Covid-19 Policy for the supply of temporary staff to schools

4myschools are dedicated to ensuring that our team, supply staff and schools can work together safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 Policy for supply of temporary staff – What’s new?

Please click on the following link to read the DfE  Schools COVID-19 Operational Guidance.

Please click on the following link to readCoronavirus (COVID-19): test kits for schools and FE providers – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention and Control Training

All supply staff are offered 4myschools Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention and Control Training prior to a school assignment.

 The course content includes  

• Understanding what the virus is and how it is transmitted. 
• Being aware of the symptoms 
• Knowing what to do if they believe they have contracted the virus  

• Steps they can take to reduce the risk of infection
• Other infections to be aware of.
• Government guidance on Covid-19 Policy for supply of temporary staff

 A certificate is issued on completion and logged on their online staff record. 

4myschools Risk Assessment for the supply of teaching and support staff. 

4myschools have completed a risk assessment specifically focussed on the supply of a worker to a school during COVID-19. The risk assessment covers the key risk considerations, controls and measures to ensure safe working during this pandemic.  

The risk assessment will be supplied to all schools as part of the Booking Confirmation process and will be available on our website 4myschools.org  

Updatedge – view teacher availability and send offers instantly 

We are encouraging schools and candidates to use Updatedge the availability service, meaning that supply staff can continually update their availability to schools and us directly. This ensures that we and schools know who is available for work and when. 

Schools can see the availability of their regular supply staff on the Updatedge portal and send them offers more quickly than before allowing consistency of cover and agency staff used reducing risk  

Click here for further information about Updatedge 

4myschools General Operations 

4myschools have invested in the most up to date technology that allows our business to continue to operate during this difficult time.  

All our systems are cloud based which means that our team can work remotely whilst still delivering an exceptional 24/7 service to both candidates and schools. We will return to our office when it is safe to do so. 

We will not visit your school whilst there continues to be a risk instead, we will use the phone and video technology if a face to face meeting is required. If the need arises and you wish us to attend your school, we will of course do so. 

Recruitment and onboarding 

We continue to recruit talented teaching and supply staff to support schools, with some minor amendments to our procedures and practice. 

Face to Face Registrations: To reduce the risk of transmission, and in line with DBS, Home Office RTW and REC guidance, we are currently completing face to face registrations utilising video technology such a Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams. As time progresses and guidance evolves, we will return to physical face to face registration where it is practical and safe to do so. 

Document Checking: In line with guidance from the Home office and other UK government departments (DBS), Department of Education (DofE) and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the sighting of key documentation to support Proof of Right to Work checks and DBS applications etc. is being carried out ‘virtually’ as an amended check.  

Once a candidate is placed into work, 4myschools will complete a physical sighting of their documents following DfE and other government guidelines. Their records will be updated to reflect this subsequent check. 

Schools Coronavirus (COVID–19) Risk Assessments 

As part of the Government Guidance for Schools full opening, schools can continue to engage supply teachers and other supply staff during this period. The safety of 4myschools workers along with the staff and students in your school are our main priority. 

As stated in the guidance, supply staff and other temporary workers can move between schools, but school leaders will want to consider how to minimise the number of visitors to the school where possible.  4myschools will support you and our supply staff in this endeavour. All our workers will be expected to comply with the school’s arrangements for managing and minimising risk. 

4myschools will obtain a copy of each school’s risk assessment, where available. If we do not have a copy of your risk assessment, then it will be essential that our workers are given this on arrival and understand your procedures and policies 

In addition, when taking details of a new assignment with a school, 4myschools will gain relevant information to support the assigned worker in relation to a school’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) controls and measures. This may include 

• Specific point of contact and escalation process for any Coronavirus (COVID-19) related issues such as outbreak management. 
• Staff arrival and reporting process 
• Student arrival process 
• Schools or Class start and finish times 
• Amended school operations such as one-way travel routes, facilities, and communal areas etc 
• Schools Behaviour Policy 

 Where this information is unavailable the worker will be asked to gain this on arrival from the School key contact. 

 We understand risk assessments may evolve and communicating any updates is key and encouraged by all parties. 

 Localised Lockdowns 

4myschools will continue to follow government guidance and adhere to any localised lockdown requirements in relation to the operation of schools. 

 Where a localised lockdown is implemented 4myschools will liaise directly with Schools affected and take relevant actions in respect of any workers being supplied. 

 4myschools will continue to deploy workers into Schools in line with current government guidance. 

4myschools supporting contact tracing 

Through our technology 4msychools and updatedge are able to trace a worker’s activity and which schools they have been assigned to through our Booking System  

Therefore, should the worker report symptoms; or a school report an outbreak we are able to quickly review the assignment or booking history and take relevant steps to prevent contact of other workers and/or schools. 

Common scenarios for reporting and escalating cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19)