From 1 September 2026, the “supervision exemption” has been removed from the definition of regulated activity with children under the Crime and Policing Act 2026. Roles previously outside regulated activity because the person was supervised may now fall within it, bringing more volunteers and other supervised roles within the regulated activity regime, enhanced DBS checks and barred-list arrangements. Ofsted has separately updated aspects of its early years inspection toolkit and operating guide.
What this means for you: Any organisation working with children, including schools, clubs, care settings, charities and childcare providers, should now revisit which roles fall within regulated activity and whether existing DBS arrangements remain adequate.
Shared for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. Please contact us for specific advice on your circumstances.