Private tutors refuse to register with vetting and barring scheme

The poll carried out for www.thetutorpages.com, shows that nearly three-quarters of self-employed tutors, for whom the scheme is voluntary, will refuse to register.

It also shows tutors believe overwhelmingly that the scheme, designed to protect children and vulnerable adults from potential abuse, will fail to prevent paedophiles from gaining access to children.

The findings come as the Conservatives published their election manifesto, which includes a commitment to scale back the scheme to common sense levels.

Tim Loughton, shadow children's minister, told CYP Now his party would hold a review of vetting and barring procedures and the role of the Independent Safeguarding Authority. He said the review would be carried out by Professor Eileen Munro.

Up to nine million adults who work with children or vulnerable adults in schools, colleges, crèches, clubs or community centres will have to register from this summer under the new vetting and barring scheme.

It will allow the authorities to make checks into people's background using information kept on police computers and other databases, in addition to records of criminal convictions kept by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).

Henry Fagg, director of The Tutor Pages, said: "This survey shows just how strongly tutors feel about this issue. Many already have Criminal Record Bureau certificates and see this extra check as unnecessary, bureaucratic and intrusive and regard the cost of registering – £64 – as a tax on teaching.

"Very few parents ask to see CRB checks as they prefer to rely on personal recommendations and their own judgement."