TimePlan has shown that it's not up to the job - it's not to do with regulations

Margaret Hodge Education Minister

She was cleared of having sex with a 15-year-old pupil and his 14-year-old brother but it emerged she had been suspended from another school after similar allegations were made there a month before.

In Otterville, Canada, Ms Gehring's parents spoke of their relief and said they had been praying for her to return home.

Her mother Bertha said: "She called us and she said 'Dad, I'm coming home'. It was really wonderful news. I just couldn't believe it."

Les Gehring said it had been a difficult time for his daughter and the whole family.

"We were hoping and praying it would be resolved this way.

"We wanted her to be found not guilty to clear her name."

Margaret Hodge attacked the TimePlan agency

The case has led to the sacking of teaching agency TimePlan's Surrey manager, Rob Stonier, and the resignation of Chris King, its director of education.

TimePlan said its local manager had failed to tell Mr King of the warning.

It has also been alleged the agency failed to inform the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE), as it was called before the 2001 general election.

The agency said if Mr King had known about the letter, he would have sacked Ms Gehring immediately.

Ms Hodge said the case revolved around TimePlan acting irresponsibly and not around problems with the way private agencies were regulated.

"Timeplan has shown that it's not up to the job. It's not to do with regulations."

She said the government would be asking TimePlan for the results of its internal inquiry and that the Department for Trade and Industry could also examine the company.

Social services' warning

A week after arriving from Canada in August 2000, Ms Gehring took up a post at a Surrey comprehensive.

On 5 October 2000, two boys made complaints of inappropriate behaviour and TimePlan wrote to the school saying she would be suspended until the allegations were resolved.

But the local manager allowed her to be deployed to other schools in the area before the allegations had been fully investigated.

No charges were brought, but social services issued a warning to TimePlan which was ignored.

Child protection officers in Surrey said: "Ms Gehring specifically targeted boys and entered into sexually inappropriate relationships with them ...

The procedure was absolutely solid

Ian Penman TimePlan

"We were of the opinion that she may act the same way again ... and pose a risk to children."

She worked at another comprehensive until January last year.

Surrey County Council is considering introducing inspections for private teaching supply agencies.

But TimePlan chairman Ian Penman said the agency had been let down by one person.

"The procedure was absolutely solid. It was performed rigorously apart from the ability of a local manager to ignore one very important letter."

Cleared teacher's delight

He insisted the DfEE would have received a copy of social services' warning on Ms Gehring.

Miss Gehring's solicitor, David Todd, said in a statement outside the court: "It stands to reason that Amy is both pleased and delighted at today's verdict.

"She is certainly looking forward to returning home well away from the public eye."

The offences were alleged to have begun on 19 November 2000, when Miss Gehring was aged 25 and a biology supply teacher.

The jury acquitted Miss Gehring of three charges and the judge ordered a verdict of not guilty on a fourth.

On Wednesday, the jury was told to clear her of a fifth charge of indecent assault against another 15-year-old boy.