Guidance

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks: childcare providers

Ofsted’s position on Disclosure and Barring (DBS) checks for childcare providers who register with Ofsted.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

This guidance sets out Ofsted’s position on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for childcare providers who register with Ofsted and others who need them (eg people who live in a house where childcare takes place).

Updates to this page

Published 22 September 2014
Last updated 1 November 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated to include reference to the new childcare provider type, 'childminders without domestic premises', following changes introduced by the Department of Education’s EYFS framework, published on 1 November 2024. We have also clarified that we do not require DBS checks for staff working in the same premises as a childminder without domestic premises, but who are not looking after children.

  2. Changes to the guidance about signing up to the DBS update service: this is strongly recommended but no longer mandatory.

  3. First published.

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