Playworkers may like to contribute to a consultation paper on a scheme to regulate care for children aged eight and over. The paper is available on www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/eyacr/ and the deadline is 24 May 2002. At present, care for children over seven is not regulated under the national care standards and the Government is concerned that unscrupulous providers might choose to work only with older children in order to avoid checks. It is proposing a 'light-touch' certification scheme, administered by Ofsted, with the main emphasis on ensuring the suitability of those working with children.
Playworkers may like to contribute to a consultation paper on a scheme to regulate care for children aged eight and over. The paper is available on www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/eyacr/ and the deadline is 24 May 2002.
At present, care for children over seven is not regulated under the national care standards and the Government is concerned that unscrupulous providers might choose to work only with older children in order to avoid checks. It is proposing a 'light-touch' certification scheme, administered by Ofsted, with the main emphasis on ensuring the suitability of those working with children.
Providers who are already registered to work with younger children would not need to undergo any separate checks and the scheme would only apply where the children are cared for more than five hours a week.
