Nursery World - Sector to lose subsidy on criminal records checks

Providers and individuals will be liable for the full cost of a criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) from the beginning of July, when the Government removes the subsidy that has been in place since 2002.

Currently the checks are obtained free through organisations such as Capita, which then claim the money back from the DfE. Some umbrella organisations handle the checks for larger providers for a fee.

Under the new arrangement employers and employees will have to pay £26 for a standard check, and £44 for an enhanced check, in order to be registered with Ofsted, and to be employed in a registered childcare setting.

The Government says this brings the early years sector into line with the school and social care sectors which do not benefit from a subsidy.

However, it emphasises that there will be a long-term cost saving with the introduction of transferable checks. By subscribing to a new Update system, employees will only have to apply once to the DBS for a certificate which can then be updated and viewed online as they move jobs.

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