Safeguarding and
Pre-Employment Checks

Every candidate completes a registration interview, either in person or by live video, with a consultant who has completed recognised safer recruitment training. The registration process considers the candidate’s suitability to work with children, employment history, experience, qualifications, declarations, conduct history and any information requiring further clarification.

Candidates complete a full application form, including verification of medical fitness to work and confirmation that the candidate is not disqualified under the Childcare Act 2006.

Valid photographic identification is obtained and verified. Where registration is completed by live video, relevant documents uploaded by the candidate are sighted during the registration interview. Formal identity verification is completed using the appropriate approved route, including an in-person identity check or an approved verified online identity system where permitted.

Teaching Tomorrow obtains and records two acceptable proofs of the candidate’s current address and evidence of their National Insurance number. Any discrepancies are investigated and satisfactorily resolved before clearance.

All candidates must have their Right to Work in the UK verified before being cleared for work. The appropriate checking route is used according to the candidate’s circumstances and may include an approved digital identity/Right to Work check, an in-person document check, a Home Office online check using a share code or the Employer Checking Service where applicable.

Where Right to Work is time limited, the expiry date and any restrictions are recorded and monitored, with repeat checks completed as required.

All candidates supplied by Teaching Tomorrow must hold an appropriate Enhanced DBS certificate for the Child Workforce, including Children’s Barred List information where required for the role. The original physical DBS certificate is sighted before the candidate is cleared for work.

Where an existing DBS certificate is relied upon through the DBS Update Service, Teaching Tomorrow completes an Update Service status check. For active compliant candidates, the DBS Update Service check is repeated every 12 months.

Teaching Tomorrow obtains a full employment history. Any gaps, discrepancies or anomalies are explored and satisfactorily addressed as part of the safer recruitment process.

Teaching Tomorrow obtains a minimum of two satisfactory written references covering at least the previous two years, including relevant employment, education or other activity. Additional references are obtained where required to establish suitability and appropriate employment history coverage.

Relevant qualification documents are obtained and verified where required for the role. Where appropriate, overseas qualifications are checked for UK comparability through the relevant recognised service. Professional status and registration are also verified where applicable.

Teaching Tomorrow completes a DfE Check a Teacher record check on all candidates. The check includes relevant information relating to teaching status, qualifications, induction, prohibitions, sanctions, restrictions and QTLS registration/status where applicable.

For active compliant candidates, the Check a Teacher record is repeated every six months.

Where a candidate has lived or worked overseas in a single country for six months or more within the previous five years, Teaching Tomorrow requires an appropriate overseas police or criminal record check where one is available. The check is obtained in accordance with the applicable requirements for the country concerned.

Where an overseas police check cannot be obtained, the circumstances are considered and additional information or a suitability risk assessment may be required before clearance.

Where applicable, overseas-qualified teachers who have taught overseas are required to provide appropriate evidence of professional standing from the relevant professional regulatory or educational authority. Where appropriate evidence cannot be obtained, the circumstances are documented and considered before clearance.

Teaching Tomorrow completes a public online search-engine due-diligence check as part of its safer recruitment process. The search may include the candidate’s current name and relevant previous names. Any potentially relevant information is considered proportionately and, where appropriate, discussed with the candidate before a suitability decision is reached.

Candidates must complete Teaching Tomorrow’s mandatory training requirements before clearance:

• • Safeguarding training – renewed every 12 months;
• • Prevent training – renewed every 12 months; and
• • Allergy & Anaphylaxis training – renewed every 12 months.

All candidates are provided with the current KCSIE Part One. New candidates confirm as part of registration that they have read and understood the current guidance.

When KCSIE is updated for a new academic year, existing compliant candidates are provided with the updated guidance and Teaching Tomorrow retains an electronic time/date-stamped record of completion.