With Christmas approaching, schools and after-school clubs are preparing for a busy period of plays, concerts, fairs and activities. With additional staff, volunteers and external providers often involved, safeguarding should remain a priority.
Starting preparations early gives schools and organisations time to review their policies and complete any necessary checks. While ensuring everyone understands their safeguarding responsibilities before the festive period begins.
DBS Checks and Regulated Activity
Schools and children’s activity providers should ensure that the appropriate DBS checks are considered for anyone working or volunteering with children.
The level of DBS check required will depend on the role and the individuals frequency of contact with children. As well as whether the role meets the legal definition of regulated activity.
This is particularly important when recruiting additional volunteers or bringing in people to support Christmas activities. From 1st September 2026, the supervision exemption was removed from the legal definition of regulated activity with children (news article). This means that some roles involving regular teaching, training, instruction, care or supervision of children may now meet the definition of regulated activity, even where the individual is supervised and volunteering on an ad-hoc basis.
Organisations using volunteers during the Christmas period should therefore review their roles against the updated guidance and ensure the appropriate checks are requested. If you are having any external visitors during this period providing regulated activity with children, you should be checking their DBS certificate, or Update Service account, if you are not processing a check on their behalf.
Temporary Staff and Seasonal Recruitment
Christmas events and activities can sometimes require additional staff or temporary workers. Whether someone is joining for a few weeks or supporting a specific event, organisations should ensure their usual recruitment and safeguarding processes continue to apply.
Right to Work checks must be completed before an individual begins work. The check should confirm that they have permission to carry out the work being offered, including any relevant restrictions.
Starting these checks early can help avoid delays and ensure temporary or seasonal staff are able to begin their roles compliantly.
If you are not completing the Right to Work check yourself, please ensure and check that the agency or matching service has completed this on your behalf.
External Providers, Performers and Visitors
Christmas productions and activities can involve individuals from outside the usual school or club environment. This could include performers, teachers, contractors or other visitors. Before the event, organisations should consider who will attend and their level of access to children.
Where an external organisation is delivering activities on behalf of a school or club, responsibilities should be clearly understood. Organisations should establish what safeguarding arrangements and checks are in place and whether additional measures, such as supervision or visitor procedures, are required.
Having these arrangements confirmed in advance can help prevent safeguarding responsibilities from becoming an afterthought during a busy event.
Social Media Screening
DBS and Right to Work checks are key parts of safer recruitment, but it is advised that organisations also consider online searches as part of their wider recruitment process.
The Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance recommends that schools consider carrying out an online search as part of their recruitment process. This can help identify publicly available information that may raise safeguarding concerns or indicate behaviour that could make an individual unsuitable to work with children and young people.
For organisations recruiting additional staff or volunteers ahead of Christmas activities, ensuring that appropriate recruitment processes are followed consistently can provide greater assurance when making hiring decisions.
Review Your Safeguarding Policies
Consider reviewing:
- Procedures for visitors, contractors and external providers
- Safeguarding responsibilities for temporary staff and volunteers
- Arrangements for supervising children during events and activities
- Procedures for reporting and escalating safeguarding concerns
It’s important that everyone involved understands what is expected of them before activities begin.
Get Ahead of Christmas
The weeks leading up to Christmas can become busy quickly. Starting preparations in November gives schools and after-school clubs time to review safeguarding policies. While completing any necessary checks and ensure staff, volunteers and external providers are prepared.
For support with DBS checks, Right to Work checks or social media screening, our team are here to help. Get in contact with our team for further information.
For further information and guidance, see:
