In the world of education recruitment, especially within supply teaching, compliance checks are more than just a box-ticking exercise—they’re essential.
With supply teachers stepping into classrooms on short notice and often in unfamiliar environments, ensuring that the right checks are in place isn’t just about safeguarding students, “It’s about maintaining the integrity and professionalism of the entire education sector. Something that is incredibly important to us here at Zest Education.” says Beth Mercer, Head of Operations at Zest, and the agency’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
What Are Compliance Checks, and Why Do They Matter?
Compliance checks are an absolute MUST to ensure that candidates meet the necessary legal and regulatory standards before they are placed in schools. For Zest Education this includes meeting the candidate in person, verifying qualifications, conducting background checks, and ensuring that the candidate is suitable to work with children.
As a member of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) the agency’s dedicated compliance team performs rigorous checks to guarantee that all educators placed in schools are fully vetted, trained, and prepared for their roles, whatever that role might be.
Beth says, “It’s not just a regulatory requirement for us – it’s a moral code. After all, schools are entrusting us with the safety and education of their students.”
Compliance in Supply Teaching: The Unique Challenges
Compliance when it comes to placing supply teachers and support staff comes with its own set of challenges.
Often working across multiple schools, sometimes at short notice, makes the compliance process even more crucial to get right.
Unlike permanent staff, supply teachers and support staff may not have the same level of familiarity with the school’s culture, students, or policies. This variability underscores the need for rigorous and consistent compliance checks.
“For us, this means going beyond the basics. It’s never just about ticking boxes, it’s about ensuring that our candidates are fully briefed on the standards expected of them, that they’re familiar with safeguarding protocols, and equipped to step into a classroom and make a positive impact from day one.” says Beth
Why It’s More Than Just Red Tape
Zest’s compliance process is as streamlined as possible to ensure it’s fast but effective. Checks are performed by the Zest team that many agencies do not carry out, simply because the agency wants to be 100% certain that the best quality candidates are being placed into schools.
When asked whether candidates can become frustrated with the amount of checks (or ‘red tape’) involved in the compliance process, Beth confirmed,
“We sometimes do face questions about why our compliance process is so robust, particularly from those new to the education sector, and our answer is always the same, it’s about building trust.
Schools need to know they can rely on the candidates that we place with them, parents need peace of mind about who’s teaching their children, and we need to uphold our reputation as responsible recruiters. Our team are always available to answer questions about the process, but usually it’s understood how important this step of the recruitment journey is.”
“Ultimately, in a sector built on trust and responsibility, cutting corners is not an option for us.”
Building a Culture of Compliance
Creating a culture of compliance within an agency doesn’t happen overnight.
Beth says, “We’ve spent years developing bespoke training programmes, ensuring that there’s clear communication between our consultants and their candidates about the entire process and, importantly, getting commitment from everyone involved in the recruitment process to this culture.”
When compliance is seen as a shared responsibility, rather than an administrative burden, it becomes an integral part of the agency’s ethos.
“We will always invest in ongoing training for our compliance team, keep up-to-date with regulatory changes, and engage with professional bodies like the REC to stay at the forefront of industry standards” says Beth of the high standard of internal training when it comes to compliance.
The Bottom Line
Compliance checks are the backbone of Zest Education’s work in the dynamic world of supply for education.
The expert team of consultants and compliance leads ensure that every candidate stepping into a classroom is not just qualified, but also trusted and prepared to contribute positively to the learning environment.
By living and breathing the REC standards and fostering a culture of compliance, Zest Education can guarantee all schools that they provide a service that exceeds expectations, creating a safer and more reliable education system for everyone.
It’s what Zest’s core values are all about: Personable. Honest. Professional.
Zest Education is an award winning recruitment agency specialising in education recruitment, supplying teaching and support staff to educational settings across Staffordshire and the West Midlands.
Since 2014 Zest Education has been using their vast experience to build genuine relationships, making perfect matches for candidates and schools and ensuring the best results for everyone.
For further information on how Zest Education Ltd. can support your school, please visit www.zesteducation.co.uk
