This is not applicable to Safer Recruitment.
1. What does the Safer Recruitment online training aim to achieve?
The online training package focuses on the good practices that should be adopted when recruiting and selecting adults to work with children in schools. The training sets out procedures and strategies to help those involved in the recruitment process in schools to deter, identify, and reject applicants who are unsuitable to work with children. The training also seeks to strengthen safeguards for children in schools in general by helping to deter and prevent abuse, and by creating an environment where everyone is able to raise concerns about what seems to be poor or unsafe practice.
2. Why has this training come about?
The report of the independent Bichard Inquiry that was carried out following the Soham murder case made a number of recommendations for action by the Home Office, the police, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (formerly DfES) and other agencies. Recommendation 16 of the report was that headteachers and school governors should receive training on how to ensure that interviews to appoint staff reflect the importance of safeguarding children. In response to this recommendation, the Department for Education and Skills commissioned NCSL to develop online training materials for headteachers and governors to ensure that interviews to appoint reflect the importance of safeguarding children.
3.Who will manage the Safer Recruitment Online Training?
NCSL has been commissioned by the DCSF to develop and provide the online training. The training will be located on the NCSL Learning Gateway. Some elements will be publicly available on the Safer Recruitment website, but only those registered with the College will be able to undertake the full training course. For further details, please refer to the Safer Recruitment website.
No, but it is strongly recommended that headteachers undertake this training.
5. Will my school be safe if I complete this training?
The training serves to highlight the issues, offer advice and suggest good practice. While we expect participants to come away with new knowledge, ideas and a raised awareness, the training alone cannot make schools safe. Schools, school leaders and governors need to realise the importance of these recommendations; the importance of facilitating a safer school culture, of the value of raising awareness. They need to take the lessons from the training, apply them to their own context and take this work forward.
6. Are there any mandatory requirements about checking staff?
Yes. The requirements are set out in Chapter 4 of Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education, published by the DCSF in November 2006. Schools must obtain an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure in respect of any one they appoint who has not worked in a school in England within the previous three months. In addition, from 1 January 2007 schools must carry out the following recruitment and vetting checks on people they intend to appoint:
With the exception of CRB Disclosures, the above checks must be completed before a person’s appointment. In the case of CRB Disclosures, the certificate must be obtained before, or as soon as practicable after, appointment.
In addition schools must also:
1. Who should undertake the Safer Recruitment programme?
The training is aimed at all headteachers and governors in each state and independent school in England and two relevant staff from each local authority.
Two representatives identified by each LA will also be invited to undertake the training. In addition, Regional Child Protection Officers will also have access to the materials.
2. Will Fast Track teachers have access to the programme?
Not applicable – the training is intended primarily for headteachers and governors.
3. Do applicants have to have Qualified Teacher Status?
Please see above.
4. Does my headteacher have to recommend me for this programme?
Anyone who is GTC registered will be pre-enrolled onto the training.
Anyone who is not GTC registered, such as a governor, will need to provide the name and email address of the headteacher of their school as part of their application. We will then use this to request the headteacher complete and online reference.
5. Currently I do not work in a school. Can my application be considered?
Any organisation or individual is very welcome to make use of this website and the information contained within it. The information included on this site is best practice guidance on safer recruitment processes, which has been written specifically for the education sector, but the general principles of the guidance are applicable and can be adapted to fit all organisations working with children. The section entitled Public Training Materials, which can be accessed from the home page of this site, is available to all visitors to the site, so please do work your way through the information, which you will hopefully find very useful. However, the secure online training course is only available to headteachers, governors and local authority representatives.
The training is available to headteachers and governors. In such circumstances where additional representatives per school are required, the headteacher should contact NCSL with the name and position of the person they wish to access the training. The nominee should already be registered on the Learning Gateway and the head should ensure that they have been subjected to the relevant identity and security checks.
Alternatively, public training materials are available from our website containing the core of the training, content and guidance, available without registration. It is an excellent resource for other members of staff involved in recruitment and selection or in growing a safer school culture.
7. Are there any pre-requisite programmes I must complete before I can do the programme?
No but you must meet the criteria as stipulated above.
8. Is the programme a pre-requisite for any other programmes?
No, but it is recommended that one head teacher and one governor per school undertakes the training as it may be considered in Ofsted inspections of the school.
9. I’m not sure this is the right programme for me. Who can advise me?
The training is available to headteachers and governors of every state-maintained school in England. It is also available to headteachers in independent schools and two representatives of each local authority.
It is possible for headteachers to approve requests for access from other individuals employed at their school to undertake the training. In such circumstances, the individual should complete the governor application form and the headteacher will be requested to provide an online reference verifying the request.
If you do not fit into any of the categories above but still feel that you wish to learn more, you can access the public training materials from our website. Alternatively, please contact the help desk who will be able to advise you as to your eligibility.
10. How ICT literate do we need to be?
You should be familiar and comfortable with using a computer and the internet and have access to a computer. The minimum specification for a personal computer (PC) is a Pentium II at 233MHz or higher.
11. I need more information about eligibility for the programme. Where do I get this?
Visit our website and select the eligibility link within the Safer Recruitment pages.
Headteachers, governors and relevant local authority staff can find more information on the How to apply page.
2. Can I access a printable copy of the application form?
Unfortunately the application form isn’t printable and must be completed and submitted online.
3. Can I submit a hard copy application instead of an online application?
We can only accept applications that are submitted via the online form. If you are not able to complete the online form, please contact the help desk on 0845 609 0009.
4. Does this programme accept applications from both groups and individuals?
This programme can only accept applications from individuals.
Not applicable – this programme is only available online.
6. When does the next application round begin?
Not applicable – there is no application round. You can apply any time.
7. When is the deadline for submitting applications to the programme?
Not applicable – there is no deadline, you can apply any time.
8. What happens if I miss the deadline?
Not applicable – there is no deadline, you can apply any time.
9. Is the number of places available restricted and if so, is there a waiting list?
There is no restriction of places and no waiting list.
10. I would like to work with a colleague headteacher. Is this possible?
If required, you can work alongside a colleague on the training materials. However, you should each have access to your own computer with your own log-in details to do so.
Applications from headteachers for Learning Gateway access will be submitted to the registration team. These applications will be subjected to certain authenticity checks before being approved.
Governor applicants will undergo the same authenticity checks before being approved for access to the Learning Gateway. Once your headteacher has provided the online reference, your access will be updated to include the online training within 2-3 hours.
12. Will there be any briefings or taster sessions for the programme prior to applying?
Not applicable.
13. What happens after I’ve submitted my application?
Your application will be sent to the registration team for processing. Once processed, you will be sent your login details (username and password) via email and in a welcome pack through the post. You will then be able to access the training.
Not applicable for the Safer Recruitment Online Training.
1. What is the overall time commitment for this programme?
This will vary between individuals, but expect the training to take between four and five hours to complete. However, it is recommended that the training is not done all in one sitting and that participants allow themselves time between modules for reflection or visits to the Safer Recruitment online community. The Learning Gateway will save your progress in the training, allowing you to pick up from where you left off on subsequent visits. The online training has been designed to be flexible so that people can do the training as quickly or as slowly as suits their availability and learning style.
2. How long is the programme? How many residential days are there?
Please see above.
3. Do I have to attend all sessions?
Please see above.
4. What support is available throughout the programme?
If you have any technical queries, please contact the NCSL help desk. For feedback or queries about the content of the materials, please email [email protected].
5. Are there any assessed activities or pieces of work?
Yes – the safer recruitment training has an assessment test to be completed once the training has been worked through online. On successful completion of this assessment, participants are able to print out a certificate as proof of completion.
6. What other programmes, events or resources are available to me in this area?
The public training materials contain the core of the training, content and guidance, and are available without registration. This is an excellent resource for other members of staff involved in recruitment and selection or in growing a safer school culture.
You can also refer to Chapters 3 and 4 of Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education, published by the DCSF in November 2006. This guidance also contains information about new mandatory requirements for vetting staff that came into force on 1 January 2007.
7. May I allow other people in my school to use my username and password to access the training?
No. We strongly ask all users to take great care to keep their username and password information confidential and never to leave a machine unattended which has the materials displayed.
The training materials are sensitive and could be misused if they get into the wrong hands. Consequently, the training is not available in a printed format.
9. What happens if I fail the final assessment?
You are allowed to retake the assessment. This training is about knowing and understanding the information that will help to safeguard children. We have no problem about how long or how often people need to take the assessment to fully assimilate the information.
10. What if I don’t have time to do this training?
The Bichard Inquiry highlighted several key areas where schools could improve so that children are better safeguarded. It is clear that there are risks which need to be managed. This initiative has pulled together many experts in this field to create a package of information which will be invaluable in highlighting how schools can promote a safer culture and handle recruitment so that the protection of children is paramount. The impact of completing this training will be a safer environment for children.
We are confident that headteachers and governors see the value and importance of this training, so that the time taken to complete this course is seen as a real benefit to the school and the children it supports. The training has been designed with an understanding of the heavy demands on the time of key people in a school, hence it is accessible from anywhere at anytime. It requires no face-to-face time and may be done over any number of sessions of any length. It is completely flexible and participants who have expertise already in a particular section may find that certain modules take very little time to complete. There is also a supporting online community within talk2learn, which will give participants an opportunity to talk about the issues raised, share resources, meet some of the experts and reflect on some of the deeper issues. Our aim is that Safer Recruitment Online Training makes the process of acquiring this valuable information as easy and as enjoyable as possible.
1. How do I access the online communities and materials?
Once your registration is complete, you will be sent a welcome pack with your log-in details and information on how to access the Learning Gateway where all the course materials are available.
2. Do I have to use the online facilities?
Yes – the Safer Recruitment training materials are all online.
3. Where can I get technical support for problems with online materials/access?
Contact the NCSL help desk on 0845 609 0009.
4. Will facilitators be there to help me online?
Not applicable.
5. Do I have to pay for materials?
No – there is no cost for this training course.
6. Can I use the materials afterwards in my school setting?
Not applicable – the materials can not be printed, but we hope that you will use the information learned in the training in your school.
1. How much does this programme cost?
There is no cost for this training.
2. Are there any grants available?
Not applicable – please see above
3. Can I claim for the costs of supply cover and travel when I attend the programme?
Not applicable – this training is all conducted online.
4. What is the policy for charging, supply cover and travel for small schools?
Not applicable.
5. What is the charging policy for independent schools?
Not applicable.
1. Can the programme contribute any credit towards an MA?
Not applicable.
2. Will I receive any form of accreditation for completing the programme?
On successful completion of the assessment, you will be able to print out a certificate as proof of completion.
3. How can I become a facilitator on this programme?
Not applicable.
4. Are there any other related opportunities available to me?
Not applicable.
1. How will we (NCSL and our partners) use the information we collect about participants whilst they are on the programme?
This will be strictly controlled by NCSL and within the terms of our Contract, which fully complies with the Data Protection Act 1998. Our partners cannot use this data for any purpose other than the organisation and delivery of the programme.
Information that is gathered on the programme, such as personal information etc will be held on NCSL’s Learning Gateway. This information can be accessed regularly by the authorised partner and NCSL personnel. In addition, you will be able to access your own personal contact details to ensure that they are correct.
Participants should check their contact details and advise of any inaccuracies.
2. What do we do with the information we collect about you?
We (NCSL and its partners) will only use information that we have about participants to enable us to deliver the programme effectively and efficiently. We will not use any personal information unless it complies with the procedures set out in the Data Protection Act 1998.
In particular, our partners will only use the information to deliver the programme, and for statistical and administrative purposes so that they:
From time to time, we may make your data available to our business partners and third parties, including the media to promote the programmes and work that NCSL is involved in and carries out. By accepting these terms and conditions, you permit NCSL to use your name and school details in this way.