Authors Visiting Schools / The Vetting and Barring Scheme
The Society made a submission to Sir Roger Singleton in early November recommending a number of specific changes to the controversial Vetting and Barring Scheme, taking account of the concerns raised both privately and in the press by authors. His report on the Scheme was published on 14th December.
One of his recommendations was that individuals who go into different schools or similar settings to work with different groups of children should not be required to register unless they have contact with the same children which is ‘frequent’ or ‘intensive’. He also proposed that the ‘frequent or intensive’ contact test should be relaxed, with registration only being required if the work with children takes place once a week or more, on 4 or more days in one month or overnight.
The Scheme does not come into effect until late 2010. The Secretary of State, Ed Balls, has accepted all of Sir Roger’s recommendations. The Department for Children Schools and Families plans to publish full guidance on the Vetting and Barring Scheme in the New Year.
The report along with the Government’s response is available at http://publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk/default.aspx?DCSF-01122-2009
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