What’s known about the volunteer, including formal or informal information from staff, parents/carers and other volunteers
  • If the volunteer can provide references from other employment or voluntary activities
  • If the role is eligible for a disclosure and barring service (DBS) check and, if it is, what level of check is appropriate

Remember to keep a record of your risk assessment.

This is set out in paragraphs 309 to 312 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025.

Download our template risk assessment 

Use it to help you assess the points above.

KeyDoc: school volunteer risk assessment – template DOCX, 130.1 KB
Download

Decide what checks are needed

Full definitions, and examples of where a volunteer is