From the onset, Step Teachers has pledged to be safer recruitment and compliance best practices trailblazers and our membership with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has been central to this. Step Teachers were early adopters of the REC’s Quality Mark before it evolved into the REC Audited Education gold standard and have done so since.
In 2017 we became the first supply teaching agency to achieve 100% in the Education Audit Online Diagnostic and we have since repeated this achievement three more times. The safety of the children in our care is of paramount importance, making this a proud moment for everyone at Step Teachers.
The REC's Education Audited status serves as a testament to our alignment with The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003, the REC Code of Professional Practice, and safeguarding protocols for the welfare of children. Our vetting procedures have been meticulously crafted to not only meet but also exceed the requirements outlined in the 2023 guidance document 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' by the Department for Education and the Disclosure & Barring Service DBS. At Step Teachers comprehensive training is provided to all our staff to ensure their adherence to the REC Code of Professional Practice.
Furthermore, the REC's Education Audited status installs confidence in headteachers and parents, reassuring them that our agency workers undergo thorough pre-employment checks and receive continuous professional development and support.
Additionally, an increasing number of multi-academy trusts engaging in procurement frameworks consider the REC Education Audited status as one of the essential credentials that a recruitment company must possess to serve their schools or trusts.
Marios Georgiou, our Co-founder & Chairman, sits on the REC’s Education Sector Executive Committee and writes, ‘As the professional body for recruitment, the REC plays a vital role in establishing best practice among recruitment agencies. They are determined to not only uphold standards of best practice but to offer SMEs the help and support they need to thrive. Moreover, the REC works hard to represent the recruitment sector by liaising with the party in government to ensure that government policy enables the sector to grow while protecting the rights of workers.’