PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

Transcription

1 PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT Department for Teacher Development The Partnership Agreement is a working document that can be used to guide and inform the contributions of each partner, and help to support coherent arrangements across the various contexts in which the training takes place. This Agreement is underpinned by other practices, such as well-understood procedures for communication between the partners and agreed arrangements for the coordination of the training developed overtime with our Partnership schools and settings. This Agreement is made in compliance with the requirements for Initial Teacher Education as laid out in the National College for Teaching and Leadership ITT Criteria Supporting Evidence. The Agreement clarifies the commitments of all stakeholders entering the Partnership. Schools and settings will retain the right to withdraw from the Partnership and The University of Winchester will retain the right to decide not to renew the Partnership Agreement with the School or setting, but both parties agree not to do so unreasonably and to refer proposals to withdraw from or not to renew this agreement to the Partnership Advisory Committee. Rationale The purpose of the Winchester Partnership is to design and deliver an inspiring context for students intending to enter the teaching or EY profession, enabling them to not only meet the Teachers Standards or Teachers Standards (Early Years), but to go beyond them. This takes into account the cyclical process of development and reflection that will continue throughout a professional s career and extends the transition between training and employment. Roles and Responsibilities of the Partnership The role of each partner within the Partnership is set out in the appropriate University of Winchester Partnership Experience handbook and is available on the University Learning Network (LN). for ITE for EYITT. The password will be included with your student placement information pack. As an equal partner, Partnership schools and settings have a key role in the recruiting, selecting, training and assessment of trainee teachers. Partnership schools and settings are also involved in quality assurance procedures, as well as contributing to the content and delivery of each of the training programmes. 1

2 It is important that all trainers and students are clear about who is responsible for elements of training and assessment, how provision is managed and how the elements fit together to ensure training addresses all the Standards. The different roles within the partnership including, for example, programme and course leaders, mentors, tutors, training managers and internal and external moderators can be found in the handbooks; these will be available on the Learning Network as appropriate. These documents identify how partners can contribute towards: selecting and interviewing applicants, moderating assessment judgments of students against the Teachers Standards, providing professional development opportunities for colleagues within the partnership, student access to resources, any course and/or programme committees, quality assurance including improvement planning and self-evaluation, the promotion of equality of opportunity, and the safeguarding of children and young people. For collaborative partners providing a salaried route, they must ensure that all schools or settings where students undertake any additional teaching experience understand and agree to the partnership roles and responsibilities and have the capacity to provide the necessary training and support. They should sign the Partnership Agreement and return it to the Partnership Office. Quality Assurance: Supporting Students De-selection Criteria The students entitlement to a quality experience is the central purpose of the University of Winchester Partnership. Where any of the criteria cannot be met by Partnership Schools and settings or their staff at any particular time, careful consideration will be given by the Management Team, in conjunction, where appropriate, with the relevant Partnership Advisory Committee, as to the appropriateness of a placement. It may be considered necessary on occasion to de-select schools or settings from the Partnership. Any party, including the student, may raise a concern about performance and operation of a placement where needs are identified, targets set and support mechanisms indicated with specific timeframes. 2

3 Student causing concern Any student causing concern should normally have the opportunity to be observed and supported by a range of individuals, including the teacher tutor, Headteacher, Setting Manager or member of the Senior Management Team and a moderating University tutor. The details of the procedures for students causing concern are identified in the Placement Handbook, available on the University of Winchester Learning Network. If it becomes necessary to amend the programme procedures, as required by changes in government policy or change at a local or national level, partners will be informed of the change in writing at least one month before the change is implemented. No applicant can be awarded a qualification or status prior to full and final payment of the fees due to the University of Winchester. Partners Commitments In signing this document, each partner agrees to: fulfil their responsibilities with respect to access to relevant staff and resources to enable the student to fulfil their role support the programmes learning principles, aims and objectives, as indicated in documentation and training sessions ensure that learning intentions are clearly communicated and the style of delivery is appropriate to the users provide the student with sufficient opportunities to achieve evidence towards all Teachers Standards or Teachers Standards (Early Years) undertake appropriate support, formal monitoring and classroom observation during periods of assessment ensure that all stakeholders evaluate activities and respond effectively to feedback comply with all current legislation relevant to safeguarding, data protection, equality and diversity legislation 3

4 provide prompt financial reimbursement in accordance with agreed rates accept the final judgements made by the University of Winchester in line with agreed procedures and policies Equality The University of Winchester s Faculty of Education, Health & Social Care recognises and welcomes our positive duties under the conditions of the Equality Act, We will continue to work closely with partners, including all those schools and settings within which students are placed, to ensure that no member of our staff or student communities experience direct or indirect discrimination because of an association with or perception of their protected characteristics : age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief (including lack thereof), sex, or sexual orientation. The Faculty acts upon the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the act, both within university learning and teaching environments and in partner settings. The Faculty is clear that its third party liability in relation to harassment extends to the valued public sector partners with whom we share the effort to advance equality of opportunity between people with protected characteristics and those without. With our partners, we seek to tackle prejudice and foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not. We have due regard, in particular, to the need to remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by people who share a relevant protected characteristic and which are associated with that characteristic; and we continue to encourage those with relevant protected characteristics to participate in the life of the Faculty and the University, and in all those aspects of public life where participation of such people is disproportionately low. We celebrate the ongoing efforts of all those members of our staff and student communities and our Partnership community to build good relations and promote understanding. 4

5 Health and Safety As a Partnership setting.. we have: a written Health and Safety policy covering its activities; a policy regarding health and safety training (including induction training) for people working in its undertaking; Employer and Public Liability Insurance (please see below); risk assessments which we keep under regular review and implement results; a formal procedure for reporting and recording accidents and incidents in accordance with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) and other legislation; emergency procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger to people at work in its undertaking; we will provide: all the necessary health and safety training and safety equipment for the placement student as appropriate to their role in the school/college/nursery/organisation; we will carry out: risk assessment of its practices to identify possible risks whether to employees or to others within its undertaking; we will report to the University: all recorded accidents involving placement students; any sickness involving placement students which may be attributable to the work. 5

6 DEPARTMENT FOR TEACHER DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT Please sign below and return the original to the University. Please retain a copy for your records. By signing this Agreement, you agree that you have read and accept the terms set down in the University of Winchester Partnership Agreement including the Health and Safety Statements. Employer and Public Liability Insurance If this is held by a local authority please insert name of LA.. (The University has written confirmation from LAs of this insurance) OR If this is held by the school, setting or another body please provide details of the insurer and expiry date or enclose a copy of the broker s letter Please note that these insurances should cover any liability incurred by a placement student as a result of his/her duties as an employee (Once students are on placement they are perceived as employees for the purposes of health and safety law; this means that the placement school / setting / organisation has the same duty of care towards them as regards health and safety measures as any other employee. See section 6.5 of the Partnership Agreement for further details) Signed: Date: 01 September 2014 Print Name: Role: On behalf of Kriss Turner Director for Teacher Development The University of Winchester Signed: Date: Print Name: Role: Name of School / Setting: URN: Please return this page only to: ITE Partnership Office, Room 115,Faculty of Education Health and Social Care, St Grimbalds Court, The University of Winchester, Hampshire, S022 4NR Fax: