Devasted that Luljeta Nuzi has died after a long fight with cancer. An incredible, dynamic, fierce woman whose optimism and passion for equality for all, in education, as women, as members of refugee and global majority communities will remain an inspiration for those who met her. I first met Luljeta in 2009 when she came […]
Government drops plans to regulate all out-of-school settings
The Department for Education consulted on the regulation of supplementary schools and other forms of out-of-school education over the winter of 2015/16. Many of you responded to this consultation and NRCSE responded also on your behalf.
The results of that consultation have just been published. Over 3,000 organisations and individuals responded directly through the online consultation, a further 15,000 additional responses were received via other methods including emails, letters and online petitions. Of the 3,082 responses to the full consultation document, 1,687 were from faith groups, 604 were from parents and 212 were from out-of-school settings.
We will be summarising the response here but in the meantime if you would like to download it and read through yourself follow this link – DfE consultation on out-of-school settings
There was overwhelming rejection of the proposal to regulate all settings operating 6-8 hours per week.
- Only 4.5% of people had any concerns about any out-of-school education settings they knew of and “Of those respondents who raised concerns, most expressed them in broad terms about out-of-school settings as a whole or the potential for there to be concerns about activities taking place in such settings, while others took the opportunity to express concerns about the impact of the proposed policy to regulate out-of-school settings” (consultation question 13, p6).
- Only 14.4% agreed that the definition of “intensive education” should be six to eight hours a week – the threshold at which it was proposed to register and inspect (consultation question 17, p8).
- Only 14.8% agreed that Oftsed should be able to investigate out-of-school settings that met the government threshold, with 74.6% giving an “No” (consultation question 20).
- In response to the question “What impact do you think the proposed system for registration and inspection will have on out-of-school settings?” (consultation question 21, p11), the published consultation summary states: “Many respondents felt that the impact of the proposed system would limit religious freedoms and have a disproportionately negative effect on faith groups.”
The Department for Education has set aside £3million to run a pilot scheme in 16 local authorities to check the minority of providers that they believe ‘could undermine British values’ and to provide guidance for parents to support them in making informed choices when considering out-of-school settings for their children.
Of course the choices that parents make are informed by the range of supplementary classes available to them. As local authority funding for community organisations continues to be cut, or in many cases has entirely stopped, it is becoming increasingly difficult for community organisations to afford to rent the most appropriate venues, to provide quality training and development opportunities for staff, to employ administrative support, to select diverse teaching resources, etc.
NRCSE will contact all those local authorities to encourage them to use the monies allocated to this pilot to offer training and support to supplementary schools as a positive way of helping communities to deliver specific educational activities that enhance and develop children’s cultural awareness and language skills, build their confidence and academic attainment, support them to be resilient to acts of hate, violence and discrimination.
NRCSE has developed and delivered quality assurance tools over the last 12 years, over 1,000 providers of out-of-school activities from across England have used those tools to evaluate and improve the safety and efficacy of their service. 488 organisations have gone on to obtain an NRCSE Quality Mark (previously Bronze, Silver, Gold or Special Distinction Quality Framework Award). We have unrivaled expertise in this area and have always worked closely with community organisations, supplementary schools, local authorities, the Department for Education and funders to ensure that our quality assurance tools are rigorous and developmental. If you would like to complete our 3-day Good Management course and/or obtain a NRCSE Quality Mark please tell your local authority to get in touch with us.
New quality recognition scheme builds on government regulation
Stop press: New quality recognition scheme encourages development of best practice in out-of-school provision and builds on existing government regulation.
The NRCSE Quality Mark builds on Section 11 of the Children’s Act 2004 and addresses eight standards in educational provision:
- Create an effective learning environment
- Teach effectively
- Record progress and achievement
- Choose the right resources
- Plan and develop your organisation
- Select and support staff and volunteers
- Make sure that children are safe
- Manage finances
The NRCSE provides free self-evaluation resources and online guidance on minimum safeguarding standards on our website staging.supplementaryeducation.org.uk Downloadable templates and discounted training can be accessed by subscribing to NRCSE. Contact details for agencies providing support in the school’s local authority area are also provided. The NSPCC has recently updated their toolkit of safeguarding standards and guidance in line with Section 11 guidelines so that is a good place to start if your local safeguarding children board isn’t responding quickly. Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 places duties on a range of agencies and individuals to ensure their functions, and any services that they contract out to others, are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. You can contact your local safeguarding children board to obtain details of the support provided in your area to meet these standards.
In order to apply for an NRCSE Quality Mark a supplementary school must:
- Meet the stated Section 11/safeguarding requirements for your local authority, and
- provide up-to-date information on the services it provides, and
- have received a visit from an appropriate person*.
*nationally qualified member of teaching staff, or Children’s Services, or registered NRCSE quality assurance mentor
Following a Recognition Meeting the school will receive a detailed report highlighting good practice and containing recommendations for development. Successful recognition will entitle the school to carry the NRCSE Quality Mark and the quality assurance report will be publicly available on the NRCSE Online Directory of Supplementary Schools (unless the supplementary school has provided a written request not to be publicly listed).
Start working towards an NRCSE Quality Mark today!
To enter your school for an NRCSE Quality Mark you must be able to demonstrate that you meet local safeguarding standards (see below) for Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) organisations working with children and young people as detailed in: HM Gov. document ‘Working together to safeguard children’ 2015, chapter 2 and para 4 Section 11, Children Act 2004
- Culture of listening to and consulting with children
- Effective recruitment, selection and contractual procedures including safeguarding checks
- Staff/volunteer supervision, support, training, induction, review, competence
- Staff aware of safeguarding policies and procedures including what to do if concerned about a child
- Procedures for dealing with allegations against staff/volunteers
- Requirement to refer to DBS and local authority designated officer or team dealing with allegations against those who work with children (formerly known as LADO)
- Supportive environment for staff/volunteers that encourages sharing of safeguarding concerns and provides clear
- whistleblowing procedures
- Clear lines of accountability for safeguarding arrangements
- Senior board level/management commitment to safeguarding
- Designated professional lead for safeguarding
- Arrangements for information sharing with other professionals and LSCB
You can demonstrate this via written confirmation from your local authority, or confirmation from Ofsted that you meet the requirements of the childcare register, or by completing the NRCSE safeguarding quiz and uploading your management file online.
For more details about the NRCSE Quality Mark visit our website staging.supplementaryeducation.org.uk
Download a printable flyer about the NRCSE quality recognition scheme