Quality Mark your supplementary school

The NRCSE Quality Mark builds on Section 11 of the Children’s Act 2004 and addresses eight standards in educational provision:

1. Create an effective learning environment
2. Teach effectively
3. Record progress and achievement
4. Choose the right resources
5. Plan and develop your organisation
6. Select and support staff and volunteers
7. Make sure that children are safe
8. Manage finances

The NRCSE provides free self-evaluation resources and online guidance on minimum safeguarding standards on our website www.supplementaryeducation.org.uk Downloadable templates and discounted training can be accessed by subscribing to NRCSE. Contact details for agencies providing support in the school’s local authority area are also provided. The NSPCC has recently updated their toolkit of safeguarding standards and guidance in line with Section 11 guidelines so that is a good place to start if your local safeguarding children board isn’t responding quickly. Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 places duties on a range of agencies and individuals to ensure their functions, and any services that they contract out to others, are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. You can contact your local safeguarding children board to obtain details of the support provided in your area to meet these standards.

In order to apply for an NRCSE Quality Mark a supplementary school must:

• Meet the stated Section 11/safeguarding requirements for the local authority, and
• provide up-to-date information on the services it provides, and
• have received a visit from an appropriate person*.

To check whether you are ready to attend a Quality Recognition Meeting – self-assess your provision here.

Following an NRCSE Quality Recognition Meeting the school will receive a detailed report highlighting good practice and containing recommendations for development. Successful recognition will entitle the school to carry the NRCSE Quality Mark and the quality assurance report will be publicly available on the NRCSE Online Directory of Supplementary Schools (unless the supplementary school has provided a written request not to be publicly listed).

*nationally qualified member of teaching staff (not your school), or Children’s Services, or registered NRCSE quality mentor

Once you have achieved an NRCSE Quality Mark, celebrate!

These three Bradford schools asked their MP to invite them to the Houses of Parliament to present their certificates. Naz Shah MP was very happy to do so, see below. They also had a tour, listened to Prime Minister’s Question Time in the House of Commons and had tea and biscuits in fancy Houses of Parliament teacups! Bradford Council also had an event where all the pupils performed and councillors, education staff and families and friends recognised their achievement.