Model Terms of Reference Teaching Assistant Agreement Assistant: Host School: Both being the “Parties” Dates of Placement: Under this agreement the Assistant shall perform their duties as a teaching assistant and the Host School shall host the Assistant and provide professional support, a monthly allowance towards living costs and free accommodation. 1

Placement

1.1

The Assistant will begin a fixed term Placement with the Host School on (date).

1.2

The Placement will continue, subject to the remaining terms of this agreement, until it is terminated on (date) without the need for notice.

1.3

The Host School will provide the Assistant with teaching training and development opportunities and training as well as accommodation and an allowance towards living costs.

2

Place of work

2.1

The normal place for the Placement is: (full address of Host School)

2.2

The Host School shall ensure that the Assistant is not asked to provide their services at any other institution or location during the course of the Placement. The Host School shall ensure that the Assistant is satisfied with the working arrangements and is not incurring any unreasonable travel time or expenses.

3

Hours of Teaching Assistant Services

3.1

The Assistant will be required to provide teaching assistant services at the Host School premises during the Placement for five days per week with a maximum of 20 hours of teaching time in the classroom. In addition to the 20 hours of classroom time, the Assistant will be expected to set aside up to an additional 15 hours across these five days for lesson planning, co-curricular activities and staff meetings.

3.2

The nature and extent of the Assistant services will be detailed and agreed prior to the commencement of the Placement and a draft workplan will be completed and shared with the British Council at least a week prior to the start of the Placement.

3.3

The Host School shall give the Assistant two consecutive days off each week. These should in general be the same days each week and would normally be Saturday and Sunday. If the school does require the Assistant to work on one of their normal days off, they must give at least a week’s notice and must then agree another day off in lieu in return.

3.4

In the event that the Host School requires the Assistant to provide additional time and services over and above the contracted days and hours, the Host School must agree this in advance with the Assistant.

3.5

For the avoidance of doubt, during the Placement the Assistant shall not be rendered an employee, worker, agent or partner of the Host School or the British Council.

4

Living Allowance

4.1

The Assistant will be provided an allowance of XXXXXXX by the Host School as a contribution towards living expenses.

4.2

The Assistant will receive the living allowance by cash or bank transfer in [advance] and no later than the 10th of each month

4.3

The Host School will ensure that the final allowance contribution is provided to the Assistant no later than two (2) weeks before the Placement ends.

4.4

The allowance should be paid on a pro rata basis where the Assistant’s placement is not in full months.

5

Assistant’s responsibilities

The Assistant will: 

Cover the costs of a return flight, visa, criminal records, insurance.



Complete the relevant training and paperwork in advance of the placement.



Complete a criminal record check.



Attend the pre-departure and arrival induction briefings and participate in a Skype or telephone meeting with the Host School prior to the Placement.



Agree and complete the hosting agreement with the Host School within 7 days of confirming the placement.



Adhere at all times to the terms of the host agreement and the principles of the Code of Conduct as attached in Appendix 1 of this agreement.



Comply with all Host School policies of which they are notified, including but not restricted to policies relating to the environment, health and safety, child protection, dress code, internet usage, social-media usage and reporting absences from work.



Deliver work to the best of their ability and do their best to fully integrate into life at the Host School.



Sign an end of placement confirmation letter upon completion of the placement.



Complete an evaluation form following the placement.

6

Host School’s responsibilities

6.1

The Host School will:



Attend online Host School briefing in advance of hosting Assistants.



Agree and complete a signed agreement between the Host School and Assistant for the Placement including the British Council Code of Conduct within 7 days of confirming the placement.



Organise a safe and secure living and working environment for the Assistant. The accommodation arranged must be suitable for the Assistant, fully risk assessed and in compliance with British Council requirements.



Set up a planning meeting with the Assistant via Skype in advance of the placement and complete a draft work plan to be shared with the British Council

prior to the induction meeting. The work plan should be appropriate to the training and experience goals of the individual as well as aligning with the needs of the Host School. 

Attend induction meeting in India.



Organise and pay for travel for the Assistant from the induction to the Host School. The Host school must accompany the Assistant on this travel.



Provide local induction to the Host School including: o

introduction to the Host School staff

o

information on Host School rules and regulations

o

information and guidance on local laws and customs and the local area



Assign the Assistant a mentor from the staff of the Host School who will arrange regular weekly meetings with the Assistant and be the Assistant’s first point of contact for all support queries



an observation period of at least one week at the start of their placement.



Provide the Assistant with a minimum of one free afternoon or evening meal per day.



Do their best to fully integrate the Assistant into school life



Provide welfare support and pastoral care to the Assistant escalating to the British Council in India where necessary.



Ensure the regular payment of the Assistant’s allowance by the 10th of each month. The allowance may be given in cash or transferred to the Assistant’s local bank account if held. The final allowance must be paid at least 2 weeks in advance of the end of the Placement. The allowance should be paid on a pro rata basis where the Assistant’s placement is not in full months.



Ensure the Assistant is allowed at least 2 full free days each week.



Sign an end of placement confirmation letter upon completion of the placement.



Complete an evaluation form following the placement.

7

Holidays

7.1

The Assistant will be entitled to the all Host School and Indian public holidays. The Host School should share holiday dates in advance.

8

Sickness

8.1

If the Assistant is absent due to sickness or incapacity, then they or someone acting on their behalf must notify the Principal/mentor on the first day of absence from the Host School at the earliest possible opportunity, giving the reason for absence, first day of illness (including Saturday and Sunday) and the estimated duration of absence.

8.2

The Assistant should be covered by the Host School terms and conditions in relation to sick pay.

9

Dissatisfaction

9.1

If either party is dissatisfied with the Placement or has any other concerns, they must inform the other and give a minimum of seven working days for the issue to be resolved and the concerns addressed. If steps have not been taken to resolve the

issue after seven working days the issue must be escalated to the British Council who have a further seven working days to take steps to find a resolution. If a resolution cannot be reached by both parties then the Placement can be terminated in accordance with Clause 10.1. 10

Termination and notice period

10.1

Either party can terminate the Placement by providing 14 days written notice. The teaching assistant should be paid up until the date of termination.

10.2

Nothing in these terms and conditions prevents the Host School from terminating the Placement immediately, without notice, in the event of serious misconduct.

Signed by the duly authorised representative of [Insert the name of the Host School] Name:

............................................................... Signature: ..............................................................

Position:

...............................................................

Signed by [Insert name of the Assistant] Name:

............................................................... Signature: ..............................................................

Position:

...............................................................

Appendix 1 Generation UK-India Teaching Assistant Code of Conduct Assistants are reminded that the Placement is a professional role working with children. Colleagues in the Host School(s) in which you are appointed will expect you to behave in a responsible and professional manner. In cases of serious misconduct Assistants may be dismissed by their Host Schools and the Placement terminated. You should therefore ensure that you follow the guidelines below: 1) Dress should be smart. Take your lead from what the other teachers are wearing and ask them what is appropriate for that particular school. As you are in a professional situation please dress accordingly and respect the guidelines given; 2) Make sure that you are punctual for every lesson and, if possible, arrive before the class is due to begin; 3) You must observe the timetable that the school sets for you and attend school on those days. Always ask permission, in writing, from the Principal for any unscheduled day of leave that is a genuine emergency, and abide by the response; it is not acceptable just to leave a message with any other member of staff and assume permission is granted; 4) You should work under the guidance/direction of the responsible class teacher(s). 5) You are obliged to work for five days per week at the Host School premises. A maximum of 20 hours can be assigned to teaching in the classroom and up to an additional 15 hours to attend staff meetings, prepare for lessons and undertake cocurricular activities. Any changes to these conditions should be by mutual agreement. 6) Find out as soon as you arrive what the procedure is if you have to report in sick and make sure you speak at the earliest opportunity to the appropriate member of staff when genuinely incapacitated by illness and unable to take classes; ask your school what the procedure is for providing a doctor’s certificate to justify your absence ; 7) Offer formally to make up any class missed on account of personal illness or any other reasons; 8) Prepare thoroughly and in advance for lessons; check what is expected of you; 9) If your accommodation is on school premises, abide by the school’s regulations regarding noise, visitors etc. 10) If you find yourself unsupervised with a student, conduct the class with the door left open so that you can be observed at all times.

11) Under no circumstances should you ever have physical contact with a child/student, not even in a friendly or encouraging way.

12) You should always be aware of your behaviour and relationship with the students, and check if these are appropriate in the foreign school. 13) You are encouraged and expected to use the internet for professional purposes and you can usually do so at your Host School. However you should check with your mentor when you can and cannot use the internet. If you access pornographic and other unsuitable sites (even accidentally) on school computers, you could be dismissed from your Placement. 14) You should be very careful about how you use social networking sites (such as Facebook) during your Placement. Keep your profile private so that it can only be seen by people you intend to see it. You should never swap personal contact details with pupils or invite them to be ‘friends’, or accept similar invitations from them, as this is regarded as inappropriate behaviour and could lead the termination of the Placement. 15) If disciplinary rules are broken a verbal warning will be given; if your performance does not improve, a written warning will follow which may lead to termination of the Placement. 16) You should behave appropriately in and outside of school grounds and always consider the local community you are a part of during your Placement. You should treat local customs and laws with respect. Poor behaviour outside of the School grounds and your capacity as an Assistant can also be considered as grounds for terminating the Placement. I, the undersigned, agree to adhere to the code of conduct.

Name of Assistant:

Signature:

Date: