Teaching union NASUWT has identified six local authorities that itclaims have ordered blanket CRB checks, despite being told by ministersthat such action is unnecessary. The authorities named include Barnsley,Derby and Knowsley.
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, accused their children'sservices directors of over-reacting to the recent controversy about sexoffenders being cleared to work in schools. She added: "It is a completewaste of public money."
Keates also claimed that the Department for Education and Skills hadissued two letters to local authorities making it "explicit that suchchecks are unnecessary". The most recent letter, sent last week by thedepartment's Safeguarding Children Group director Althea Efunshile andseen by Children Now, states: "There will continue to be no requirementto obtain a disclosure on existing staff."
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