NASBTT has worked with Corazon Health to offer a bespoke Occupational Health process specifically designed for Initial Teacher Training and determining the adjustment(s) a trainee might need in order to fulfil the typical demands of the teaching role.

ITT organisations must 'have regard to the relevent aspects of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) requirements when assessing trainees' health and physical capacity to train to teach, so that children and young people are not at risk of harm' and must ensure that 'only trainees' who have the capciaty to teach remain on the programme'.

ITT organisations are committed to furthering the equality of opportunity of individuals who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.

Process for applicants, recruits and trainees

Terminology

For the purposes of clarity, the following terms have been used:

  • Applicants to cover individuals who have not accepted a place on your programme
  • Recruits to cover those who have accepted a conditional offer of a place on a programme of ITT
  • Trainees to cover those who have accepted an offer and fulfilled all the conditions of the offer

Why are these terms important?

Under the terms of the Equality Act 2010, applicants may only be asked questions about their health and physical capacity to ensure adjustment(s) can be put in place to enable equality of access to the recruitment process.  Once an applicant has accepted a conditional offer of a place on a programme of ITT (i.e. become a recruit), they may be asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of targeted and relevant questions to ensure they have the health and physical capacity to train to teach prior to commencing the programme.

New Starter Questionnaire 

Recruits are required to complete most relevant New Starter Questionnaire related to the appropriate work pattern and work context.  This will determine whether reasonable adjustment(s) are required to enable a trainee to complete the ITT provider’s specific training programme.

All questionnaire responses will be confidential between the recruit and the Occupational Health provider. In some cases, a short telephone conversation may be required; rarely, a more detailed conversation may be required.

In order to give ITT providers the best chance to support any recruit’s needs, recruits must respond accurately, honestly and promptly to this process.

The following descriptions of the role, person specification, typical work patterns and work contexts in which they are undertaken should give a clear idea of the expectations of the role.

Work patterns and work contexts

It must be understood that the reasonable adjustment(s) made for trainees and accepted by the ITT provider are for the purposes of teacher training.  ITT providers are not in a position to guarantee that the same adjustment(s) would be offered in future employment.  All ITT providers will inform recruits before the training commences if they are concerned the adjustment(s) proposed may not be deemed reasonable in future employment as a teacher.