This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Human Resources Policy Manager, Michelle Higgs, for the attention of all schools in Slough.
From 31 August 2018, schools will no longer be required to check whether an individual lives with someone who is disqualified from working with children under 8.
In response to widespread concerns about the disqualification by association provision, the Department for Education undertook a public consultation on options for its reform. We were most grateful for the near 450 responses received. The responses to the consultation largely reiterated the earlier concerns. The consultation strongly favoured reform, and the majority of respondents advocated the removal of disqualification by association in non-domestic settings.
Making new regulations enables us to address these concerns, by removing the disqualification by association where childcare is provided in non-domestic settings, where other safeguarding measures are well observed and followed. The disqualification by association provision will however continue to apply where childcare is provided in domestic settings, where it provides an important safeguard.
- Extract from ministerial statement
Relevant School Policies and Procedures (Safer Recruitment) will need to be updated to reflect this.