Keeping children safe from paedophiles - NUT view

Tuesday 20 June, 2006

Commenting on the report published today, 20 June, by OFSTED on vetting those employed in schools, Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of Europe’s biggest teachers’ organisation, the NUT, said:

“This report is very welcome. It will contribute to making schools safer for children and ensuring parents can have confidence in their children’s safety.

“Advice must not be ignored and information must be sought and acted on for every employee in contact with children.

“But I would urge Alan Johnson, Education Secretary, to think again about placing responsibility for such checks and record keeping on schools. Greater consistency and reliability can best be ensured by the local authority having responsibility for all staff employed in schools.

“Everyone in education, including the Education Secretary, local authorities, school governors, teachers and support staff has to give the highest priority to protecting children from paedophiles.”