EASTHAMPSTEAD PARK COMMUNITY SCHOOL G OVERNOR INDUCTION POLICY THE

Induction Policy

Easthampstead Park Community School

overnor Induction Policy

The Governing Body and Headteacher believe it is essential that all new governors receive a comprehensive induction package covering a broad range of issues and topics. There is a commitment to ensure that the new governors are given the necessary information and support to fulfil their role with confidence. The process is seen as an investment, leading to more effective governance and retention of governors.

The purpose of the policy is:

To welcome new governors to the Governing Body and enable them to meet other members.
To encourage new governors to visit the school to experience its atmosphere and understand its ethos.
To meet the Headteacher, staff and students.
To explain the partnership between the Headteacher, school and Governing Body.
To explain the role and responsibilities of governors.
To explain how the Governing Body and its committees work.
To enable new governors to join the committee(s) of their choice.
To give background material on the school and current issues.
To enable new governors to ask questions about their role and/or the school.

New governors will:

Be welcomed to the Governing Body by the Chair.
Be invited by the Headteacher to visit the school.
Have the opportunity to tour the school and meet staff and students.
Receive an informal briefing on the school from the Headteacher.
Have the opportunity to meet informally with an existing governor; possibly with other new Governors.
Will be offered an existing Governor who will then act as their mentor.
Be accompanied by their mentor to their first full Governing Body meeting (if required).
Have the opportunity to review their first meeting with the mentor.
Need to be DBS checked.

New governors will receive:

Welcome letter *

DfE Governance Handbook November 2015 available on line on the School Management website (see below)
Governors’ Standing Orders and Code of Practice.
Education Authority's governor training programme. (This comes direct from the LA)
School Prospectus.
Details of the Governing Body’s committees including their terms of reference.
Dates for future governors' meetings including committees.
Details of how to contact the other governors.
The following policies:
- School Visits Policy and information regarding Link Governors and visits protocol
- Governors’ Allowances Policy.
- Financial Management Policy
- Whistleblowing Policy
- Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

It is suggested that governors become familiar with the school website where they will find:

A calendar of school events
Recent editions of the school’s Parents’ Bulletin
Governors’ Policies

New governors are also recommended to read:

The School Development Plan.
The latest Ofsted report and action plan.
Policy documents relevant to committee membership.

NB Much useful information about governors and schools can be found on the School Management website: http://schools.bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Areas that the Headteacher will cover include:

Background to the school.
Current issues facing the school.
Visiting the school.
The relationship between the Headteacher and Governing Body.

Areas that the mentor will cover include:

An overview of the governor's role.
How the full Governing Body and committee meetings are conducted.
How to propose agenda items.
Governor training.

Reviewed and Revised: March 2016

Responsibility for Implementation and Review: Governors' Steering Committee

Date of Next Review: Spring 2019

Example ‘Welcome’ letter to new governors

?????? 2010

Dear ????

Appointment to Easthampstead Park Community School’s Governing Body

Appropriate sentence according to type of governor. The Chair of Governors and the Headteacher have been informed of your appointment. Please note that your term of office will end on ????

I am enclosing a copy of our ‘Instrument of Governance’, a ‘Declaration of Qualification as a Governor’ form, a ‘School Business Interests’ form and our own school governor details form. Your appointment as a Governor cannot be confirmed until such time as I am in receipt of the completed ‘Declaration’. I would be grateful if you could complete the forms and return them to me at the school at your earliest convenience. In the near future, inevitably, there will be more paperwork.

Our next main Governor Meeting is on Monday, ???? at 6:00 pm and you would be very welcome if you are able to attend. The agenda and supporting documents will be sent before that date. Feel free to contact me at [email protected] for further information and to confirm whether you will be coming to the meeting.

I will shortly send you an Induction Pack to introduce you to the school and the Governing Body. Both the Head and the Chair of Governors will also contact you. A different Induction Pack will be sent to you by the Borough together with details of the Governor Induction Course.

May I take this opportunity to welcome you to the Governing Body and to thank you for your interest in serving our school community and to wish you success as a Governor.

Yours sincerely

Penny Thompson

Clerk to the Governors

Encs

Instrument of Governance

Declaration of Qualification as a Governor form

School Business Interests form

School governor details form

New governor checklist

Have you been?
Welcomed to the Governing Body by the Chair
Invited by the Headteacher to visit the school
Taken on a tour of the school and met staff and students
Given an informal briefing on the school from the Headteacher
Able to meet informally with an existing governor
Have you been offered an existing Governor to act as your Mentor?
Reviewed the first meeting with the mentor
Logged on to the Governors’ Virtual Office (GVO)?
Logged on to the NGA website
Have you received or located on the School website?
DfE’s "Governance Handbook Nov 2015" School Management website / GVO
School's "Guidelines for Governors"
Education Authority's governor training and development programme
School Prospectus
Details of the Governing Body committees (including terms of reference)
Dates for future governors' meetings including committees
Details of how to contact the other governors
Details of how to contact the school (including the e-mail addresses)
Calendar of school events School website
Parents’ Bulletins School website
School Improvement Plan
Latest Ofsted report and action plan School website
Policy documents relevant to committee membership
School Visits and Governors’ Allowances policies
Has Headteacher covered?
Background to the school
Current issues facing the school
Visiting the school
Overview of the governor's role
Relationship between the Headteacher and Governing Body

Induction completed on:

Signed:

Please pass a completed copy of this sheet to the Clerk to the Governors.

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