Helpful parents may face checks (From Western Telegraph)

Helpful parents may face checks

Parents who ferry other people's children to and from school events in Pembrokeshire may have to undergo criminal checks at a cost of up to £34 a go.

Although Pembrokeshire County Council says it is not currently aware of a need for Criminal Records Bureau clearance at this level, schools in England are already implementing new Government guidelines on this issue.

It means that parents won't be allowed to transport children to school events such as sports matches and music competitions unless they agree to a police check, which costs between £29 and £34.

Pembrokeshire County Council already has guidelines in place to cover organised educational visits.

Parents transporting pupils in their own cars must have the appropriate Class B insurance and the agreement of other parents.

"We also advise that parents are not left alone with pupils other than their own children and suggest a central dropping off point for all pupils rather than individual drops," said a council spokeswoman.

However, these guidelines cover organised educational outings and don't extend to parents simply helping each other out, she added.

Many schools rely on the goodwill of parents to help out with transport and any further tightening of the rules could affect already tight budgets.

Small schools say they don't have the resources to provide transport but Pembroke Dock Community School says it never asks parents to help out with lifts.

Headteacher David Thorley said the school always used independent transport.

"It is a preference of mine, we have approved Local Education Authority drivers for our buses," he said.

The school runs its own minibus and pays for its support staff to undertake the necessary driving test.

The cost of screening staff who have contact with children has added considerably to the costs of schools and organisations such as the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust.

Last year the Trust paid nearly £16,000 to the Criminal Records Bureau.

And these costs are not a one-off because, not only do staff have to be screened when they are first recruited, but there is a recommendation that the process is repeated every three years.