Submitted by Chris Onslow on Wednesday 29th October 2025
Published on Monday 8th December 2025
Current status: Open
Open until: Monday 8th June 2026
Current Signatures: 1,060
(count is updated approximately hourly)
Relevant Departments
Tagged with
2025 ~ abuse ~ checks ~ Child ~ child protection ~ childcare ~ Children ~ CLOSED ~ Gap ~ Institution ~ Law ~ Legally ~ Protecting ~ Reported ~ Safeguarding ~ Schools ~ Settings ~ Soft ~ Spaces ~ Staff ~ Standards ~ Tackling ~ vulnerability
Require DBS checks for all staff in Soft Play centres.
We want the Government to amend safeguarding legislation so that all staff working in Soft Play environments are required to undergo DBS checks, ensuring consistent child protection standards across all childcare and play settings, and closing what we see as a clear safeguarding gap in current law.
Soft Play staff are not legally required to hold DBS checks, leaving a clear gap in child protection. Children often interact with staff beyond parents’ sight.
An NSPCC report found that 1 in 20 children experience sexual abuse. The Government’s 2025 update on tackling child sexual abuse stated that every institution must help close spaces where children are vulnerable. DBS checks would align Soft Play with schools and close this safeguarding loophole.
If you want to sign this petition (as opposed to merely discuss it), you need to do that on the government's e-Petitions website.
216.73.217.179 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:59:35 +0100
