A children’s entertainer may arrive with a suitcase of tricks, a Pokémon-themed show and enough silly voices to fill a village hall. But before the first card appears or the birthday child gets their moment in the spotlight, many parents quite rightly ask: do performers need DBS checks?
The honest answer is: not always by law, but safeguarding should always be taken seriously. Whether a performer needs a DBS check depends on the work they are doing, how often they do it and, crucially, whether they are responsible for children without a parent, carer, teacher or event organiser present.
For family parties and community celebrations across Llanelli, Swansea and wider South and West Wales, the best approach is not to treat DBS paperwork as a tick-box exercise. It is to choose entertainment that is child-focused, properly organised and delivered with clear boundaries that help everyone relax and enjoy the magic.
Do performers need DBS checks in the UK?
A DBS check is a criminal-record check issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service in England and Wales. There are different levels of check, and a performer cannot simply choose whichever level sounds most reassuring.
A basic DBS check shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions. It can be requested for most jobs and voluntary roles. A standard or enhanced DBS check contains more information, but is only available where the role is legally eligible. An enhanced check may also include a check of the children’s barred list where the person is doing regulated activity with children.
That means a magician, musician, face painter, clown or other entertainer does not automatically need an enhanced DBS check just because children will be in the audience. A performer at a birthday party is usually there to entertain a group, not to provide childcare or take responsibility for children.
The distinction matters. DBS checks are valuable safeguarding tools, but claiming that every children’s entertainer legally requires an enhanced check can be misleading. Equally, a performer should never use the lack of a legal requirement as an excuse to be casual about children’s safety.
When might a performer need an enhanced DBS check?
The answer changes when entertainment crosses into regular teaching, training, caring for, supervising or being solely in charge of children. A performer running a weekly drama or magic club, for example, may be eligible for an enhanced DBS check if their work meets the legal definitions and frequency rules for regulated activity.
The same may apply where someone is engaged by a school, youth group, after-school provision or holiday club and has frequent, unsupervised responsibility for children. It depends on the exact arrangement, including who is supervising, the ages involved, how often the activity takes place and whether the adult is responsible for the children rather than simply performing to them.
A one-off appearance at a party is different from taking a small group of children into another room for an activity while adults are elsewhere. A performer should not quietly become the babysitter because the party timetable has gone a little sideways.
Schools, councils, charities and community organisations may have their own safeguarding policies too. They can ask for particular evidence before confirming a booking, provided the check requested is appropriate and lawful for the role. If you are arranging an event for an organisation, it is sensible to discuss safeguarding expectations early, rather than on the morning of the show.
A DBS certificate is helpful, not the whole story
It is reassuring when a performer can show suitable DBS certification where their work is eligible for it. Yet a certificate is only one part of a safe booking. It reflects information available at the time the check was issued; it does not assess whether someone communicates well with children, respects boundaries, arrives prepared or knows what to do if a concern is raised.
For a children’s party, good safeguarding often looks wonderfully ordinary. Parents and carers stay present. The performer keeps the show in the main party space. Activities are designed for group participation, not private one-to-one contact. Photographs and videos are handled respectfully, and the entertainer does not collect children’s personal details.
This approach is particularly useful for mixed-age celebrations. A confident six-year-old may race to volunteer, while another child might prefer to watch from beside their grown-up. Inclusive entertainment gives children a choice. Nobody should be pressured to come to the front, touched unexpectedly or made the punchline of a joke.
At Keefo Magic, the aim is always shared wonder rather than putting anyone on the spot. Children can help make the impossible possible, while parents, grandparents and friends enjoy seeing their reactions together. That family-safe atmosphere is created through the way a show is planned and delivered, not through a certificate alone.
What parents should ask before booking a performer
You do not need to interrogate an entertainer as though you are auditioning them for a detective programme. A few clear questions will usually tell you a great deal about how they work.
Ask whether adults are expected to remain present during the performance, especially for younger children. Confirm where the show will take place and whether the entertainer needs a separate room. Find out how participation works, and whether children can opt in or out. If your venue has particular rules around photography, arrival procedures or safeguarding, mention them before the event.
It is also reasonable to ask about public liability insurance, risk awareness and experience of working with children and families. A professional entertainer should welcome these questions. They show that you care about creating a lovely party, not just filling an hour.
If DBS status is relevant to your booking, ask what level of check the performer holds, when it was issued and whether it is appropriate to the work they are doing. Be wary of anyone who promises an “enhanced DBS” but cannot explain why their role was eligible. The most trustworthy answer may sometimes be: “An enhanced check is not legally available for this one-off party role, but here is how I keep the event safe.”
Practical safeguarding at a children’s party
The party host has a role too. A few small decisions make the event more comfortable for children, guests and performers alike.
Keep a parent, carer, teacher or nominated responsible adult in the room throughout the show. Let the entertainer know about any access needs, sensory considerations, allergies relevant to props or prizes, and children who may be anxious about loud noises or being asked to participate. A good performer can adapt the pace, volume and level of audience interaction.
For very young children, a clear seating area and a little space around the performer can prevent excited scrambling when something surprising happens. If there are prizes or giveaways, agree in advance how they will be shared fairly. For larger community events, nominate a member of the organising team as the main contact, so the entertainer knows who to speak to if a practical issue arises.
These arrangements do not take the fun out of magic. They make room for it. When children feel secure, they are far more likely to laugh freely, join in confidently and remember the party for all the right reasons.
Different events, different expectations
A close-up magician at a wedding, restaurant or adult celebration will usually have very different DBS considerations from a children’s party entertainer. The same is true of a family fun day compared with a regular youth workshop. It is the nature of the role, rather than the job title “performer”, that determines what safeguarding arrangements are sensible and what level of DBS check may be available.
For community events, it helps to think through the whole setting. Will children move between activities? Are volunteers helping? Is there a registration point or designated safeguarding lead? An entertainer should fit into that plan, understand the boundaries of their role and communicate clearly with the organisers.
The reassurance families actually need
When you book someone to bring magic to your child’s celebration, you should be able to focus on cake, balloons and the delighted shout of “How did you do that?” DBS checks may form part of the picture, particularly for eligible roles involving regular or unsupervised work with children. They are not, however, a universal legal requirement for every performer at every event.
Look for a warm, professional entertainer who is open about safeguarding, welcomes parent presence, carries appropriate insurance and knows that the best children’s entertainment keeps everyone included. That is where real reassurance begins: with clear planning, kind boundaries and a room full of people sharing a little wonder together.
