The law regarding regulated activity with children is set to change from 1 September 2026. The current rule that allows paid staff and volunteers carrying out specific activities with children to be exempt from regulated activity if sufficiently supervised will be removed.
This alteration means that some individuals will fall under the definition of regulated activity with children from 1 September 2026, even if they were not previously, due to being supervised. This applies if their work is done often enough or overnight.
The change affects organisations with paid staff or volunteers who teach, train, instruct, care for, or supervise children. This includes, but is not limited to, school reading helpers, assistant coaches at children's sports clubs, and those working or volunteering with children in outdoor activity centres, youth groups, charities, or community groups who are currently supervised.
Organisations are advised to prepare for the change by identifying relevant roles, checking if activities are done often enough or overnight, and reviewing current DBS certificates to determine if new Enhanced DBS checks with Children's Barred List information are needed.