Clive Chandler's Tip Top Puppets

CRB

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. According to Ofsted, the Government, and the Criminal Records Bureau, a CRB check is not required for a single visit involving a supervised performance/workshop. A minority of schools have been caught up in mis-understandings of official advice with regard to CRB checks for visiting artists.  This arises from a failure to make the distinction between regular staff and occassional visitors. This page should help clarify the position As a visitor, coming in to perform a show, I should not be required to provide a CRB check. I will not have 'unsupervised access' to children. Contact is not 'frequent or intensive'. The situation is different if I am working for more than four days in one month in the same place with the same children. This may be the case with extended workshops. Then contact is 'frequent or intensive' and a CRB check is required.

Below you will find a copy of a recent enhanced CRB disclosure for Clive Chandler (Nov 2009) I am happy to provide this where appropriate.  I would point out that it is not good practice to ask for such disclosures on a blanket basis regardless of circumstances.  Both the Criminals Records Bureau and Ofsted make it clear in their official advice that CRB checks are not required for one-off visits to schools (details below).  They should only be required when contact is 'frequent' or 'intensive' (as officially defined).

Click on the image to view the CRB check

Ofsted do not require  visitors to provide CRB checks.  Here is a quote from the Ofsted website " Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks are not required for visitors. Visitors do not have unsupervised access to children." "However, schools have been advised by CRB and in Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education that a robust risk assessment should take place first. Schools 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". Here is that definition: "The frequent contact test should be met if the work with children takes place once a week or more. The intensive contact test should be met if the work takes place on 4 days in one month or more or overnight. Individuals who go into different schools or similar settings to work with different groups of children should not be required to register unless their contact with the same children is frequent or intensive". You can read his advice in full as accepted by government on the Department for Schools and Families website (here) Follow this link to visit the Ofsted site (Link)

The Criminal Records Bureau do not require vistors to have a check Here is a quote from their website  "Enhanced CRB Check also referred to as an Enhanced Disclosure.  These are for posts that involve a far greater degree of contact with children or vulnerable adults.  In general the type of work will involve regularly caring for, supervising, training or being in sole charge of such people. Examples include a Teacher, Scout or Guide leader. " Clearly by this definition a feelance performer coming in to deliver performances or workshops does not require such a check. I am a not a post holder.  My work is not 'regular'  I am not 'in sole charge' It is a condition of everything I do that I am never working unsupervised or unsupported by properly qualified teaching staff. I am not staff, but am a freelance worker with the same status as a 'visitor'

I believe passionately in the safety and well-being of children. I am less of a fan of mis-placed local policies, based on  mis-understandings of official advice, that cause a separation between our schools and the wider communtiy, foster a climate of fear and suspicion, and give some of our educational establishments the same feel as gated communities or prisons.  I retain the right to decline to comply with any 'local policy' which is outside of Ofsted and Government advice. I enjoy visiting schools which have a proper understanding of the guidelines and know how to run schools safely and also make visiting artists feel welcome. Happily this is the case with the vast majority.