Supply teachers hit by vetting delays

Thousands of supply teachers are unable to work because of delays in processing criminal record checks.

One of the biggest commercial teaching agencies in the country, Select Education, said yesterday it had submitted applications for checks on 1,800 supply staff since March – but received only 100 replies.

Other teaching agencies have also reported delays, prompting warnings that schools might have to send children home because they cannot find supply staff.

Estelle Morris, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, is so concerned at the delays that she has raised the issue privately with David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, whose department is responsible for the checks. The problem has been caused by a new computerised checking system introduced in March. Checks were previously made with the local police, but are now made by the Criminal Records Bureau.

David Rose, of Select Education, said: "It is an issue which is hitting schools. There are cases where we just can't fill their vacancies as a result of it. The CRB just didn't expect the volume of referrals for supply teachers."

John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said: "It used to be a very straightforward system – the local education authority would carry out the check with the local police force and you would get the reply within a matter of days."

A Home Office spokeswoman admitted there had been teething problems, but said that guidelines – which state that checks should be completed within three weeks – would be met within six to eight weeks.