§ EYFS
The single central record: a complete guide for nurseries
Last updated
The single central record (SCR) is a register of the recruitment and vetting checks carried out on everyone who works with children in your setting. Schools and colleges must keep one under Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). Standalone nurseries are not bound by KCSIE, but the EYFS statutory framework requires you to record the checks that make each person suitable, and an SCR is the format Ofsted inspectors know and expect. This guide covers what goes in it, who it covers and the errors that cost settings at inspection. A free template is included.
Updated July 2026.
Who actually has to keep an SCR?
- School-based nurseries and maintained settings: the SCR is statutory under KCSIE. No ambiguity.
- Standalone day nurseries and pre-schools: KCSIE does not formally apply, but the EYFS safeguarding and welfare requirements oblige you to obtain DBS checks and evidence the suitability of staff, and to be able to demonstrate this to Ofsted. A single, well-kept record is the cleanest way to do that, and inspectors will ask to see how you track suitability, usually in the first hour of an inspection.
- Childminders: you must evidence suitability for yourself and everyone connected to your childminding, but a full school-style SCR is not expected.
The honest summary: whatever the letter of the law says about your setting type, the safeguarding conversation at inspection goes better when you can put one accurate document on the table.
What the SCR must contain
One row per person, covering every member of staff, and columns evidencing each check. The core set for a nursery:
| Check | What you record | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Confirmed, date, by whom | Passport or driving licence seen in person |
| Enhanced DBS with barred list check | Certificate number, date obtained | Required for regulated activity with children |
| DBS update service (if used) | Date of status check | Re-check on each renewal cycle you set |
| References | Received, date, verified | Two, at least one from most recent employer |
| Right to work in the UK | Confirmed, date | Keep evidence separately, record the check here |
| Qualifications | Level, awarding body, verified | Especially those counted in ratios |
| Paediatric first aid | Certificate date, expiry | Track expiry, not just completion |
| Overseas checks | Country, certificate of good conduct | For anyone who has lived or worked abroad |
| Disqualification declaration | Date signed | Under the Childcare Act 2006 |
| Prohibition and management checks | Date checked, outcome | Where applicable, e.g. school-based settings |
Volunteers, students on placement, and regular contractors need entries appropriate to their role and supervision level. Record the decision you made about supervision, not just the checks.
The five SCR errors inspectors find most often
- Expiry blindness. Paediatric first aid and DBS re-check dates pass unnoticed because the record is static. The SCR that was compliant in March fails you in July.
- The new starter gap. Someone starts work before their row is complete, and nothing documents the risk assessment or supervision you put in place while checks were pending.
- Vague references. "References received" with no date, no verifier and no note of whether they were checked for authenticity.
- Overseas history ignored. Staff who lived abroad after 18 with no overseas check recorded and no explanation of why.
- One person owns it, nobody else can explain it. If the manager is on leave on inspection day, the deputy must be able to open, explain and defend the record. If they cannot, that is a leadership finding, not an admin one.
Free template: SCR for nurseries
Our template includes every column above, plus conditional formatting that flags approaching expiry dates, a new starter checklist tab, and a supervision decision log.
Download the free SCR template.
For settings that would rather never think about expiry dates again, DullDocs staff compliance tracks every check and renewal automatically and produces the inspection-day view in one click.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single central record?
A single register listing everyone who works in your setting and evidencing the recruitment and vetting checks carried out on each of them: identity, enhanced DBS, references, right to work, qualifications and, where relevant, overseas and prohibition checks.
Is a single central record a legal requirement for nurseries?
For schools and colleges, yes, under KCSIE. For standalone nurseries, the EYFS statutory framework requires you to evidence the same underlying checks, and an SCR is the standard way to demonstrate this to Ofsted.
Who should be on the SCR?
All staff, including apprentices and bank staff, plus volunteers, regular students on placement and, in school settings, governors and relevant contractors. When in doubt, include the person and record your supervision decision.
Can the SCR be kept electronically?
Yes. There is no requirement for paper. An electronic record is easier to keep current and to back up; just make sure it is accessible on inspection day and access-controlled the rest of the time.
How often should the SCR be checked?
Little and often beats an annual panic. A monthly review for expiry dates and completeness, plus a full audit each term, is a rhythm inspectors recognise as robust. See our Ofsted readiness checklist for the wider inspection-prep cycle.
Keep your SCR inspection-ready
DullDocs keeps your SCR, policies and training records inspection-ready automatically, from £19 a month.