Do you need a CRB check to do some pre-qualification visits in school?

[Moomin]

My new job at school is looking after the trainee teachers and mentoring them. I also get lots of requests from people considering teaching and wanting to shadow staff and visit schools prior to further training. A bloke has emailed me with such a request and I'd like to be able to give him an answer tonight. He'd be in school for 2 weeks and it's to help him make up his mind about doing a GTP.

I'm assuming he can't do it without a CRB check, so he'd need to get this before I accommodate his request?

[misi]

I had to renew my CRB check when I became a governor at a different school and my contact with the kids is absolutley minimal. AS as I am aware, it is the school that would have to request the CRB. as far as I am aware, everyone who has access to kids needs a CRB check

just found this though, not read it fully but worth a look
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/080604_crb.aspx

[SqueakyPop]

He can visit without a CRB but needs to be in the company of a member of staff at all times.

There isn't really an easy way to get a CRB check before you are part of an organisation - so he wouldn't get the ball rolling until he is actually enrolled on his course, which can't happen until he has had a school taster.

[misi]

I don't know for sure, just that the govt has made it easier and cheaper for this sort of thing. CRB checks are designed for pre employment use, so if say you offered someone a job, you get a CRB done before they start and arte officially working there. I expect he could visit for the day if someone was with him the whole time and not left alone with the kids as if he is, the schools insurance would probably be invalidated too anyway, but if he is there for just the day I expect that to be ok but if there for longer I think it would be best to phone the LEA and ask them as they are the ''experts''. they will also have a legal dept and may have policy on this already as I know from experience that many people come in to have a ''taster''

[islandofsodor]

As long as he is accompanied at all times by a member of staff there is no requirement for a CRB check to be done.

Governors have to have checks because they could have access to children's information eg. an appeals hearing or similar.

[Reallytired]

No, he does not need to have a CRB check, although he should never be left on his own with the children. If there is a teacher in the room then the children are safe.