Milton Keynes Council Appropriate Body Service Level Agreement 2020-2021 - Newly Qualified Teacher Induction

Milton Keynes Council Appropriate Body
              Service Level Agreement
                            2020-2021

           Newly Qualified Teacher Induction

                        Issued by Milton Keynes Council

Period of agreement:             Academic year: 2020 - 2021

Please note that as stated in the statutory guidance

 “An NQT cannot start their induction until an Appropriate Body has
been agreed” (paragraph 2.1, page 13 statutory guidance for newly qualified
teachers, September 2015). The Induction can’t officially start until the SLA
agreement has been signed and returned to the AB.

This agreement is between:

The School

And:

The Appropriate           Milton Keynes Council
Body (AB):

Address:                  Setting and School Effectiveness
                          Civic Offices
                          1 Saxon Gate East
                          Central Milton Keynes
                          MK9 3EJ

Key Contacts for NQT Induction

If you have any concerns or need guidance, please email the NQT Inbox.
NQT@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Named Contact             Nadia Dorville (School Specialist    Improvement
                          Support)
                          01908 254733
Strategic Lead            Rosy Johnson (Improvement Partner)

Business Support          Business Support
                          01908 253903

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The Offer

Milton Keynes Council will provide the AB service in 2020-21 academic year
for all schools in Milton Keynes.

Charging by the Appropriate Body

The service 2020-2021 is priced as follows:

•   Per NQT: £265
•   Schools will be charged pro rata for the term if a NQT leaves before the
    need of assessment period or requires additional time (on approval by
    AB).
•   The opportunity to request additional visits / observations at the additional
    rate of £90 per hour.

Specification of Work

The service charge will cover all statutory obligations of the AB, as outlined in
the statutory guidance for the induction of NQTs, and will also specifically
cover:
   • Registration of NQTs and online processing of associated paperwork
   • NQT Induction Tutor Briefing ( July or September 2020)
   • NQT Welcome Conference (September 2020)
   • Quality assurance of monitoring, support and assessment procedures
       for NQTs (termly)
   • Advice and support to schools in the event that an NQT may be at risk
       of not meeting the standards (as required)
   • Support for the school through a formal appeal (as required)
   • Support for NQTs at risk of not meeting the standards (as required)

Why do you need an Appropriate Body (AB)?

The statutory guidance clearly states that “An NQT cannot start their induction
until an AB has been agreed” paragraph 2.1, page 13 statutory guidance for
newly qualified teachers, September 2015).

The AB is neutral and provides impartial advice to both NQT’s and schools. It
is responsible for ensuring that schools provide the correct level of support
and for liaising with the Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA). It is the AB that
makes the final decision on the NQT’s performance. The AB functions are
carried out by experienced school improvement and workforce development
officers.

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Key Responsibilities

Responsibility of the Headteacher/Principal

Before the induction period starts:
• check that the NQT has been awarded QTS;

•   clarify whether the teacher needs to serve an induction period or is
    exempt;

•   agree, in advance of the NQT starting the induction programme, which
    body will act as the appropriate body and have registration approved,
    before induction officially commences.

Once induction has started:

•   meet the requirements of a suitable post for induction;

•   ensure the induction tutor is appropriately trained and has sufficient time to
    carry out their role effectively;

•   ensure an appropriate and personalised in-school induction programme is
    in place;

•   ensure the NQT’s progress is reviewed regularly, including through
    observations and feedback of their teaching;

•   ensure that termly assessments are carried out and reports completed and
    sent to the appropriate body; maintain and retain accurate records of
    employment that will count towards the induction period;

•   make the governing body aware of the arrangements, that have been put
    in place to support NQTs serving induction;

•   make a recommendation to the appropriate body on whether the NQT’s
    performance against the relevant standards is satisfactory or requires an
    extension;

•   participate appropriately in the appropriate body’s quality assurance
    procedures; and

•   retain all relevant documentation/evidence/forms on file for six years.

There may also be circumstances where the headteacher/principal
should:

•   obtain interim assessments from the NQT’s previous post;

•   act early, alerting the appropriate body when necessary, in cases where
    an NQT may be at risk of not completing induction satisfactorily;

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•   ensure third party observation of an NQT who may be at risk of not
    performing satisfactorily against the relevant standards;

•   notify the appropriate body as soon as absences total 30 days or more;

•   periodically inform the governing body about the institution’s induction
    arrangements;

•   advise and agree with the appropriate body in exceptional cases where it
    may be appropriate to reduce the length of the induction period or deem
    that it has been satisfactorily completed;

•   provide interim assessment reports for staff moving in between formal
    assessment periods; and

•   notify the appropriate body when an NQT serving induction leaves the
    institution.

In addition to the above, headteachers/principals of FE institutions,
independent schools and nursery schools must also ensure the NQT’s post
and responsibilities comply with the specific requirements for statutory
induction in these settings.

Responsibility of the Induction Tutor

The induction tutor (or the headteacher if carrying out this role)
should:

•   provide, or co-ordinate, guidance and effective support including coaching
    and mentoring for the NQT’s professional development (with the
    appropriate body where necessary);

•   carry out regular progress reviews throughout the induction period;

•   undertake three formal assessment meetings during the total induction
    period co-ordinating input from other colleagues as appropriate (normally
    three termly, or pro rata for part-time staff);

•   inform the NQT during the assessment meeting the judgements to be
    recorded in the formal assessment record and invite NQTs to add their
    comments;
•   ensure that the NQT’s teaching is observed and feedback provided;

•   ensure NQTs are aware of how, both within and outside the institution,
    they can raise any concerns about their induction programme or their
    personal progress; and
•   take prompt, appropriate action if an NQT appears to be having difficulties.

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Responsibility of the Appropriate Body (AB)

The appropriate body has the main quality assurance role within the induction
process. Through quality assurance the appropriate body should assure itself
that:

•   headteachers/principals (and governing bodies where appropriate) are
    aware of, and are capable of meeting their responsibilities for monitoring
    support and assessment. This includes ensuring that an NQT receives a
    personalised induction programme, designated tutor support and the
    reduced timetable; and

•   the monitoring, support, assessment and guidance procedures in place
    are fair and appropriate.

The appropriate body should on a regular basis consult with headteachers
/principals on the nature and extent of the quality assurance procedures it
operates or wishes to introduce. Institutions are required to work with the
appropriate body to enable it to discharge its responsibilities effectively .

The appropriate body must ensure that:

•   headteachers/principals (and governing bodies where appropriate) are
    meeting their responsibilities in respect of providing a suitable post for
    induction;

•   the monitoring, support, assessment and guidance procedures in place
    are fair and appropriate

•   where an NQT may be experiencing difficulties action is taken to address
    areas of performance that require further development and support;

•   where an institution is not fulfilling its responsibilities, contact is made with
    the institution to raise its concerns;

•   induction tutors are trained and supported including being given sufficient
    time to carry out the role effectively;

•   headteachers/principals are consulted on the nature and extent of the
    quality assurance procedures it operates, or wishes to introduce;

•   any agreement entered into with either the FE institution or the
    independent school’s governing body is upheld;

•   the headteacher/principal has verified that the award of QTS has been
    made;

•   the school is providing a reduced timetable in addition to PPA time;

•   the NQT is provided with a named contact(s) within the appropriate body
    with whom to raise concerns;

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•   FE institutions (including sixth form colleges) are supported in finding
    schools for NQTs to spend their mandatory ten days teaching children of
    compulsory school age in a school;

•   NQTs’ records and assessment reports are maintained;

•   agreement is reached with the headteacher/principal and the NQT to
    determine where a reduced induction period may be appropriate or is
    deemed to be satisfactorily completed;

•   a final decision is made on whether the NQT’s performance against the
    relevant standards is satisfactory or an extension is required and the
    relevant parties are notified;

•   provide the Teacher Regulation Agency with details of NQTs who have
    started; completed (satisfactorily or not); require an extension; or left
    school partway through an induction period.

The AB should also (as local capacity, resources and agreements
allow):

•   respond to requests from schools and colleges for guidance, support and
    assistance with NQTs’ induction programmes; and

•   respond to requests for assistance and advice for training for induction
    tutors.

Responsibility of the NQT:

Prior to induction starting:

•   Check with the TRA that they have been awarded QTS and provide
    evidence of QTS to be eligible to start induction;

Once induction has started:
•   at the earliest opportunity meet with their induction tutor to discuss and
    agree priorities for their induction programme and keep these under
    review;

•   agree with their induction tutor how best to use their reduced timetable
    allowance;

•   provide evidence of their progress against the relevant standards (see
    para 1.5 of the Statutory Guidance);

•   participate fully in the agreed monitoring and development programme;

•   raise any concerns with their induction tutor as soon as practicable;

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•   consult their appropriate body named contact at an early stage if there are
    or may be difficulties in resolving issues with their tutor/within the
    institution;

•   keep track of and participate effectively in the scheduled classroom
    observations, progress reviews and formal assessment meetings;

•   agree with their induction tutor the start and end dates of the induction
    period/part periods and the dates of any absences from work during any
    period/part period; and

•   retain copies of all assessment forms.

Full details of the statutory requirements are available at: Induction for
newly qualified teachers (NQTs) - Publications - GOV.UK

Overseas trained teachers

If the NQT is an overseas trained teacher please initially refer to
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualified-teacher-status-qts for guidance.

Some overseas trained teachers once successfully awarded QTS by the
Teacher Regulation Agency. are exempt from serving a statutory induction
period in England.

If a school would still like an NQT to serve an induction period, we are able to
facilitate this under the same Specification of Work as listed above. On
successful completion of the induction period a letter will be issued notifying
the school and NQT of the outcome. This information will not be shared with
the Teacher Regulation Agency.

For teachers who have trained in the Republic of Ireland, on successful
completion of an induction period, we as the AB will notify the Teaching
Council of Ireland, to allow the teacher to fulfil the requirements for full
registration with the Teaching Council of Ireland.

Key deadlines – return of assessment dates

The table below makes clear the deadlines by which schools must submit end
of term assessment forms to the Milton Keynes Council AB for 2020-2021.

At the end of each term an assessment form should be completed submitted
to Milton Keynes Council Appropriate Body via NQT Manager, within ten
working days of your assessment meeting with your NQT. These are ten
working days excluding bank holidays only. They are not ten school term
days. It is vital that schools meet these dates in order to comply with the
Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) deadlines and NQT Quality Assurance
Panel meetings. Failure to meet deadlines could put the NQT at risk of not

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completing within the 3 term (one academic year) induction period, which
would incur additional costs for the school.

If an NQT leaves during the term, schools should use the Interim Section of
the assessment form to report to the AB.

Any issues or concerns should be reported to the AB. Do not leave it till the
end of the assessment period.

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