I WOULD like to respond to Barbara Langham's letter of July 30, 2002, regarding Council Records Bureau checks on governors and school staff.

The council like all other councils has experienced significant delays in obtaining clearance from the recently launched Criminal Records Bureau.

We understand this is due to teething problems at the CRB as they adjust to the volume of checks expected of them.

Our advice to governors is always that clearances are obtained before anyone starts work in a school.

We also advise that, if there is a delay in obtaining such clearance, that colleagues are not permitted to work with children in an unsupervised way.

The Department for Education and Skills has advised all councils that school governors should be subject to similar checks.

We have therefore informed school governors of this.

I can assure your readers that the welfare of children is an absolute priority for the Council and that in no sense are the requirements on school staff any less stringent than the law requires.

JOHN SIMPSON

Interim Director of Education

Swindon Borough Council

Sanford Street

Swindon