Vetting and Barring scheme update

Source: NCMA Press Office (02/11/2009)

 

Update June 2010

The Vetting and Barring scheme is under review. Please see this story for more details.

 

How will the new vetting and barring scheme impact upon registered childminders?

 

NCMA has received a number of queries from members concerned about how the new Vetting and Barring Scheme will impact on them, in particular whether childminders will have to pay the cost of registering themselves and their family members.

 

NCMA raised these concerns with Ofsted and as a result, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has confirmed that they will be covering the cost of registration for existing and new childminders as well as family members, subject to future reviews of fees policies. The following information has been given to NCMA from the DCSF:
 
Registration on the new Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS), with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) will be phased in over a 5 year period. Part of the process for ISA registration includes an application for an enhanced CRB disclosure.

 

From July 2010 to March 2011 ISA registrations will only be for new Ofsted registered childcare providers, new childcare employees and new childminders and other household members, aged 16 and over, in childminding premises. From April 2011 registrations will additionally begin for the existing workforce and existing childminder household members, but given the volume of ISA registrations needed these will be phased in gradually.

 

Once registrations for the scheme starts in July next year, DCSF intend, subject to any future review of fees policy, to subsidise the total cost of ISA registration (£64 per person) for new Ofsted registered childcare provision, new childcare employees, new childminders and other household members, aged 16 and over, in childminding premises.

 

DCSF will also be subsidising the total cost of ISA registration from April 2011 for existing provision. ISA costs will be subsidised by DCSF, but this policy will continue to be kept under review.