DBS Checks & Safe Access to Our Setting

At Happy Bears Early Years Ltd, children’s safety is at the heart of everything we do. To meet the latest EYFS 2026 and Safeguarding & Child Protection requirements, we have strict procedures in place to make sure only suitable adults have access to our setting.

Enhanced DBS Checks for Staff

All members of our staff team must have a current Enhanced DBS check before they start working with us. This includes:

Permanent staff
Part‑time staff
Bank/relief staff
Apprentices
Students on placement
Regular volunteers

No one is permitted to work with children until their DBS has been fully cleared and verified by management.

We also carry out:

Identity checks
Reference checks
Right‑to‑work checks
Ongoing suitability checks throughout employment

This ensures every adult working with your child is safe, suitable and fully vetted.

Regular Visitors & Professionals

Any regular visitor who may have contact with children — such as therapists, SEND professionals, or external educators — must also have a current Enhanced DBS check that has been seen and recorded by our management team.

We keep a secure record of all DBS numbers, dates and verification checks.

Visitors Without a DBS

Some visitors do not require a DBS check, such as:

Contractors
Delivery drivers
Maintenance workers
One‑off visitors
Parents attending events
Students visiting for observation only

These visitors will never be left unsupervised with children.

They are:

Supervised at all times by a member of staff
Restricted to appropriate areas
Clearly identified as visitors
Not permitted to take children to the toilet, comfort children alone, or enter children’s areas without supervision

This ensures children remain safe at all times.

Unannounced Professionals

Certain professionals may arrive without prior notice, such as:

Ofsted inspectors
Social workers
Police
Emergency services

These individuals do not require a DBS check to enter, but their identity will always be checked and they will be supervised appropriately according to safeguarding guidance.

Our Commitment to Safe Practice

We follow all requirements set out in:

EYFS 2026 Safeguarding & Welfare Requirements
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026
West Sussex County Council safeguarding procedures

This means:

Only vetted adults work with children
Visitors without DBS checks are never left alone with children
Staff remain vigilant and challenge any unauthorised person on site
All adults understand their safeguarding responsibilities