Barring system to be strengthened

New regulations to bar sex offenders from working in schools and other education settings in England have been published.

The government regulations will tighten up the current barring system before it is replaced by a new vetting and barring scheme under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill, which is now going through parliament.

They set out three ways in which people’s names can be added to List 99, the record of people barred from working in schools.

The most severe sanction is automatic barring with no right to make representations against the decision for 10 years.

The government is also amending the Day Care and Child Minding Disqualification Regulations so the same regime applies to day care.

● Consultation runs until 2 January 2007