What is a DBS check and why does it matter for tutors?

A DBS check is an official criminal record check carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service. For tutors and others working with children, the level of check matters greatly. An Enhanced DBS check with a Children's Barred List search is the only level that confirms someone has no relevant criminal history and has not been barred from working with children.

What is the difference between a Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS check?

A Basic check shows unspent convictions only. A Standard check adds spent convictions, cautions and warnings. An Enhanced check with a Children's Barred List search goes further still, including local police intelligence and a check against the official register of individuals barred from working with children. Only the Enhanced level is appropriate for tutors and childcare roles.

Can a tutor have a clear criminal record but still be on the Children's Barred List?

Yes. Someone can have no criminal record at all and still appear on the Children's Barred List if a safeguarding concern or pattern of behaviour was serious enough to warrant their inclusion. This is why an Enhanced check is so important.

How do I know what level of DBS check a tutor holds?

Ask to see their certificate directly. The level of check and whether a barred list search was included are both clearly stated on the document. You can also check current status through the DBS Update Service at gov.uk/dbs-update-service with the tutor's consent.

Does Elite Tutors carry out Enhanced DBS checks?

Yes. Every tutor we recommend holds an Enhanced DBS check with a Children's Barred List search. We also carry out teacher prohibition checks, reference verification, qualification checks and safeguarding training as standard.

Is tutoring regulated in the UK?

No. Private tutoring in the UK is entirely unregulated. There is no legal requirement for tutors to hold any DBS check. This makes it especially important for parents to ask the right questions and to work with an agency that carries out thorough, verified vetting as standard.

What is a DBS check and why does it matter for tutors?

A DBS check is an official criminal record check carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service. For tutors and others working with children, the level of check matters greatly. An Enhanced DBS check with a Children's Barred List search is the only level that confirms someone has no relevant criminal history and has not been barred from working with children.

What is the difference between a Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS check?

A Basic check shows unspent convictions only. A Standard check adds spent convictions, cautions and warnings. An Enhanced check with a Children's Barred List search goes further still, including local police intelligence and a check against the official register of individuals barred from working with children. Only the Enhanced level is appropriate for tutors and childcare roles.

Can a tutor have a clear criminal record but still be on the Children's Barred List?

Yes. Someone can have no criminal record at all and still appear on the Children's Barred List if a safeguarding concern or pattern of behaviour was serious enough to warrant their inclusion. This is why an Enhanced check is so important.

How do I know what level of DBS check a tutor holds?

Ask to see their certificate directly. The level of check and whether a barred list search was included are both clearly stated on the document. You can also check current status through the DBS Update Service at gov.uk/dbs-update-service with the tutor's consent.

Does Elite Tutors carry out Enhanced DBS checks?

Yes. Every tutor we recommend holds an Enhanced DBS check with a Children's Barred List search. We also carry out teacher prohibition checks, reference verification, qualification checks and safeguarding training as standard.

Is tutoring regulated in the UK?

No. Private tutoring in the UK is entirely unregulated. There is no legal requirement for tutors to hold any DBS check. This makes it especially important for parents to ask the right questions and to work with an agency that carries out thorough, verified vetting as standard.

Is a DBS Check Enough to Keep My Child Safe?

What parents don’t realise about DBS checks, and why the level of check matters far more than most families know

If you have hired a tutor, a sports coach or any professional to work with your child, there is a reasonable chance you were told they had a DBS check. You probably felt reassured by that. Most parents do.

But here is what is rarely explained: not all DBS checks are the same. There are three levels, and the difference between them is not a minor technical detail. It is the difference between a surface level check and a genuinely thorough one. For children, that distinction matters enormously.

This article walks you through what the three levels actually mean, what the Children’s Barred List is and why so many parents have never heard of it, and what you should always ask before anyone works with your child.

Did You Know the Tutoring Industry Is Completely Unregulated?

This surprises many families. Private tutoring in the UK has no regulatory body, no mandatory safeguarding requirements and no legal obligation for anyone to hold any level of DBS check at all. Anyone can offer tutoring services regardless of background, qualifications or history.

That does not mean every independent tutor is a risk. Many are excellent and entirely trustworthy. But it does mean that without proper checks, there is no way for a parent to know. Reassurance offered verbally, or through a personal recommendation, is not the same as verified, documented safeguarding.

Are All DBS Checks the Same?

Most people assume a DBS check is a DBS check. It is not. The three levels reveal very different amounts of information, and only one of them is appropriate for anyone working with children.

BASIC DBS CHECK

The lowest level available
Shows unspent convictions only
Does not reveal older, spent convictions
Does not include police intelligence or local force information
Does not check the Children’s Barred List
Can be applied for by the individual themselves
Not considered sufficient for roles working with children

STANDARD DBS CHECK

More thorough, but still limited
Shows both spent and unspent convictions
Includes cautions, reprimands and final warnings
Does not include local police intelligence
Does not check the Children’s Barred List
Must be requested by an employer, not the individual
Still not the recommended level for those working with children

ENHANCED DBS CHECK WITH CHILDREN’S BARRED LIST SEARCH

The most thorough check available, and the one that matters most for your child
Shows both spent and unspent convictions
Includes cautions, reprimands and final warnings
Includes relevant information held by local police forces, even without a formal conviction
Includes a search of the Children’s Barred List and Adults’ Barred List
Reveals if a person is legally prohibited from working with children
Can only be requested by a registered organisation or employer
This is the level Elite Tutors carries out on every tutor we recommend

What Is the Children’s Barred List and Why Have Most Parents Never Heard of It?

This is one of the most important safeguarding tools in the UK, and one that most parents have never heard of.

The Children’s Barred List is an official register maintained by the Disclosure and Barring Service. It contains the names of individuals who have been formally prohibited from working or volunteering with children. A person can be placed on this list following a criminal conviction, but also as a result of a referral from a school, an employer, a local authority or another organisation, even where no criminal prosecution has ever taken place.

That last point is significant. Someone could have a completely clear criminal record and still appear on the Children’s Barred List, because a pattern of behaviour or a safeguarding concern was serious enough to warrant their inclusion.

Once a person is on the list, it is a criminal offence for them to seek work with children. It is equally a criminal offence for any organisation to knowingly engage a barred individual in such a role.

The Children’s Barred List is only visible through an Enhanced DBS check. It does not appear on a Basic or Standard check. This is one of the clearest reasons why the level of check is so important.

What Should You Always Ask Before Anyone Works With Your Child?

When you are speaking with a tutor, an agency or any childcare provider, one question cuts through the noise:

“Do your tutors hold an Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List search?”

If the answer is vague, or simply confirms they have “a DBS check” without specifying the level, that is worth exploring further. A reputable organisation will answer this question clearly and without hesitation, because they carry out the right checks as a matter of course.

How Do You Actually Verify What Level of Check Someone Holds?

There are three straightforward ways to confirm what you are actually dealing with.

Can you ask to see the certificate?
A DBS certificate states clearly which level of check was carried out and whether a barred list search was included. If someone shows you a certificate, look at the top of the document where the check type is printed.
Can you ask the organisation directly?
Any reputable tutoring agency or childcare provider should be able to tell you immediately what level of check their staff hold. If they cannot answer with confidence, that in itself tells you something.
What is the DBS Update Service?
If a tutor is registered with the DBS Update Service, you can check online whether their certificate remains current. You will need their certificate number and their consent. This service is available at gov.uk/dbs-update-service.

Do DBS Checks Expire?

A DBS certificate does not carry an official expiry date, but it only reflects information available at the time it was issued. For this reason, many organisations repeat checks every three years. The DBS Update Service allows employers to check whether a certificate remains current without the individual needing to apply for a new one.

At Elite Tutors, we carry out Enhanced DBS checks with a Children’s Barred List search on every tutor we recommend, and we take responsibility for keeping that information current.

Why Does the Level of Check Matter So Much More Than Most People Realise?

There is a meaningful difference between knowing someone has no recent unspent convictions and knowing there is nothing of concern in their full history. A Basic check would not reveal a spent conviction, a pattern of police intelligence or whether someone appears on the Children’s Barred List.

For a tutor working alone with your child, often in your home, that gap in information is not a small one.

At Elite Tutors, the Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List search is not an optional extra. It is simply what we consider to be the minimum standard for anyone working with children. We go further still, with teacher prohibition checks, professional reference verification, qualification checks and safeguarding training, because the families we work with deserve to know that every tutor we recommend has been properly and thoroughly vetted.

Knowing your child is safe is not a bonus. It is the starting point.

If you would like to find out more about how we vet our tutors, or to discuss finding the right support for your child, we are always here. Get in touch any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a DBS check and why does it matter for tutors?
A DBS check is an official criminal record check carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service. For tutors and others working with children, the level of check matters greatly. An Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List search is the only level that confirms someone has no relevant criminal history and has not been barred from working with children.
What is the difference between a Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS check?
A Basic check shows unspent convictions only. A Standard check adds spent convictions, cautions and warnings. An Enhanced check with a Children’s Barred List search goes further still, including local police intelligence and a check against the official register of individuals barred from working with children. Only the Enhanced level is appropriate for tutors and childcare roles.
What is the Children’s Barred List?
The Children’s Barred List is an official register of individuals formally prohibited from working with children. A person can be placed on the list following a criminal conviction or following a safeguarding referral, even without a criminal prosecution. It is only revealed through an Enhanced DBS check.
Can a tutor have a clear criminal record but still be on the Children’s Barred List?
Yes. Someone can have no criminal record at all and still appear on the Children’s Barred List if a safeguarding concern or pattern of behaviour was serious enough to warrant their inclusion. This is why an Enhanced check is so important.
How do I know what level of DBS check a tutor holds?
Ask to see their certificate directly. The level of check and whether a barred list search was included are both clearly stated on the document. You can also check current status through the DBS Update Service at gov.uk/dbs-update-service with the tutor’s consent.
Do DBS checks expire?
There is no official expiry date, but a certificate only reflects information available at the time it was issued. Many organisations repeat checks every three years. The DBS Update Service allows employers to verify whether a certificate remains current.
Does Elite Tutors carry out Enhanced DBS checks?
Yes. Every tutor we recommend holds an Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List search. We also carry out teacher prohibition checks, reference verification, qualification checks and safeguarding training as standard.
Is tutoring regulated in the UK?
No. Private tutoring in the UK is entirely unregulated. There is no legal requirement for tutors to hold any DBS check. This makes it especially important for parents to ask the right questions and to work with an agency that carries out thorough, verified vetting as standard.