Teaching staff suspended after child protection change

[Osem]

Hundreds of teachers and support staff have been suspended amid confusion over child protection rules in England's schools, say unions.

Some 300 school staff who live with someone with a conviction for a violent or sexual crime face disqualification, says public sector union, Unison.

It wants the government to clarify guidance to primary schools introduced late last year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30897127

The government says schools must "use their judgement" in applying the rules.

The regulations were brought in for childminders and day nurseries in 2009 but at the end of last year, the government said they also applied to primary schools.

As a result, staff are being asked to complete disclosure forms and immediately suspended if a member of their household has committed a disqualifiable offence.

It's all very well asking schools to 'use their judgement' but it's a big ask when the repercussions for getting it could be very serious. Surely they're bound to take the safe option, suspend staff and put the ball in Ofsted's court.

It reminds me of all the guff surrounding money laundering which, according to the regulators, shouldn't impinge on our daily banking needs but nevertheless increasingly involves providing a passport to do just about anything more than withdrawing a few quid. If you're going to impose severe penalties on companies/organisations for not complying with the rules, the rules need to be clear and don't be surprised if those companies etc. add on their own additional requirements just to be on the safe side.

Looks like another fine mess to me. Unintended (but predictable) consequences and all that...

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Osem

It's all very well asking schools to 'use their judgement' but it's a big ask when the repercussions for getting it could be very serious. Surely they're bound to take the safe option, suspend staff and put the ball in Ofsted's court.
Looks like another fine mess to me...

As long as the schools can show they showed sound judgement and due diligence.

If you have a blanket ban on people who's partners or spouses may have a conviction you are unfairly punishing that person. Lot's of things come into play. What was the conviction for? when was it? etc etc.

You can't expect the government to wipe everybody's arses all the time.

If the school does take the safe option as you put it, I would argue as to the suitability/capability of the headmaster/mistress to the hold the position and the paypacket they do.

[v0id]

Originally Posted by Osem

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-308971277

Link goes to a 404 page for me :/

[joglynne]

Here's the link. The original link appears to have gained an extra 7 at the end of the address. Maybe a passing mod could correct the first post and then delete this one.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30897127

[Osem]

Link fixed all by meself...

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Osem

It's all very well asking schools to 'use their judgement' but it's a big ask when the repercussions for getting it could be very serious.

Too true.

it will be inevitable that the judgement made will later be seen as the wrong call.

What the hell has the crimes of someone else got to do with anything - this is ridiculous, you really could not make this stupidity up.

Utterly,totally pathetic..

[Osem]

I often, usually after drinking wine I admit, see all the elements of govt. policy and regulation as a great big jigsaw puzzle slowly forming taking shape. Then, sooner of later, when the last seemingly innocuous piece of well intentioned legislation falls into place, the whole country grinds to a halt...

How would they even know about the criminal convictions of the partner? Do they check the backgrounds there? Seems awfully invasive to demand checks of everyone that a prospective staff member lives with.

[techguyone]

Every time I see something like this come up, I get this nagging feeling that about 25 years ago I must have fallen through a wormhole and I'm now in an Alternative Reality Earth, or WTF Earth.

Some of the stuff you couldn't make up as a bad joke - but it's all real!

Scotty Beam me up! I want to go back to MY Earth.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by Paul M

What the hell has the crimes of someone else got to do with anything - this is ridiculous, you really could not make this stupidity up.

Ian Huntley & Maxine Carr(teaching assistant)

[Osem]

I don't think either of them had previous convictions did they?

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by Osem

I don't think either of them had previous convictions did they?

He has many close calls. If he had been convicted earlier and this rule had been in place.....

[Osem]

Yes well if...

As it stands this law would have done nothing to stop Huntley. Surely we have to use some common sense here. In the clamour to protect kids, maybe we're in danger of going too far and throwing the baby out with the bathwater.