It’s getting to that time of year again where schools up and down the country are planning trips. Trips are something the kids might love, but can be a headache for the staff. In school, a teacher can easily look after a class of 30. Some may have the assistance of a classroom helper. Ratios of adults to children will depend on the age of the kids involved. Most schools work on a basic of 1 adult per 6 children in the early years or Primary, rising to 1 per 8 as they get older. Few schools have enough paid staff to cover the numbers needed. So one common tactic is to rope in parents, grandparents or other helpers. But do helpers on school trips need disclosure checks?
Everyone knows that in general terms, people who want to work with children need to have enhanced disclosure checks. There are very good reasons for this policy. As parents, we need to know that the people looking after our kids are trustworthy, honest, and haven’t committed crimes against children in the past. Anyone wanting to work as a teacher or classroom assistant, or even in the school office, needs their certificate before starting work. These rules also apply to people who are volunteering on a regular basis. The DBS defines regular as at least once a week, or 4 times within any 30 day period. Less frequently than that, and you don’t need a DBS check.
As most parents are only asked to help on a school trip once a year, then the school doesn’t have to go through the process of checking on them first. The only exception to this is when the trip is overnight. In those situations, all adults with the party need an enhanced disclosure check.
Disclosure Checks for Ad-Hoc Helpers
Everyone knows that in general terms, people who want to work with children need to have enhanced disclosure checks. There are very good reasons for this policy. As parents, we need to know that the people looking after our kids are trustworthy, honest, and haven’t committed crimes against children in the past. Anyone wanting to work as a teacher or classroom assistant, or even in the school office, needs their certificate before starting work. These rules also apply to people who are volunteering on a regular basis. The DBS defines regular as at least once a week, or 4 times within any 30 day period. Less frequently than that, and you don’t need a DBS check.
As most parents are only asked to help on a school trip once a year, then the school doesn’t have to go through the process of checking on them first. The only exception to this is when the trip is overnight. In those situations, all adults with the party need an enhanced disclosure check.