Early Years and Childcare Service

Published 04.12.2025

Disclosure and Barring Service checks for GCC staff visiting early years providers

Dear Childminder, Manager/Owner, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Office Manager,

Ofsted Guidance on DBS checks for visiting staff states:

‘For visiting staff who do have unsupervised regular access to children  – such as educational psychologists, social workers, supply teachers, trainee teachers, nurses, sports coaches, MOD personnel and inspectors – their 'providing' organisation (for example, the supply agency, the university, primary care trust, local authority and so on) should request the check. It is sufficient, for Early Years Providers to seek written confirmation that appropriate checks, including DBS checks have been carried out and by whom – most commonly the relevant human resources department (it is not necessary to specify a named individual) – and to confirm the identity of these visitors.’

To help you comply with this guidance, this letter is confirmation that Gloucestershire County Council Human Resources Department obtains the following checks for all centrally employed staff who may as part of their jobs have unsupervised contact with children & young people on a regular basis:

• The appropriate level of DBS check
• Two references
• Proof of qualifications required for the role
• Medical clearance
• Eligibility to work in the UK

Employees of Gloucestershire County Council are appointed using safe recruitment practices and do not commence employment in posts with regular unsupervised contact with children until all satisfactory clearances have been received.

All Gloucestershire County Council employees are issued with identification badges and will show these upon their visit to your school.

This letter should be retained with your single central record for Ofsted purposes.

This letter replaces the assurance statement issued on 1 December for 2025. This assurance letter is in effect from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027.

Please ensure you ID check all visitors coming into your setting to satisfy yourselves that they are who they say they are. If you are unsure, please contact Gloucestershire County Council via 01452 425000.

Yours sincerely,
Kirsten Harrison
Director of Education

National Year of Reading 2026

We’re so excited to announce the official launch of the Schools and Early Years Settings Offer for the National Year of Reading 2026! 

The National Year of Reading is a bold, year-long Department for Education initiative delivered in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust, and many partners. 

We know that reading for pleasure is in decline across the UK, which means that too many children and young people are missing out on its life-changing benefits. 

So, the role of Schools and Early Years Settings across the UK will be key to contribute to the campaigns collective mission and see more of our younger generation experience the benefits of enjoying reading. But you won’t be doing this alone. 

The National Literacy Trust will be delivering a flexible, year-long programme packed with research-rooted professional learning, as well as unmissable content and events for children and young people. This is to support schools and early years settings to embed reading for pleasure in core language, practice, and leadership priorities. 

Watch the videos below to discover what’s coming and how you can get involved:

• Hear from our Director of Education, Andrew Ettinger, as he introduces the overarching offer.
• Then, dive into your phase-specific video for tailored information.
• All-phase video, Andrew Ettinger: https://youtu.be/VBnLKUGz0a0
• Early Years Settings, Tracy Jackson: https://youtu.be/x8YH4BXvD3Q
• Primary, Martin Galway: https://youtu.be/Kw8XD6wz0co
• Secondary, Nisha Tank: https://youtu.be/VpLQQ00eBYA

If you haven't already, visit https://www.goallin.org.uk/join-us and fill out the short form to be informed of when sign-up for Spring term activity opens.