CRB checks for parents of kids taking part in foreign exchange programs

[bunn]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article6879295.ece

I did two exchange trips when I was of that age, one to France and one to Germany.   The German one was pretty grim, but that was because my father was dying of cancer at the time so I was probably not feeling particularly open to new cultures, and even that one, I have some brilliant memories of.  I am pretty sure that both did more for my language skills and general independence and confidence than any amount of classroom teaching.

Why would anyone want to formalise something so effective and undangerous, particularly when that is likely to crush the whole idea except for the most well-prepared and determined of families?   And surely, the criminal records check people are already overloaded and checks are taking ages...?

I expect the next move will be CRB checks for pregnant women and their partners.  

Comments

[kargicq.livejournal.com]

God, that is bloody depressing. Also, forget foreign exchanges, if I understood the Times article correctly and assuming "stranger" = "non-relative", then you will need an enhanced CRB check in order to have your kid's friend over for a sleepover.

I have a guilty feeling we may already have been indulging in a spot of illegal child-minding by having reciprocal playdates between K and her best friend, although the law is so complicated here (depending exactly how many hours how often at what times) that I can't tell for sure. That will have to be my defence when we get the knock at the door..

Maybe if we all vote Tory they will get in and dismantle this absurd neo-Stalinist apparatus that NuLab has erected? (hopeful)

Neuromancer

[bunn.livejournal.com]

My mother has never had a CRB check, having retired as a teacher many years ago. She is currently trying, informally, to teach some children in her village to read properly (the school and parents having apparently not tried very hard, and been unsuccessful). She met them through church, and has written a little fiction book just for them, which they got rather excited about.

I suspect she is breaking the law. :-(

[kargicq.livejournal.com]

Is she (gasp!) alone with the kids at any point? If so, I believe she is indeed breaking the law. Retired teacher helping the kids at church with their reading, this isn't the sort of thing the government can allow you know! Burn the witch!!

[clarienne.livejournal.com]

"Maybe if we all vote Tory they will get in and dismantle this absurd neo-Stalinist apparatus that NuLab has erected?"

Would be nice, but I'm not hopeful. :/

[purplecat]

I think when the whole "can't ferry kids to sports' club" thing came up it was explained why CRB was required for them but not playing at other children's houses - something to do with them occurring on a regular schedule and complex definitions of the word "stranger" IIRC.

Heaven help you, I guess, if little-friend-Susan comes round for tea every Friday after school and you don't invite her parents around for dinner on a regular basis.

It amazes me that the obvious absurdity of it all hasn't made someone stop. Even Labour must realise that the moment someone is arrested for having their child's best friend round for tea even the most tub-thumping of tabloids is going to abandon their "who will protect the kids?" line and turn on the policy