SWSC 1 - 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning
City Centre Campus, Dumballs Road, Cardiff, CF10 5FE
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Identifying Policies and procedures
Staff
Policies and procedures relating to staff in schools and colleges encompass a comprehensive framework designed to ensure safe, fair, and professional working environments. These include recruitment and selection processes with vetting and barring through DBS checks to safeguard children, alongside clear procedures for handling allegations of abuse against staff. Health and safety policies, incorporating risk assessments, are critical to protect employees and comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, while equal opportunities policies promote fairness and prevent discrimination in all employment practices.
Performance management, staff appraisal, training, and development procedures support continuous professional growth and accountability, ensuring staff can effectively contribute to teaching and learning objectives. Staff discipline, conduct, and grievance policies provide structured mechanisms to address concerns, maintain professional standards, and resolve disputes impartially. These policies not only protect staff rights but also align with legislative requirements, fostering consistency, trust, and a positive school culture.
By integrating these policies, schools meet their duty to support staff in delivering high-quality education while managing risks and upholding ethical standards. They create a cohesive operational structure that benefits the entire school community—staff, students, and parents—by promoting welfare, well-being, and effective service provision in line with Welsh educational governance and national legislation.
Student Welfare
Policies and procedures relating to student welfare in schools and colleges form a vital framework to promote safeguarding, health, and emotional well-being, ensuring every child is protected from harm and supported in a safe environment. Core policies include safeguarding, anti-bullying, and discipline and pupil behaviour, which outline proactive measures to prevent abuse, harassment, or misconduct, alongside clear procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to incidents in line with the Children Act 1989 and the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. Health and safety policies, supported by regular risk assessments, along with the management and administration of medicines, ensure physical safety and appropriate medical care, while the food policy promotes nutrition and addresses dietary needs.
Accessibility plans and additional safeguarding-focused policies—such as those covering child sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, extremism (Prevent Duty), and children missing education—further strengthen welfare provision by addressing diverse risks and vulnerabilities. These policies often integrate with broader wellbeing strategies, incorporating support for mental health, eating disorders, and domestic abuse through initiatives like Operation Encompass. By embedding clear procedures for staff training, parental involvement, and multi-agency collaboration, schools fulfil their legal and moral duty to prioritise student welfare, fostering inclusive, nurturing environments that enable all learners to thrive academically and personally.
Teaching and Learning
Policies and procedures relating to teaching and learning in schools and colleges establish a structured framework to ensure equitable access, high-quality curriculum delivery, and inclusive educational experiences for all pupils. Key policies include the admissions policy, which sets transparent criteria for entry; the curriculum policy, outlining content aligned with the Early Years Foundation Phase and national standards; and inclusion and equal opportunities policies, which promote diversity and prevent discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Additional needs policies, supported by the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018, mandate Individual Development Plans and collaboration with health boards, while English as an Additional Language (EAL) procedures provide tailored language support to enable full participation.
Homework, attendance, and sex education policies reinforce consistent expectations and personal development, with clear procedures for monitoring progress, addressing absences, and delivering age-appropriate relationships education. Exclusion of pupils policies outline fair, lawful processes for managing severe behavioural issues, ensuring decisions are evidence-based and subject to review. Together, these policies and procedures foster effective teaching practices, accountability in learning outcomes, and a supportive environment that meets legislative requirements, enabling every learner to achieve their potential in a fair and stimulating setting.