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Schools: Overseas Visits

Answer

In general, we expect host families who volunteer to provide accommodation for pupils involved in visits organised by schools to undergo enhanced CRB checks. This is in line with guidance to schools in respect of volunteers involved in activities requiring an overnight stay, as set out in paragraph 4.56 of Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education. However, if an adult who is travelling with the pupil, and who is responsible for providing care for the pupil during the school trip, stays with the pupil in the host family home overnight, in such circumstances we do not consider it necessary for the host family to undergo enhanced CRB checks. In addition, we recommend that host families are given basic awareness of child protection issues and the contact details of the designated senior person within the school with responsibility for safeguarding issues. The new vetting and barring scheme will mean that from October 2009 those who provide care and accommodation for children under 18 for reward or in pursuance of an arrangement made by someone other than a member of the child's family will be engaged in regulated activity. This includes host family arrangements for fewer than 28 days made by schools or other organisations, including those who are providing tuition in languages or other subjects. It will be a criminal offence for a barred individual to engage in this activity and the person organising the host family placement will be required to check that the person providing the care and accommodation is registered with the new Independent Safeguarding Authority.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

6371; 705 c341WA

Session

2007-08

Related items

Criminal Records Bureau
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Written questions
House of Lords

Subjects

Children Families Protection Vetting Educational exchanges

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk