To reflect the end of the Brexit transition period, the Government has updated Keeping Children Safe in Education. The relevant paragraphs that you need to be aware of are:
149. From 01 January 2021 the TRA Teacher Services system will no longer maintain a list of those teachers who have been sanctioned in EEA member states. Advice about how information about a teacher’s past conduct may be obtained can be found at paragraph 172.
172… In addition, schools and colleges must make any further checks they think appropriate so that any relevant events that occurred outside the UK can be considered. These checks could include, where available:
- criminal records checks for overseas applicants – Home Office guidance can be found on GOV.UK; and for teaching positions;
- obtaining a letter of professional standing from the professional regulating authority in the country in which the applicant has worked. Advice about which regulatory or professional body applicants should contact is available from the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom, UK NARIC. obtaining a letter of professional standing from the professional regulating authority in the country in which the applicant has worked. Advice about which regulatory or professional bod applicants should contact is available from the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom, UK NARIC.
The Government has consulted on further changes to KCSiE for September 2021 as well as revisions to the advice on sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges. The proposed changes include:
- introducing a new shortened version of Part One that schools may decide to use with staff who do not work directly with children;
- an expectation that schools should include cyberbullying in the behaviour policy;
- Peer on peer abuse widened to include abuse in intimate personal relationships between peers;
- making the section on information sharing much clearer; and
- Reinforcing the role of governors to ensure a whole school approach to safeguarding. This includes ensuring safeguarding training is linked to the Teacher Standards to ensure a good and safe educational environment.
