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This guide is intended to help those who have received a conditional offer for the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies with the additional checks that are required. Please read through the information carefully and contact us as soon as possible if you have any questions or need further advice at any stage of the application process.
If you choose to accept your offer of a place, in addition to Level 3 qualifications, there are further checks you will need to complete before you can enrol on the course. Information on these additional checks can be found below. Please ensure you read this information fully.
Please keep us informed (via [email protected]) of any potential delays in meeting conditions, so that we can advise and help you with alternative arrangements as soon as possible.
Delays in completing your conditions will impact on your eligibility to enrol, to access student finance and to access university/course resources. If you do not keep us informed of potential delays, you additionally risk losing your place on the course.
Work within Early Years settings such as nurseries and children’s centres is a regulated activity with children and, therefore, an enhanced DBS including children’s barred list information is required for entry to the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies programme. In order to comply with statutory guidance, we need an enhanced DBS check to be completed in the three months before the course starts or for a previous enhanced check to already be registered with the Update Service.
There are three possible methods for this, however, obtaining a DBS can take considerable time. Some applicants in the past who have waited until the summer have not received their completed DBS check in time for the start of their programme and were unable to proceed. Therefore, we highly recommend using method one below to limit the potential risk.
Following receipt of your conditional offer, apply for a new DBS check through the University, following the guidance below, and register it with the Update Service. The benefit of this method is that DBS checks can take considerable time and therefore this method will ensure you get your DBS back in plenty of time before the start of the course. This condition will not be passed on your record until a satisfactory Update Service check has been conducted. Update checks will be run from 1 June 2027.
Please note if you apply for and receive a DBS check before 1 June that you do not register with the Update Service, you will need to obtain a new one. Registration with the Update Service must be done within a certain timeframe, so please see Update Service guidance below for more information.
Apply for a new DBS check through the university, following the guidance below, from 1 June 2027. Should you choose this method it is advised that you apply as soon as possible after 1st June 2027 to ensure there is sufficient time for all the checks to complete.
Please note that DBS checks do not begin until you have paid the fee and had your documents verified successfully at the post office.
Send us a copy of an enhanced DBS including children’s barred list information certificate that is already subscribed to the Update Service that you have received for another job or course. If you send us a certificate that we cannot use, you will need to complete a new check through the university, following the guidance below, so if you choose this method please provide the certificate by 30 June 2026 to allow time for a new check if necessary.
To apply for a DBS through the university you will need to make an application via https://app.knowyourpeople.co.uk/register using the details below:
Organisation ID: ORG-W44QS5KQ
Access Code: SportEdu
You will then need to complete the DBS application. Please select position ‘Education & Early Years’ in the relevant section of the application process.
Once you have completed the DBS online application form, you will need to make the required payment and visit a designated Post Office in order to have your documents verified. The cost of the DBS check is approximately £60 including VAT (subject to change) which is paid upfront before you verify your documentation at the post office. Please note that this cost is payable by you. University of Gloucestershire regrets that it cannot accept liability for the costs of student DBS clearance checks.
Having a criminal record will not always prevent you from studying at the university, this will depend on the nature of the position, and the circumstances and background of the offence. Should your DBS check return a conviction, you will be contacted for a copy of the certificate and further information in line with School of Education, Health and Science Safeguarding and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Procedures.
More information about the Disclosure and Barring Service may be found on the Government website.
How to register with the Update Service:
If you wish to register your DBS with the Update Service, you must register within 30 days of your DBS certificate being issued. You will need your certificate number. However, you can also register for the Update Service while your DBS check is still in progress using your application reference number (called ‘form ref’ on your application form). For this method the DBS must receive your application form within 28 days. Further information on how to register with the Update Service is available on the Government website.
The safeguarding of children and young people is a core principle of University of Gloucestershire which runs throughout all our programmes, therefore, in order to best ensure that only those who are suitable to work with children and young people are admitted onto our programmes we require all applicants to undergo a variety of safeguarding checks.
Once you have accepted your offer, copies of the following forms will be sent to you for completion with details on how to return them to us:
(Please note we need a written signature for both forms, not an electronic signature.)
University of Gloucestershire is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all our students to share this commitment.
The university will conduct additional safeguarding checks to ensure you have not been prohibited from the profession, do not have any sanctions imposed against you or have not been prohibited or restricted from taking part in the management of any independent school (including academies and free schools) or from holding or continuing to hold office as a governor in a maintained school.
While these checks do not require you to do anything, please note they are a condition of your entry and until they have been completed satisfactorily, we will not be able to confirm your place. Checks are conducted from 1 June.