Accreditation Policy for ITT 2017-2018
By offering a Professional Practice opportunity all ITT Partners are agreeing to the Edge Hill University (EHU) ITT Partnership Agreementterms and conditions, which are contained within the EHU ITT Partnership Agreement. This agreement details the responsibilities of both the setting and the University and can be found at:
Selection and Review of Partners
Any setting within the Edge Hill University ITTPartnership should be able to demonstrate the following.
•A recent Ofsted inspection report or equivalent that identifies the strengths necessary to be involved in ITT.
•A commitment to ITT within their setting policies and procedures in relation to the professional practice offers made and a commitment to update information and to communicate with the partnership administration team and academic colleagues. It is anticipated that this commitment will be recognised within the setting’s own evaluation and development planning.
•A willingness to designate appropriately trained staff with specific responsibilities in relation to ITT.
•A commitment to engage in on-going training and professional updating for mentors, allowing them to work within the roles and responsibilities described in the ITT Partnership Agreement.
•An understanding of the roles and responsibilities identified in the ITT Partnership Agreement.
•A commitment to quality assurance and enhancement and the process of feedback, evaluation, monitoring and the critical review of professional practice and partnership activities.
Settings judged as Inadequate by Ofsted:
- Professional Practice opportunities will not normally be sourced or allocated to trainees in settings judged as Inadequate by Ofsted. However, Inadequate settings may be used for:
Further Education and Training as contrasting placement,
otherage phases in the Edge Hill University ITTportfolio for enhancements and project work.
- For a trainee in Further Education and Training who is ‘In-Service’ working in an Inadequate setting, the traineewill be required to undertake an enhancement in another setting (graded as Good or Outstanding)to ensure they observe good and outstanding teaching and learning and gain further practical experience.
- If, during a Professional Practice, a setting is inspected and is judged as Inadequate by Ofsted the individual trainee’s circumstances will be considered. The Assistant Head of Department (AHoD) will confirm that continuing the training is appropriate based on a discussion with the Partnership Development Manager (PDM). The AHoD will note on the databasethe justification for the trainee remaining in the setting and will ensure the trainee and setting are informed. If it is deemed unsuitablefor the trainee to continue their trainingan appropriate alternative Professional Practice will be sourced. The trainee will be kept fully informed by the AHoD.
Requires Improvement (RI) settings:
- No trainee will undertake allof his or her training in an RI setting. However, opportunities will be provided to all trainees to enable them to gain practical experience of those schools/settings judged to require improvement.
Settingsin challenging socio-economic circumstances:
- All trainees are provided with the opportunity to gain practical experience of working successfully in settings in challenging socio-economic circumstances. This ensures that trainees are well equipped with an understanding of working in these settings and the strategies that contribute to their success.
- Every school/college/setting in our partnership is profiled[1] to identify the socio-economic circumstances in order to provide contrasting and valuable experiences to all trainees. This is considered when allocating a trainee to a setting.
Settings outside of England (Wales/IOM):
- Settings outside of England will notnormally be used for Professional Practice except for:
PGCE Primary Phase 1 (on an amended timetable),
Primary Year 1 and Year 2 undergraduate Phase 1a or 1b but not both,
Secondary Year 1 and 2 undergraduate Phase 1a or 1b but not both (Wales only),
PGCE Secondary Phase 1 (Wales only),
Potentialenhancements across all Departments.
All settings will normally be judged to be good or outstanding,or the equivalent.
- In exceptional circumstances settings outside of England will be considered for Phase 2 of the training for any trainee who can demonstrate that the majority of their training has been undertaken in England and that they are seeking employmentwithin the area outside of England that has been identified.
The AHoDwill confirm with the PDM that any planned days outside of England are compliant.
Independent schools and colleges,Free Schools, SENDand New Academies (only one year intake):
- For any Professional Practice, the class size, age phase, ability and curriculumwill be identified to ensure the trainee can meet the teaching standards whilst undertaking their training at this setting.
Further Education:
- Professional Practice in HE settings/training provision/Prison Education/ Public Service Sector can be used but only as an additional enhancement experience.
- In the absence of any quality inspection indicators a separate checklist will be completed to ensure that the setting can provide high quality training and support.
Before Allocation:
- Where applicable, the OFSTED grade for all schools/colleges/settings is identified on Professional Practice lists to enable Course Leaders/Professional Practice Leaders to place trainees according to the school/college/setting’s strengths and the trainee’s training needs.
- Visiting Tutors[2] are aware of the current OFSTED grade/specific criteria of the setting (where applicable) when they are allocated their link school/college/setting at the commencement of use of the Professional Practice.
Initial Visit by Visiting Tutor:
- At the initial visit of the Visiting Tutor to a school/college/setting identified as RI, the Visiting Tutor will complete additional information on the Partnership Database which will identify whether or not they have concerns about the quality of training.
- If a Visiting Tutor identifies a concern, they will be prompted to contact the Course Leader/Professional Practice Leader with details of their concern. The Course Leader/Professional Practice Leader in agreement with the Assistant Head of Department (AHoD) with Partnership responsibility and the setting will identify an appropriate intervention.
- The AHoD with Partnership responsibility receives regular updates of the visits made to all schools/colleges/settings identified as RI or Inadequate, in order to monitor training provision.
After the commencement of Professional Practice:
- If a setting is identified as RI or Inadequate during the professional practice, the AHoD with Partnership responsibility will ensure that the Partnership Quality Officer and the Visiting Tutor are made aware, and that the Visiting Tutor undertakes a visit to the setting within one week of notification.
- After the visit, the Visiting Tutor will complete additional information on the Partnership Database which will identify if they have concerns about the quality of training.
- If a Visiting Tutor identifies a concern, they will be prompted to contact the Course Leader/Professional Practice Leader with details of their concern. The Course Leader/Professional Practice Leader in agreement with the AHoD with Partnership responsibility and the setting will identify an appropriate intervention.
- During the Professional Practice a Partnership Quality Officer (PQO) will visit the school and report any concerns to AHoD with Partnership responsibility and Programme/Course/Professional Practice Leader.
Reviewed February 2017
[1] Using indicators including:
IDACI – 0.2 and above
Free School Meals 35% and above
Pupil Premium
[2] In FET Personal Tutors undertake the role of the Visiting Tutor