The Regulation and Improvement Authority (Inspection of Children, Records and Schools) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Inspection of children

3.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, an authorised person may carry out an inspection of the children who are accommodated in a relevant school either individually or together with other such children in such a school.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), an inspection may include a physical examination of a child, if the authorised person considers it necessary.

(3) An authorised person may only conduct a physical examination under paragraph (2) if—

(a)he is a medical practitioner or a nurse;

(b)he has reasonable cause to believe that the welfare of the child in question is not being adequately safeguarded or promoted by the managers of any relevant school; and

(c)the child and his parent consents to the examination, or where the child is incapable of giving his consent, the parent consents.

(4) An examination under paragraph (2) shall take place in private.

(5) Subject to paragraph (6), an authorised person may interview in private, or solicit written or verbal expressions of opinion from any child or group of children who consent to be interviewed or to express their views, as the case may be.

(6) An authorised person may not interview any individual child in private unless—

(a)the child concerned has expressly asked to be interviewed alone and in private; or

(b)the authorised person considers on reasonable grounds that such an interview is necessary to enable the Regulation and Improvement Authority to discharge its duty under Article 176(2) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.

(7) An inspection may not be carried out under this regulation in respect of—

(a)any child of a member of staff at a relevant school; or

(b)any other child living with such a member of staff as a member of his household,

unless the child is also a pupil at the relevant school.