17Apr 2020 by admin

Cheapest Ways to Homeschool the Kids

At the start of the year, very few of us thought that by the Easter holidays we'd be stepping into the shoes of their teachers. Schools have been shut in most parts of the UK since mid-March. Parents were told that they weren't expected to be professional educators. But all of us want to do our best and keep the kids learning during lockdown. Homeschool doesn't have to mean spending a fortune on materials, or trying to replicate what the teachers do in class. Homeschool - What is it? Schools vary in their approach to what parents are expected to do when schools are shut. Very few schools will expect parents to be sitting down with their children from 9am to 3pm teaching maths or English. Many schools are using…
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02Apr 2020 by admin

Criminal Records Checks When Working Overseas

Thousands of us every year take the opportunity to work overseas. Whether it's a gap year working your way around the Far East, or a longer posting elsewhere in Europe, it's an experience not to be missed. There's a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy involved too. One of the most common requirements is for criminal records checks. Overseas employers want to make sure that you're trustworthy, honest and don't have a lengthy criminal record. However, there are some different rules and regulations when it comes to applying for a disclosure check for an overseas employer. UK Criminal Records Checks It's important to be clear what we're talking about here. If you live in the UK and work for a company based overseas, you aren't classed as a foreign worker. Just…
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19Feb 2020 by admin

Disclosure Certificates – Stages of the Process

One of the main advantages of applying for Disclosure Certificates online is that you can track your application through the system. This can reassure you that your application is progressing as it should. However, if you're not up to speed with the different stages, and what they mean, it gets trickier. There are five main stages between sitting down to fill in the form, and the certificate arriving in the post. Stage 1  - The application form The first step is filling in the application form. It's easiest - and quickest - to do this online, but there is also a paper alternative. This is the stage of the process at which there is the opportunity for applicant error. On the other hand, get it right, and the following stages…
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25Sep 2019 by admin

Criminal Records Checks and Tutors

Education in the UK is a pressurised business. Very young children take SATS tests and the 11 plus system is still the norm in many parts of the country. That's even before you get to the secondary school exams of GCSE or A-level. Most parents want their children to do as well as possible in school. If you can pay some extra to get a bit of professional help, most parents think it's well worth it. But how, as a parent, do you check up on the person who is advertising tuition for your child? Is it possible to get criminal records checks or DBS checks? Here's everything you need to know and think about. Registered teachers and criminal records checks Often, the very best option for tuition is to…
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01Jun 2019 by admin

Criminal Records Checks and Students

It's that time of year again. The University exams are over. Students across the country are looking for ways to fill the long summer months before Uni starts again in the autumn. Many will be looking for some sort of paid work to refill their bank accounts after a year at Uni. Having work experience behind you, especially in a relevant field, is of huge benefit when it comes to applying for graduate positions. But what happens if the jobs you are applying for needs criminal records checks? Do the same rules apply to students as to everyone else?   Criminal Records Checks - Not for All Jobs The first point to remember is that criminal records checks are not a requirement for every position. These sorts of checks used…
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23May 2019 by admin

Unregistered Schools – Ofsted calls for crackdown

Ofsted, the organisation in England and Wales which regulates schools, has raised serious concerns about the number of unregistered schools. In the past three years, Ofsted has uncovered more than 500 illegal schools. But what exactly makes a school illegal, and why as parents should we be worried? What is an Unregistered School? There's a fairly tight legal definition in British law of a "school". An illegal school is one which sits outside local authority control. In this way it is similar to an independent or fee-paying school, but with one key difference. Reputable private or independent schools register with Ofsted and other bodies and go through testing and monitoring. Illegal schools choose not to do this. A school is usually defined as somewhere giving education to 5 children or…
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14Apr 2019 by admin

Recruiting Volunteers – Can you do the same checks?

Millions of organisations across the world depend on volunteer labour. Good causes would grind to a halt if it wasn't for their volunteers. The main issue which most charities have is recruiting volunteers. Anyone who has been involved in a charity or club which uses volunteers knows that getting people can be tough. Especially people who are prepared to commit regularly. So how do you go about getting people to sign up as volunteers? And equally importantly, what sorts of checks do they need? Recruiting Volunteers - Finding the Right People The first battle any organisation faces is finding people who are interested in volunteering. For charities with a limited advertising budget, this can be difficult. Social media is useful in these cases. Send out Facebook posts, email supporters, tweet…
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04Apr 2019 by admin

DBS Checks and Being Charged to Work?

The system of DBS checks has been around for over a decade now, but the system is still largely misunderstood. This sort of check used to be called CRB checks, or criminal records bureau checks. It's a system of checking up on people who want to work in positions of responsibility. A DBS check is needed for a wide range of jobs, and often, employers will ask for the certificate before you start. One of the biggest employment sectors needing disclosure checks is healthcare. And recent reports seem to suggest that new starts in the NHS are being asked to pay for their own checks. What NHS Jobs Need DBS Checks? Don't automatically assume that every job working in the NHS will need criminal records checks. However, many will. Even…
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15Mar 2019 by admin

First Aid Volunteer

It's one of those life skills which we all hope we'll never have to use. First aiders are a common sight at major public events, and in the workplace. Having the ability to step in and act when there's a crisis can give you a feeling of control. First aid volunteer organisations are popular with people of all ages, from young teenagers to older, retired people. If it's something you want to get involved in, what do you need to know? What sort of organisations recruit first aid volunteer staff? There is a wide range of organisations in the UK which provide training in first aid. Perhaps the two best known organisations are the Red Cross and the St John's Ambulance. St Andrew's First Aid does the same job as…
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01Mar 2019 by admin

Police Clearance Certificate

Most of us are aware of things like CRB checks and DBS checks. We've maybe even applied for a check to take up a new job, or voluntary position. But have you heard of the police clearance certificate? This is another type of background check which some people need. The circumstances are fairly specific, but it's important to understand the system to avoid confusion at a later date. ACRO and Police Clearance Certificates ACRO is the Criminal Records Office in England and Wales. It does a similar job to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) but has important differences too. DBS checks are usually done when you are applying for a new job. The type of job determines the type of DBS check which is needed. However, this type of…
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