Surely when we take on staff a police check is part of the recruitment process? It may take time to come through, but I would much prefer to wait for the go-ahead from the Criminal Records Bureau to know for sure that this person is cleared.
An employee from our nursery, who is leaving to go to a nanny agency, asked me for a copy of her police check to enable a speedy start to her new employment. Is this not against the law? Should not ALL childcare providers supply their own police checks, and wouldn't you want to?
When we have students at our nursery they do not change babies' nappies or do toilet duties with other children without a member of staff, and this has become a policy within the nursery. Changing a baby or young child can be quite a personal experience for them, and I'm not sure whether letting strangers carry out this task within a setting is the correct thing for the baby or child. So again this would justifythe wait.
Sue Wiseman. Nursery manager, Pool Farm and Primrose Hill Community Nursery, Kings. Norton, Birmingham
