Contracts Jargon

Quería compartir con ustedes parte de un contrato que firmé con una agencia que a su vez me recomendará para dar clases de ESOL en diferentes colleges.

Espero que les resulte interesante leer esto, es muy distinto a lo que uno por ahí firma en otros lados, particularmente el tener que decir de qué raza es uno (en realidad, esto prácticamente lo tenés que aclarar en todos lados, hasta para cuando te querés asociar a la biblioteca! -aunque puede ser opcional) y las secciones de cómo tratar a los alumnos, evitando en lo posible, toda clase de physical contact y cómo proceder si se van a usar las computadoras del colegio. (ICT class)

Equal Opportunity and General Information Questions:

The following questions and relating answers are necessary for entering your details onto COMPANY'S NAME's candidate database to ensure the effective monitoring of our equal opportunities policy. They will at all times be kept confidential.


• Martial Status: Married Single Other

• Do you consider yourself to have a disability: Yes No

• Nationality: ________________________

• Ethnic Origin: Please indicate from the list below (optional)

• Black African
• Black British
• Black Caribbean
• Bangladeshi
• Black Other
• Chinese
• Indian
• Mixed White/Black African
• Mixed White/Black Caribbean
• Mixed Race
• Any Other Ethnic Group
• Any Other Asian Group
• Any Other Black Group
• Pakistani
• White

ADVICE ON ICT USAGE IN COLLEGES

Background

It is now a regular and frequent requirement upon supply staff to utilise the college’s ICT equipment as part of their teaching and learning responsibilities. This is a perfectly reasonable expectation of colleges and candidates should seek to utilise such resources to maximise their impact on students’ learning.

Some simple rules…

When utilising ICT equipment in colleges, candidates should follow some simple rules:

1. Acquaint yourself with the college’s policy and procedure on the use of ICT equipment. As with all college policies, you are expected to adhere and abide to such rules when you are working in that college. So try and establish what the rules are.

2. Try and organise yourself access to the college’s network with your own user name and password. Try and avoid using another person’s ‘log-in’.

3. Do not use the college’s computers for personal use. It reflects badly on you and COMPANY'S NAME if you are observed undertaking such activities.

4. If you are using the internet (for research or teaching purposes) ensure that the sites you visit are always relevant and appropriate. If you inadvertently visit a site that has inappropriate material displayed, immediately close down the site and report the circumstances to a senior member of staff.

5. Do not let students or other staff use your ‘log in’ details and always ‘log off’ if your computer is going to be left unattended at any time.

6. If you suspect students (or another member of staff) has used a computer with your log in credentials, report the details to a senior member of staff immediately.

7. If you discover evidence that college computers may have been used to access inappropriate web sites or download inappropriate material, report this to a senior member of staff immediately.

8. If you have access to the college’s email system, do not use it for sending personal emails. If you receive joke emails do not forward these on in any circumstances.

9. If you have reason to send emails, ensure that the language you use is always appropriate. Check what you are writing to make sure that it could not be misconstrued.

10. Never enter into over-familiar correspondence with students. Remember that you are in a position of trust. Do not give your facebook/bebo/my space or any such social networking account details to any students and if requested as a friend do not accept them. This will only blur the boundaries between student and teacher and will certainly put your motives in question.

11. If you receive any email correspondence from a student that concerns you please report this to a senior member of staff immediately.

12. Never give a student your mobile phone number. Similarly, do not ask for (or receive) the mobile telephone number of a student. There are no valid reasons why this should be necessary and to do so will create suspicion and place you in a vulnerable position.

13. Don`t have your mobile phone in view during lessons and never try to take photographs or videos of students on your phone. If, as part of the learning experience you need to photograph or video students, get clear permission from the college beforehand.

ADVICE ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH STUDENTS

Introduction

Physical contact with students in college is a very sensitive subject. As a member of supply staff, you have the same rights and obligations as permanent members of staff. However, as a member of supply staff (who may not be familiar to students) you may be susceptible to people misinterpreting your actions and/or students making unfounded or mischievous allegations. Be aware of this potential and always follow this guidance which is offered to assist you.

The general rule is to avoid student contact wherever possible. In that way your actions can never be misconstrued. However, there are situations where physical contact is necessary and there may be other situations where you cannot avoid physical contact.

The Law

The Education and Inspections Act 2006 has given new statutory powers to members of staff in colleges. This allows them to “use such force as is reasonable” to prevent a student from:

• Committing an offence
• Causing personal injury to others (or themselves) or damage to property
• Prejudicing the maintenance of good order and discipline at the college

More detailed guidance on the application of this new power is set out in the DfES Circular 10/98 – “The use of force to control or restrain students”. This can be found at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/guidanceonthelaw/10_98/summary.htm.

Situations when physical contact might be appropriate

Some physical contact may be proper or necessary (e.g. to demonstrate exercises during a PE lesson or to administer first aid).

Young children and children with special educational needs may need staff to provide physical prompts and help. Equally, when young children are in distress it may be appropriate to offer comforting. In such situations these are judgement calls that have to be made at the time. However you must be aware that for some children touching may be particularly unwelcome for cultural or personal reasons. You must be sensitive to such situations. You should also ensure that you do not touch or hold a student in a way that might be considered indecent.

Intervention and the use of reasonable force

Inevitably, there will be situations when it is necessary to intervene either to protect yourself, the student or others. There is no legal definition of ‘reasonable force’ but there are two relevant considerations to guide you:

1. Do the circumstances warrant it? If a student is only committing a minor misdemeanour or the situation could be resolved without the use of force, then force would not be warranted.
2. The degree of force has to be in proportion to the circumstances. The use of force has to be the minimum needed to achieve the desired result.

In all circumstances you should not act in a way that might be expected to cause injury, e.g.

• Holding a Student by the neck or collar
• Slapping punching or kicking a Student
• Twisting or forcing limbs against a joint
• Tripping up a Student
• Holding or pulling a Student by the hair or ear
• Holding a student face down on the ground


Some simple rules to guide you…

1. Acquaint yourself with the college’s behaviour management policy. If an incident is developing know from where you can summon assistance.

2. Try to avoid situations where you are alone with a student.

3. Have strategies ready to diffuse potential conflict situations.

4. In the event of an incident, summon assistance as soon as is practicable.

5. Ensure you report all such incidents to college staff and your consultant at COMPANY'S NAME.

6. If you have inadvertent physical contact with a student, report this immediately (explaining the circumstances in which this occurred).

7. If you have been injured in an incident seek medical attention immediately and ensure that the incident is properly reported to the college and your consultant at COMPANY'S NAME.

8. Whilst it is fresh in your memory write a record of the incident. Give as much detail as you can (including the names of any witnesses).

9. Remember that when you are in a college you are an ambassador for COMPANY'S NAME, so avoid any sort of behaviour that could be criticised or misinterpreted.


Qué les parece!?!