Suffolk and Norfolk Initial Teacher Training

High quality teacher training in local schools


SNITT School Placement Policy

Rationale

Our purpose is to continue to support high standards in schools by attracting able and committed people to teaching and to provide high quality initial teacher training.

Aims

To provide a broad, rich and varied school-based experience for trainees that:

  • enables them to develop high levels of knowledge, understanding and skills in the learning and teaching of the age range for which they are trained
  • fulfils TDA requirements
  • enables trainees to meet the Standards

Placement Schools

Careful consideration will be given to the placement of each trainee to enable him/her to have training in at least two schools that give complementary experiences.

In particular, it is our policy that school-based experience should not be in schools associated with the trainee.

To this end, trainees will not be placed in schools in which:

  • They have been employed
  •  They have family or other significant connections

This policy aims to protect all parties and to ensure that no one is put into a position where judgements may be questioned or compromised. It is designed to ensure fair and equal access to training.

Exceptional circumstances will be investigated as necessary (e.g. instructors on training grant only, where there are no family or other significant connections, may be treated slightly differently). The Steering Group, whose decision is final, will decide each case on an individual basis.

When allocating trainees to schools, the following key principles will guide decisions:

  • The benefit to the trainee should be at the heart of any decision
  • The trainee’s individual circumstances must be taken into account, for example, disability, transport restrictions, role as a carer
  • The length of service and type of appointment held by the trainee within a school may be significant factors in any decision (e.g. Instructors on Training Grant only with limited service may be allowed to remain in the employing school)
  • The range of schools already experienced by the trainee may be taken into consideration
  • The availability of suitable placement schools locally may also be a factor

Where any appeal against a decision is sought, the Suffolk and Norfolk Initial Teacher Training Primary and Secondary Steering Groups, whose decisions are final, will decide each case on an individual basis.

This information will be placed on the SNITT website and applicants will be asked to declare all interests.

This policy will be reviewed annually.