JNC - PVG Guidance for HTs 03 02 26
Renfrewshire Council · 3 February 2026
Back to Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff — 3 February 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
PUBLIC Agenda Item .......... Renfrewshire Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers To: Renfrewshire Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers On: 3rd February 2026 Report by Joint Secretary (Management Side) Update to PVG Guidance for Schools 1. Background 1.1. As you will be aware Disclosure Scotland made changed to its PVG Scheme that came into effect from 1 April 2025. Below is some key information for establishments as reference / guidance. Please consult your SSDO / ESM should have you have queries about the process. 1.2. Mandatory PVG Scheme Membership • From 1 April 2025, joining the PVG scheme is a legal requirement for anyone in a regulated role involving children/ young people or protected adults • Existing PVG members must update their disclosure if they change roles or employers • Disclosure Scotland have a toolkit that allows establishments to check run the role of an individual through a “role checker tool” to help assess PVG requirements. The links below should be used: https://www.mygov.scot/check-role-needs-pvg https://www.mygov.scot/activities-for-regulated-roles/list-of-activities-with-children New Disclosure Levels and Application Types 1.3. Disclosure products have been simplified into: • Level 1 (formerly Basic) • Level 2 (formerly Standard/Enhanced) • Level 2 with PVG (Join or Existing) • Fees remain unchanged, except for a reduced fee of £18 for PVG Existing applications
Page 2
PUBLIC Some specific questions to consider when completing the toolkit in relation to schools: Parent Helpers 1.4. It is not always clear from the list of regulated roles whether or not parent helpers are required to be PVG checked. The three main aspects of the role to consider are: responsibility, location, and supervision. Where you are in doubt, run through the following three questions, in order: 1. Will the individual actually be in charge of or caring for children? Will they merely be acting as ‘eyes and ears’ for a teacher or other employee who is taking that responsibility? If it is the former, a PVG check will be required: ignore the next two questions. If the latter, continue to the next question. 2. Will the individual be carrying out their role (at least in part) on school/ nursery premises? If the answer is no, a PVG check will not be required: ignore the final question. If yes, continue to the final question. 3. Will the individual be fulfilling their role with children and young people unsupervised? If the answer is yes, a PVG check will be required. If it is no, a PVG check will not be required. 1.5. Example 1: A parent helper is being asked to come on as school trip, where they will be taking a group of children separately to one of the activities. They will be in charge of and responsible for caring for the children during that period and will require a PVG check (point 1 above). 1.6. Example 2: A parent helper is being asked to help escort the children to an activity (e.g. sports day, mass, church service), but has been asked only to keep an eye open and alert the teacher to any issues with the children on the way and once at the location. They are meeting the group outside the school and will not be coming onto school premises. A PVG check is not required (point 2 above). 1.7. Example 3: A parent helper is being asked to come on a school trip, but has been asked only to keep an eye open and alert the teacher to any issues with the children, as well as helping distribute lunches, activity materials etc. They will be meeting up with the class in the school and will return there after the trip, so will be on school premises for part of the role. A teacher or classroom assistant will be present with them any time they are with the children. No PVG check is required (point 3 above). 1.8. You will see from the above that, often, parent helpers will require a PVG check, but not always. Where possible, you may consider shaping these roles to avoid a check being required, for example, by being clear with parents that they are not in charge of the children and should raise any issues they notice with the teacher, or classroom assistant.
Page 3
PUBLIC Senior Pupils Carrying Out Activities as Work Experience or Similar 1.9. Pupils undertaking work experience working with younger children will not usually be considered to be undertaking a ‘role’ either caring for or being in charge of those children. Rather, they will be learning from and acting under instruction from a teacher or other employee. They are unlikely therefore to require a PVG check. 1.10. If it is proposed that a work experience pupil be given a greater level of responsibility for younger children, and/ or be left with children unsupervised, you should first consider whether this is really suitable. If it is, it is likely that a PVG will be required for that pupil before they may carry out the role. Parent Council Volunteers 1.11. Volunteers who are helping to facilitate Parent Council activities may require PVG checks, depending on the nature of their role and responsibilities. The checks will be similar to those set out above; but the school and education authority cannot provide legal advice to the Parent Council on this issue. The Parent Council may be directed to Disclosure Scotland’s guidance document and be advised to seek independent legal advice, if they remain in doubt 2. Recommendation 2.1 JNC are asked to note the contents of this report.