Teacher Training - Enhanced DBS check

An Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is a compulsory requirement of any offer to study on courses where trainees may be placed in a position of trust working with children and/or vulnerable adults.

Please read the information on this page carefully for instructions on when and how to apply for your Enhanced DBS check. If you have any queries about the Enhanced DBS check, please contact admissionssupport@reading.ac.uk. 

 

When and how should I apply for my Enhanced DBS check? 

If you have received and accepted an offer for a PGCE, Tuition Fee School Direct, PGCert Early Years Practice Graduate Entry, or BA Primary Education course: Please refer to the instructions on this page for further details.
 

If you have received and accepted an offer for a Salaried School Direct or PGCert Early Years Practice Employment-based course: Your Enhanced DBS check will be carried out by your training school or employer. Please refer to our guidance for Salaried School Direct and PGCert Early Years Practice Employment-based offer holders for further details. 

 

If you are a non-UK national and require a visa to enter the UK: Please refer to our guidance for non-UK national offer holders for further details. 

 

I have accepted an offer for a PGCE, Tuition Fee School Direct, PGCert Early Years Practice Graduate Entry, or BA Primary Education course. When should I apply for my Enhanced DBS check? 

The earliest that you should apply for your Enhanced DBS check is six months before the start of the course. Therefore:

• If you receive and accept an offer more than six months before the start of the course in September, further instructions on how to apply for your Enhanced DBS check will be sent to you via email in April. The email will include details of the Organisation PIN and Secret Word required for your DBS application.

• If you receive and accept an offer after 1 April, further instructions on how to apply for your Enhanced DBS check will be sent to you via email shortly after you have accepted your offer. The email will include details of the Organisation PIN and Secret Word required for your DBS application.
  
  

I have received an email from the University containing the Organisation PIN and Secret Word required for my DBS application. What do I need to do next? 

Please use the Organisation PIN and Secret Word to register for the First Advantage Online Disclosures system. Once you have completed the registration process, please complete the online application form. To prevent any delays, please ensure that you complete the application form fully and accurately.

Please note: If you have previously been known by any other name(s), you will need to declare the previous name(s) you have been known by on your DBS application (if you were adopted before the age of 10, you will not need to provide your surname at birth on your DBS application).

Please note: You must declare all addresses you have lived at within the last five years on your DBS application. This includes UK addresses, overseas addresses, permanent addresses, and temporary addresses (including university addresses).

Please visit The Applicant User Guide for further information on how to complete your Enhanced DBS application using the First Advantage Online Disclosures system.

 

At the end of the application form, I am asked to contact a verifier from the list provided for the ID document check. Should I contact a verifier?  

No, please do not contact a verifier from the list provided at the end of the application form. The verifiers listed are based in our central HR department and they are not involved with the DBS checks for teacher training offer holders. Please only contact admissionssupport@reading.ac.uk if you have any queries about your Enhanced DBS application, including the ID verification process.

 

I previously provided my ID documents for the DBS check at my interview with the University. Do I need to provide my ID documents again? 

The Admissions Support team will use the ID documents you have already provided to verify your DBS application. If we require any further documents or information from you, we will contact you to let you know.

I was unable to provide my ID documents for the DBS check at my interview. How do I provide my ID documents? 

Please contact admissionssupport@reading.ac.uk to arrange an appointment to bring your ID documents to the Admissions Office for verification. 

 

Please refer to our advice on providing the correct identity documents for the DBS check for a list of acceptable documents.

 

I have accepted an offer for a Tuition Fee School Direct course. How do I provide my ID documents for the DBS check?  

You will be invited to attend an Initial Needs Assessment session on campus during the spring and summer terms. Please bring your ID documents for the DBS check to your Initial Needs Assessment session.  If you are unable to attend the Initial Needs Assessment, please contact admissionssupport@reading.ac.uk to arrange an appointment to bring your ID documents to the Admissions Office for verification. 

Please refer to our advice on providing the correct identity documents for the DBS check for a list of acceptable documents.

What happens after I have submitted my Enhanced DBS application through the First Advantage Online Disclosures system and provided my ID documents for the Enhanced DBS check? 

The Admissions Support team will verify your DBS application using the ID documents you have provided. Once the Admissions Support team has completed the ID verification process, you will receive an email from First Advantage Online Disclosures with instructions on how to pay for the Enhanced DBS check (currently £45.20). You can make the payment with a PayPal account, or you can select the option to pay with a debit or credit card.

Please be aware that the University receives a high number of DBS applications, and we carry out the ID verification process for each DBS application as quickly as we can. You will receive an email from First Advantage Online Disclosures with instructions on how to pay for the DBS check as soon as we have completed the ID verification process.

 

What happens after I have made the payment for my Enhanced DBS check? 

Once you have made the payment, your DBS application will be processed by the Disclosure and Barring Service. Once the check is complete, the Disclosure and Barring Service will send your Enhanced DBS certificate to you in the post. Please note, your Enhanced DBS certificate will be sent to the address listed as your current address on your DBS application.

Please keep your Enhanced DBS certificate safe as your placement schools may ask you to provide your certificate. It is not possible to obtain a replacement certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service so, if you lose the certificate, you will have to apply and pay for a new Enhanced DBS check.

 

Do I need to send a copy of my Enhanced DBS certificate to the University?  

You do not usually need to send a copy of your certificate to the University as we can obtain confirmation of your Enhanced DBS clearance through the First Advantage Online Disclosures system. 

As previously mentioned, please keep your Enhanced DBS certificate safe as your placement schools may ask you to provide your certificate.

How long does the Enhanced DBS application process take? 

The amount of time that an Enhanced DBS check takes can vary depending on a variety of factors such as the time of year that you apply, where you live or have previously lived, and how many different area police forces are involved in the check. You can monitor the progress of your application through the First Advantage Online Disclosures system. A number of agencies are involved in the checking process and the University cannot influence the amount of time taken to perform the check once it is in progress.

 

My DBS certificate shows details of a previous conviction or caution. What should I do?  

Please contact admissionssupport@reading.ac.ukas soon as possible for advice and we will explain what you need to do next.

 

Does the University accept DBS clearance through the Update Service? 

Please refer to our guidance on acceptance of DBS clearance through the Update Service for further details.

 

What is the DBS Update Service and how do I register for it? 

Please visit the GOV.UK website for further details.

 

Safeguarding Policy 

You may also like to read the Institute of Education Safeguarding Policy. If you have any questions relating to the process please do not hesitate to contact us at admissionssupport@reading.ac.uk.