Schools and Colleges should have regard to the Department for Education's (DfE's) guidance on statutory policies on what they are required to do, in this area.

The Schools HR team has provided guidance and documents (see links below) in a range of areas. Keeping Children Safe In Education 2023

• DBS policy, applicable to Waltham Forest job applicants and employees only
• Recruitment and Selection policy
• Addendum to the Recruitment and Selection Policy - online checks
• Current Employees - Staff Disqualification Declaration Form
• New Starter - Staff Disqualification Declaration Form
• Prohibition Order – Guidance
• Prohibition Order – Appendix A (Recruitment Policy)
• DBS policy, applicable to Waltham Forest job applicants and employees only 
• Children's Barred List (CBL) Form.

The local authority and each school needs to ensure particular rigour and vigilance when recruiting and employing people to work with children (aged under 18) and adults considered vulnerable. 

The Department for Education (DfE) has produced separate information for schools converting to academies on specific Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) requirements. All academies are registered as independent schools and therefore, the governors and staff, must have received an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. 

Schools and colleges should be aware of and follow departmental advice around teacher misconduct: the prohibition of teachers.

The advice provides information on, the professional conduct panel decision-making criteria. The panels are held as a result of teacher disciplinary action and for the purpose of the regulation of teacher conduct.

All schools and colleges should have regard to the statutory guidance on safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education. It sets out what schools and colleges must do to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18.  The Department for Education (DfE) has also produced statutory guidance to help schools make and manage staff appointments. This is accompanied by supplementary advice which provides information about:

• the option for schools to ask for details about a teacher's capability during the last 2 years of their teaching career;
• the requirement to provide this information;
• the requirement for schools to obtain enhanced DBS check with barred list information for staff engaged to work in regulated activity; and
• the requirement for schools to ensure appointees to teaching positions are not subject to prohibition orders.

School Staffing Regulations 

The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 (and amendments in 2012 and 2013) underpin the Department for Education's (DfE's) guidance on managing staff employment in schools.

You can access additional legislation information

• The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009
• The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 - correction slip
• The School Staffing (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
• The School Staffing (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

Single Central Record (SCR)

There are some very useful templates which can be accessed via The KEY.

If you have any queries, please contact the Schools HR Team

Email: SchoolsHRHelpdesk 
Telephone: 07833 331265