Children’s Activity Business Update: The Latest Costs, Compliance and Safeguarding
Rising childcare costs putting pressure on families
A recent analysis of Coram’s childcare data reports that the average annual cost of after-school childcare in England has risen to £2,636, up around 5% year-on-year and 42% over the past decade. Holiday childcare is an additional significant cost, while extracurricular activities such as sport and music add roughly £700 a year for families.
Why it matters to ICAP members:
This reinforces the affordability pressure facing families as children return to school. For activity providers, it could affect parents’ willingness to pay for additional activities, but it also highlights the importance of communicating value, flexible booking options and available childcare funding/payment mechanisms. It may be particularly relevant for providers offering wraparound or Ofsted-registered activity provision.
DBS clarifies the new regulated-activity rules
The Disclosure and Barring Service has published a myth-busting update following the removal of the supervision exemption on 1 September. Importantly, DBS confirms that the change applies not only to education and volunteers but also to sports clubs, youth organisations, outdoor activity providers and cultural organisations, and can affect both paid staff and volunteers.
DBS also clarifies that the legislation does not automatically require every organisation to obtain a new DBS check, nor does it require organisations to suspend staff while checks are being processed. Organisations should assess whether individual roles meet the regulated-activity criteria and review their existing checks.
Why it matters to ICAP members: This is particularly important for members using assistant coaches, instructors, volunteers or other supervised staff. The clarification should help avoid both under-checking and unnecessarily over-checking staff.
Read the DBS myth-busting guidance
DBS Check Prices Reduced from 5 October
The Disclosure and Barring Service has announced that the admin fee for DBS checks will be reduced from 5 October 2026.
As a result, ICAP members will benefit from reduced pricing on checks issued on or after 5 October.
New DBS check prices:
- Basic DBS Check: £33.20
The DBS admin fee is reduced by £1.50, while the uCheck price remains unchanged. - Standard DBS Check: £33.20
The DBS admin fee is reduced by £1.50, while the uCheck price remains unchanged. - Enhanced DBS Check: £54.20
The DBS admin fee is reduced by £8.50, while the uCheck price remains unchanged.
The DBS Update Service subscription will also be reduced from £16 to £15 per year.
There is no change to volunteer pricing.
Why it matters to ICAP members:
The reduced fees provide a saving for members who need DBS checks for staff and volunteers, making this a useful time to review any upcoming checks.
👉 Discover your ICAP member pricing in your Member Dashboard.
Ofsted launches new inspections focusing on younger children and neglect
Ofsted, alongside the CQC, HMICFRS and HMIP, has announced a new round of Joint Targeted Area Inspections (JTAIs) examining how local areas respond to neglect involving unborn children and children aged 0–11. Inspectors will specifically look at how local agencies work with education, early years providers and the voluntary/community sector to identify and respond to neglect.
Why it matters to ICAP members: Providers working closely with schools, early years settings, councils or community organisations should be aware of the increasing emphasis on early identification, information sharing and safeguarding partnerships. It reinforces the importance of staff understanding safeguarding escalation and referral procedures.
Government publishes latest National Minimum Wage enforcement action
The government has named almost 660 employers found to have underpaid workers, with around £4 million being returned directly to employees. The announcement also highlights the government’s move towards stronger enforcement through a new dedicated body.
Why it matters to ICAP members: Children’s activity businesses often employ large numbers of part-time, casual, seasonal and young workers, so accurate minimum-wage calculations and record keeping are particularly important. This is a useful reminder to check payroll practices, especially where staff have changing hours, training time, travel arrangements or deductions.
Read the government announcement
New statutory information-sharing duty comes into force this month
The Department for Education has published the final statutory guidance for the new Information Sharing Duty, following its consultation. The duty, introduced through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, will come into force on 30 September 2026 and creates a clearer legal requirement to share relevant information where doing so may help safeguard or promote a child’s welfare.
Importantly, the guidance specifically recognises organisations that work with children and families, and the consultation feedback included a request for greater clarity around non-statutory organisations. The duty itself applies to specified relevant organisations, while information can also be shared with non-statutory organisations where appropriate.
Why it matters to ICAP members: Members working with schools, local authorities, safeguarding teams or other children’s services should be aware of the new framework. It is also a useful prompt to make sure staff understand when safeguarding information should be shared, who it should be shared with, and how information-sharing decisions are recorded.
Read the new Information Sharing Duty guidance
Government moves ahead with stronger online child-safety laws
The government has announced plans for new legislation requiring technology companies to introduce stronger protections to prevent under-18s from taking, viewing or sharing nude images. The proposed measures would require protections to be built into devices and switched on by default, with the government also considering requirements for apps used by children.
This is still proposed legislation rather than an immediate requirement for activity providers, but it forms part of a wider government push towards stronger protection of children from online exploitation and abuse.
Why it matters to ICAP members: For providers communicating with children and families through apps, social media or digital platforms, this is another indication of the increasingly high expectations around online safeguarding. It is worth ensuring that organisations’ safeguarding policies cover digital communication with children, including appropriate boundaries for staff using social media or messaging platforms.
Read the government’s announcement on online child safety
A useful funding development: Better Futures Fund
Updated government guidance
The government’s £500 million Better Futures Fund guidance was updated this week. The fund is intended to support up to 200,000 children, young people and families over the next 10 years, primarily through Social Outcomes Partnerships designed around measurable improvements such as school attainment, youth employment and reduced youth reoffending.
Why it matters to ICAP members: This isn’t a conventional grant fund for children’s activity providers, but it could create opportunities for organisations able to demonstrate measurable outcomes around children’s wellbeing, engagement, education, youth employment or prevention. It is particularly worth watching for local commissioning opportunities and partnership models.