THE backlog of criminal record checks on people working with children isn't going to stop Dorset schools from opening their doors for the start of a new academic year even though the county council is advising head teachers not to take any risks.

The council is still waiting for the results on nearly 500 paid school staff, including more than 100 teachers. There are also cases involving volunteers, such as school governors and parent helpers.

County council spokesman Daragh Croxson said: "There is no indication at this stage that we will have to close any schools, despite the firm line we have taken of advising head teachers not to take any risks.

"The delays are going to cause extra problems for head teachers who are already working hard to manage their staff but we are hoping all schools will be able to provide full classes."

Beaminster School is taking on eight new members of staff this term to cope with more pupils and a five-form entry but five of the new teachers have come from other Dorset schools and the other newly qualified teachers will have already undergone checks at their colleges.

The advice from the Department of Education is that where there is such a seamless transfer to a new job, schools can use their discretion and not turn children away. Head of Burton Bradstock Primary David Powell said it was business as usual for his school.

"The DfE guidelines allow some degree of discretion," he said. "The advice is that if there is a seamless transfer from one job to another don't send children back home because you haven't received the paperwork.

"We have all been aware of the mess for years. This new system of vetting has just added to the confusion. It really is one of those panic reactions."

Dorset County Council raised the alarm several months ago when it wrote to the Home Secretary about the worrying level of delays completing the new Criminal Records Bureau checks.

Coun Angus Campbell, the council's member for education said: "Dorset's schools have been presented with this problem through no fault of their own. We have been placed in this position despite the fact that the county council warned that this would happen several months ago.

"I appreciate that our insistence on ensuring that no one is allowed to work with children until they have been properly vetted may cause some problems for head teachers trying to cope with staff shortages. But safeguarding Dorset's children is our highest priority and we are not prepared to compromise that in any way.

"I want to reassure parents that we will not take any risks - however remote - when it comes to the safety of their children at school."