10 February 2010
Survey suggests vetting and barring will hurt volunteering
According to a new study published on 8 February by specialist education insurer, Ecclesiastical, a fifth of managers and administrators in educational establishments across the country believe that the Government’s new rules on vetting and barring will deter volunteers from helping children.
The study for Ecclesiastical was conducted during November 2009 and surveyed a representative sample of 140 British nurseries, state and independent schools, further education and higher education establishments. Interviews were conducted by telephone.
Fourteen per cent of those surveyed said that the Government’s new Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act will deter new volunteers, while a further six per cent said it will be a significant deterrent to volunteering.
Also, 25 per cent believe that the introduction of vetting and barring regulations will not improve the protection of vulnerable groups as intended by the Government. In the independent school sector, 57 per cent believe that the new rules will be ineffective.
The Vetting and Barring Scheme was introduced by the Government in October last year. It applies to anyone working with children or vulnerable adults and requires them to have a criminal record check. Current estimates suggest that 11 million people will need to be checked by 2015.
Asked about the degree of regulation now being applied to educational establishments 43 per cent said they felt their nursery, school or college was over-regulated.
Commenting on the study’s results, Steve Wood, Managing Director of Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: ‘We wanted to see how educational establishments were dealing with the new vetting and barring rules because failure to implement them correctly could lead to litigation and significant unexpected costs. While awareness of the requirements is high, particularly in nurseries and schools with younger pupils, there is clearly a significant group of managers, primarily in further education and higher education, who’ve yet to get to grips with the implications of the scheme for their establishment.’
Comments
dianaalice on 11 February 2010
Are they MAD ?
I’m sure, reading between the lines, this is really what you are asking us. Being a registered Childminder, yes of course I need some form of check as do those working in a day nursery but this whole thing has got out of control. In my early days I used to love going into school helping with reading etc (as a mum I must add) and the teachers were very greatful for our help. The biggest shame about it is the teachers or the school has to take on board even more red tape and responsibility of this “not thought out the consequences” scheme. Needless to say of course it will stop volenteers right across the board from wanting to help in lots of situations. Not to mention the personal cost in these tough times.
From what I read in the press this scheme has not made our children any more safe and need I say it seems to be those who are actually vetted that we hear about. Need I say more.
Please lets get back to some sort of nomality and let our teachers teach and if the government want to keep bringing these ridiculous costly, job creating schemes in, let them be responsible for them and take the blame themselves when things go wrong.
I would like to finish by saying, when this data is misplaced or lost, I hope it’s me who finds it.
5 out of 5