The Live Wire



Press Release

PAT WELCOMES NEW VETTING PROCEDURES

19 January 2006

The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) has welcomed the announcement today (Thursday 19 January 2006) by the Education Secretary on new vetting procedures for teachers and other professionals working with children and the removal from ministers of the power to make barring decisions.

PAT General Secretary Philip Parkin said: “We welcome this announcement. We hope that it will put an end to the confusion and media scare stories, prevent future anomalies and reassure parents and school staff.

"We must also remember to keep these current concerns in context. Schools are much safer than they were in the 1980s, for example.

"We look forward to reading the details of the new legislation.. We are concerned, however, by the length of time it may take to introduce the revised system, and by whether the new system will actually go far enough in protecting both children and those who work with them.

"We welcome the fact 'domestic employers such as parents' will be allowed to check the status of employees such as tutors. We hope that nannies will also be covered by this new legislation."*

"PAT has been calling for a single register covering all parts of the UK and all teachers, support staff, tutors and childcarers working with children, young people or vulnerable adults in any setting, including nurseries and children being looked after in their own home."

The Association would also like to see the General Teaching Councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland given the same powers as the GTC for Scotland to check the suitability of teachers. PAT looks forward to details of the permanent system that will replace Ministerial decisions on barring.



Press releases, papers and documents published on this page are the intellectual property of an organisation unrelated to Central Lobby. We promote their parliamentary and political campaigning activities as they are subscribers to the Central Lobby service.

As such, Central Lobby does not edit, endorse, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases and other such types of content are the responsibility of the originating organisation.

Voice: the union for education professionals

More from Dods

© Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd