Site Directory
Education and Learning
Parents and Carers
Parental Involvement
Volunteers fulfil a vital role in the school’s programme and will be welcomed and appreciated in any establishment where they choose to volunteer.
This unique and valuable contribution within the school environment may be utilised in many areas e.g.
- Paired Reading
- Classroom Activities
- Craftwork
- Sports Activities
- Library
- Computing
- Cataloguing Resources
- Tuck Shop
- Nursery
- School Outings
In order to comply with legislation, Aberdeenshire Council must check the ‘Disqualified from Working with Children’ List before allowing a parent to volunteer in school. The only method of checking the list is to carry out a Disclosure Check.
If you wish to become a parent volunteer in one of our schools please contact the school directly. The school will be able to give you more information about their particular requirements.
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about Disclosure Checking:
- Why do I need to undergo a Disclosure check?
- Why is this important for the check to be carried out?
- Am I notified once the check has been completed?
- What happens if I have a conviction?
- Is there a cost to myself?
- What level of check is carried out?
- What if I refuse to be checked?
- Can a check be carried out without my consent?
- Can I initiate my own check?
- I have been checked recently do I need to be checked again?
- Will the information be kept confidential?
1. Why do I need to undergo a Disclosure check?
The Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003, states that it is an offence to employ anyone in a childcare position (paid or unpaid) who is on the list of those ‘disqualified from working with children’. The only way to access this information, is to carry out a Disclosure Scotland Check.
If we allowed volunteers to commence in a school without carrying out a Disclosure Scotland check, we would be committing an offence if they were subsequently found to be on the ‘list’.
In addition it is also an offence for anyone who is on the ‘list’ to apply for a childcare post. 
2. Why is it important for the check to be carried out?
Anyone who works in a school (paid or unpaid) is considered to work in a childcare position, this check allows some reassurance that steps are being taken to ensure the safety and security of our pupils.
3. Am I notified once the check has been completed
Once the check has been carried out, two certificates are issued. One certificate will be sent directly to yourself at your home address and the other is sent to the Education Representative who counter signed your form. This information will not be sent to the school. In most cases, the certificate will show no convictions and the Education Representative will contact the school to indicate that you can take up the role of Parent Volunteer.
4. What happens if I have a conviction?
If the certificate shows details of convictions, the counter signatory will follow the appropriate procedure. If the conviction is minor and irrelevant it is likely to be ignored. If the conviction is more serious it is likely you will be contacted with a view to a further discussion. Each circumstance will be reviewed individually and factors such as severity, relevance and timescale will be taken in to consideration. Please be assured that no information will be disclosed to the school without your prior consent.
5. Is there a cost to myself?
No, as a parent volunteer you will not be expected to pay for the check?
6. What level of check is carried out?
All checks are carried out at Enhanced level. This is the highest level check and ensures that all relevant information is passed to the potential employer.
7. What if I refuse to be checked?
If you refuse to undergo a Disclosure Scotland check, it will not be possible for you to be accepted in any childcare capacity within an education and recreation establishment.
8. Can a check be carried out without my consent?
The applicant must sign the application for a Disclosure check. It is therefore not possible for a check to be carried out without your consent.
9. Can I initiate my own check?
An individual can initiate a Basic level check. This will simply provide details of any unspent convictions or state that there are no such convictions. This level of check does not give details of whether the individual is included on the ‘Disqualified from Working with Children’ list. In order to volunteer in an Aberdeenshire school an enhanced level check is required. This check is only available if countersigned by a registered body eg. Aberdeenshire Council.
10. I have been checked recently do I need to be checked again?
If Aberdeenshire Council carried out the check, it will not normally be necessary to carry out a further check. If the check was carried out by a registered body other than Aberdeenshire Council a new check must be carried out.
11. Will the information be kept confidential?
All information is held in adherence to Aberdeenshire’s ‘Policy on The Secure Handling, Use, Storage And Retention of Disclosure Information’. A copy of this policy is available on request.
All certificates are kept in a secure location, outside the school, and are destroyed after 6 months, unless under exceptional circumstances.
