Plot to control Scouts, sports... and nativities
Department for Education (DfE) consultation on the safeguarding code of practice, which was released earlier this month while political attention was focused on the Brexit crisis.
The department denies the claims and says the consultation is about helping clubs and groups implement a voluntary code.
The document says the code of practice “is intended to be a supportive resource for out-of-schools settings providers” of activities for young people”.
It adds: “It sets out best safeguarding practice on how providers can ensure children can make the most of the valuable learning opportunities, while being kept safe from all forms of harm.”
But questions on the consultations have raised alarm that the Government is trying to bring in Ofsted regulation for the clubs.
One question asks: “What would be the most effective way of helping to ensure that the code is taken up proud of me.” Last night, on the incredibly tense semi-final, he performed a samba and a tango with dance partner Paralympian Lauren Steadman, 25.
Before AJ joined Strictly in 2016 he was a world champion in Latin and ballroom. The star was able to make it to the top because Theresa helped fund his lessons.
Pritchard said: “She was always there for me. I could always ask her for advice and she’d have the answer. She felt like part of my family.
“When she died, it happened very suddenly. Losing her really affected my life. It changed my outlook. It taught me not to waste a second. It made me think ‘Don’t sit around doing nothing… get up and go for a run or work your socks off to get a better job’.”
AJ has long devoted himself to raising money for charity, including one event where he and Theresa were joined by former show winner Darren Gough and ex-Strictly dancer Chloe Hewitt. by providers and that out-of-school settings meet the standards?”
Sir John said: “Many groups and volunteers will perceive these proposals as a trap – hyper-regulation designed to prevent them from breaching politically correct orthodoxies, identifying and reprimanding those who do.”
He suggested that despite denials, the consultation was resurrecting 2015 Ofsted regulation plans. The original proposal by then prime minister David Cameron was targeting a small number of madrassas – religious schools – allegedly teaching an extreme form of Islam.
But in an apparent bid to avoid accusations of discrimination, the proposals were widened to include all clubs and groups offering four hours or more of out-of-school time.
Sir John said: “The idea that Scouts, Guides, Cubs, Brownies, Sunday schools, sports teams and cadet forces should be assessed and graded by the Government and its agencies is as unwholesome and unwelcome now as it was then.”
He said last year, it was reported 46,000 youngsters were waiting to join the Scouts and added: “Since 2000 there has been a dramatic fall in the time people spend volunteering – a worrying trend that will only be exacerbated by these proposals.
“Instead of unpopular government dictates and the burdensome regulation on institutions that provide enormously positive outcomes for young people and communities, surely Ofsted should concentrate on supporting teachers, parents and, most of all, children.”
Tory MP David Davies said: “Madrasas radicalising young people is something people would expect the Government to try to control.
“However, setting up a burdensome bureaucracy for all clubs is absolutely crazy. It will affect all sorts of worthy groups who don’t pose any sort of problem and will lead to many of them closing down.
“I hope this is not an attempt to sneak in state control of voluntary organisations providing excellent activities for young people.”
Christian groups fear regulation could be used to enforce a DfE view
‘Unwholesome and unwelcome’
of British values, including LGBT equality issues. Colin Hart of the Christian Institute said: “It is an oldfashioned power grab by the DfE.
“The idea of an army of Ofsted inspectors monitoring nativity plays, bell-ringers and church groups for extremism is deeply offensive and an attack on freedom of religion.”
A DfE spokesman said: “It would be completely wrong to have this interpretation of the consultation.
‘An old-fashioned power grab’
This is about helping organisations with a voluntary code of practice.”
Launching the consultation, school systems minister Lord Agnew said the “overwhelming majority” of out-of-school groups offered a safe environment.
But he added: “I remain concerned, however, about the small minority of settings that may be putting children at risk of harm, or encouraging views that are extremist or dangerous.”