4th May 2020

DfE Framework

DfE Framework Facts

What is the purpose of the framework?

help schools get value for money
set standard practice for safeguarding checks
set standard practice for agency fees

The agencies that have signed up to be part of this deal have agreed to:

complete thorough checks on all their workers
have relevant accreditation
be open about their rates – showing the mark-up they charge
give schools the opportunity to avoid paying temp-to-perm fees
always tell you that they’re part of the deal
offer the terms they agreed as part of the deal first

How do schools know who is accredited/what is the process?

find a list of local agencies who can provide you with the teacher or other worker you need
find an agency that can manage all your agency worker needs – a ‘managed service provider’
check the rates the agencies charge
find out how much you’ll be charged if you make an agency worker permanent

How to get the tool

We emailed the tool to all schools. If you do not have it, email supplyteacher.deal@education.gov.uk using your school email address listed on get information about schools.

How to use the tool when hiring a worker

Enter the kind of worker you want and your postcode or unique reference number (URN). This will give you a list of local agencies who can supply what you need, ordered by the mark-up they charge.
Ask for a quote – they must offer the terms they agreed with us, but you can still try to negotiate a better deal if you want.
Follow your usual way of assessing quotes and hiring staff.
Once agreed, you’ll need to sign an agreement with the agency to confirm that the worker has been assigned, that they are being provided under the terms of the deal and the agency rates are what they agreed to offer under the deal.
The invoice the agency send you should break down the total cost to show the cost for the worker and the agency’s fees.

CHARGES AND TERMS

Agencies can charge if you give one of their workers a permanent or fixed-term job paid directly by you. These are called ‘temp-to-perm fees’.
The agencies in the deal have all agreed to limit how much they charge. They will not charge at all if the worker has been in post for over 12 weeks and you give them 4 weeks’ notice.
Use the tool to see how much the fees will be or to avoid a fee entirely. Check different dates to find the cheapest day to make the worker permanent.

Fixed-term fees

All the agencies that are part of the deal can find fixed-term workers for you. You then employ and pay the worker directly.
It’s your responsibility as the employer to conduct background and safeguarding checks. Find out more about your responsibilities.
The agency will charge a one-off ‘finder’s fee’ for finding you the worker. Under the deal the most they can charge is their mark-up for the worker’s pro-rata salary for the length of the contract.

If you make a fixed-term worker permanent

If you make the fixed-term worker permanent up to 6 months after their temporary assignment ends, the agencies may also charge a ‘worker transfer fee’. Use the tool to work out how much this will be and how you can avoid paying a fee.

Checks the agencies do on workers

The agencies on the deal must provide evidence that they’ve done these background and safeguarding checks on every worker:

face-to-face interviews
identity
proof of address
right to work
professional registration and qualification as appropriate
10 year employment history
references covering last 2 years
disclosure and barring service (DBS) – including barred list information if needed
overseas criminal record checks, where workers have lived or worked abroad for over 6 months
making sure the worker is not subject to any current General Teaching Council for England or Teaching Regulation Agency sanction or restriction, or been disqualified from working with children
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act declarations
fitness to work declarations