Guidance for Schools on ITT DBS Checks
This paper sets out guidance for schools about DBS checks of trainee teachers and
tutors visiting trainee teachers in schools.
The content is consistent with
safeguarding advice from OFSTED (which is detailed in the Appendix) and has the
approval of all Local Authorities and HEI Providers of Initial Teacher Training in the
East Midlands region.
Guidance
Trainee Teachers
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The training provider is responsible for obtaining DBS clearances for trainee
teachers.
The training provider will pass on to schools the DBS disclosure number of
trainee teachers placed in schools.
Schools can ask for ID of trainee teachers placed in their schools.
The training provider will inform schools in writing of any trainee teachers
placed in their schools who have not received a completed enhanced DBS
disclosure, but have been cleared through list 99.
The training provider will inform schools immediately when the enhanced DBS
disclosures of such trainee teachers has been received and will provide them
with the DBS disclosure numbers.
Visiting Tutors
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Schools can ask for ID of tutors visiting trainee teachers in schools.
Tutors visiting trainee teachers in schools are not required to have DBS
clearance.
Schools are not required to ask for DBS clearance for visiting tutors.
Signed:
Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln
Derbyshire County Council
University of Derby
Derby City Council (UA)
University of Leicester
Leicestershire County Council Peat
Loughborough University
Leicester City Council (UA)
Northampton University
Lincolnshire County Council
University of Nottingham
Northamptonshire County Council
Nottingham Trent University
Nottinghamshire County Council
Nottingham City Council (UA)
Rutland County Council
Appendix A
Abstracts from up to date OFSTED information April 2010:
OFSTED briefing paper for section 5 inspectors on safeguarding children (April 2010) states
the following:
“Visiting staff
Staff such as educational psychologists, supply teachers, trainee teachers, nurses, sport
coaches and inspectors should be CRB checked by their ‘providing’ organisation – for
example the supply agency, the university, primary care trust, local authority, and so on.
It is sufficient, for schools and colleges to seek written confirmation that appropriate checks,
including CRB checks, have been carried out (most commonly on appointment) and by
whom – most commonly the relevant human resources department – and to confirm the
identity of these visitors.”
Page 21 Annexe 2
Inspectors should not ask for the CRB forms of trainees on initial teacher training education
courses. It is the initial teacher training provider’s responsibility, not the school’s to ensure
that these checks are made. In the event of a delay in receiving disclosures from CRB, the
DCSF guidance gives head teachers discretion to allow trainees to start working in a school
subject to a satisfactory check of Independent Safeguarding Authority Children’s list (or list
99) check and completion of other normal recruitment procedures. Training providers should
keep head teachers fully informed of the progress of applications for disclosure, since
schools will want to maintain closer supervision of trainees who have not yet received
enhanced clearance. Schools must be satisfied that checks have indeed been done.
P 23 Annexe 2
Also see FAQ from OFSTED website:
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/About-us/FAQs/Safeguarding/All-schools-andcolleges
Which states:
Q. Are DBS checks required for all visitors or volunteers to schools and colleges?
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Visitors DBS checks are not required for visitors. Visitors do not have unsupervised
access to children.
Volunteers Checks are required for those who have regular and unsupervised
access to children and young people.
However, schools and colleges have been advised by DBS and in Safeguarding children
and safer recruitment in education that a robust risk assessment should take place first.
Schools and colleges should be able to provide such risk assessments and be able to
explain the rationale for those who have been checked and those who have not. The key
test is ‘frequent’ or ‘intensive’ contact with learners. The definition of ‘frequent’ and ‘intensive’
was clarified in December 2009 by Sir Roger Singleton and the Secretary of State for
Children, Schools and Families – see the Department for Children, Schools and Families
news story.
Checking visiting staff
Q. Is written confirmation required that all recruitment and vetting checks have been
carried out on individuals who come in to a college or school from an outside
agency?
A. Yes, but the requirement depends on the type of staff involved.Visiting staff
Visiting staff who do not have unsupervised access to children and young people – such as
initial teacher education mentors and tutors – do not require a DBS check. The normal risk
assessment that applies to all visitors should be quite sufficient.
Visiting staff who do have unsupervised access to children and young people – such as
educational psychologists, social workers, supply teachers, trainee teachers, nurses, sports
coaches, MOD personnel and inspectors – should be DBS checked by their 'providing'
organisation: the supply agency, the university, primary care trust, local authority and so on.
It is sufficient, for schools and colleges to seek written confirmation that appropriate checks,
including DBS checks have been carried out and by whom – most commonly the relevant
human resources department (it is not necessary to specify a named individual) – and to
confirm the identity of these visitors. It is not necessary (or practicable) to require a date
for such checks unless the providing organisation supplies a list of named individual
supply staff.
Advice on DBS checks for students on courses which run for more than three years
A few schools have raised a concern regarding the issue date of the DBS for our final year
students and it was felt some clarification for all would be appropriate. This advice has been
confirmed by the TDA.
Initial Teacher Training (ITT) providers are responsible for checking that they do not admit
candidates on to their courses who are unsuited to work with children. The University of
Derby ITT courses ensure that we follow the required procedures for the GTC(E) provisional
registration, enhanced DBSs and where required, if DBSs are held up during he checking
process, List 99 checks. We also undertake further safeguarding procedures during the
interview procedure including using references from school colleagues and checking identity
against photographic identification.
It states in the Teacher Development Agency (TDA) requirements that it is not usually
necessary for a trainee teacher to be subject to more than one DBS check during the course
of the programme, ‘even when these extend beyond three years’. ITT providers are also ‘not
expected to make additional checks in respect of separate school placements.’