An internal audit commissioned by Isle of Anglesey County Council has found that two supply teachers were allowed to work in county schools despite their Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks having expired, and concluded that the council’s overall control environment around relief staff is inconsistent.
Audit highlights gaps in safer recruitment
The findings were presented to the council’s Governance and Audit Committee on 17 July as part of a routine review of safeguarding arrangements linked to supply staff. The audit examined whether systems in place ensured that temporary teachers met the necessary checks to work with children and vulnerable adults.
Inspectors identified shortcomings in several areas, while also noting that many core safeguarding practices were being carried out in the schools sampled. The review assigned a rating of Limited Assurance to the current arrangements, indicating that processes are not delivering consistent, robust oversight across the board.
"The main areas requiring improvement relate to inconsistent safer-recruitment renewal checks, limited evidence of supply-teacher induction and safeguarding briefings, and the need for clearer ownership and escalation arrangements, where concerns involve supply staff working across multiple settings."
Actions and timescales agreed
The audit raised a total of six issues/risks, five of them judged to be major and one moderate. Council management has agreed an action plan to address the weaknesses, with most measures scheduled to be completed by September 2026 and the remainder by November 2026.
Among the specific concerns was the lack of reliable central tracking for renewal checks, a gap brought into sharper focus by the impending end of the pilot for the ‘Teacher Booker’ system in July 2026. The report recommended clearer lines of responsibility and better escalation procedures, particularly for supply staff who work across multiple schools.
- Issue found: Two supply teachers with expired DBS documentation.
- Audit rating: Limited Assurance — inconsistent control environment.
- Planned remedies: Action plan with most steps due by September 2026.
Implications for schools and services
The report highlighted cross-service implications affecting the Learning Service, Human Resources and Social Services, reflecting the multi-agency nature of safer recruitment. Councillors were told the review sought to establish whether relief teachers were being recruited safely and in line with safeguarding legislation.
While the audit acknowledged that key safeguarding practices exist in schools, it warned that inconsistent application and record-keeping reduce assurance and impede timely escalation where concerns arise.
| Area reviewed | Finding |
|---|---|
| DBS and professional renewals | Two cases not completed; central tracking needed |
| Induction and briefings | Limited evidence for supply staff |
| Governance and escalation | Unclear ownership where staff work across settings |
Councillors and school leaders will now monitor progress against the agreed action plan. Parents and carers seeking reassurance about safeguarding arrangements should contact their child’s school directly, or the council’s Learning Service, for details of local procedures and how temporary staff are checked and inducted.
Further updates will be expected as the council works through its timetable for remedial action and strengthens central tracking and oversight of supply teachers.
