Database of all children launched: Via BBC NEWS | UK | Education.
A controversial database which holds the details of every child in England has become available to childcare professionals for the first time.
ContactPoint, a response to Lord Laming’s report following the death of Victoria Climbie, is beginning its national roll-out in the north west.
But the system, costing ?224m, has been delayed twice amid data security fears.
The government says it will enable more co-ordinated services for children and ensure none slips through the net.
It will hold the details of 11 million children and young people aged up to 18 years.
The delays were prompted by concerns over access to the database. In 2007, a report into the project by auditors Deloitte and Touche said it could never be totally secure.
Last summer ministers delayed the database, admitting there were some “issues” identified in testing.
It says 390,000 people will have access to the database, but will have gone through stringent security training.
‘Save time’
The system will be available to workers in 17 local authorities in the north west of England, before eventually being rolled out across the rest of the country.
Read Original Article:(Via BBC NEWS | UK | Education)
