The Role of the Agency

1. Monitoring
We will normally make three monitoring visits to each Local Authority each year. These monitoring visits are intended to ensure consistency. However, we do not plan to `drop in`- our visits will be scheduled well in advance. Visits to schools as part of the monitoring will usually be made with an appropriate officer from the LA.

Staff at the Agency will not undertake assessment of schools for the Quality Mark. Our role is moderation to ensure consistency in the application of the award. We will, however provide guidance where clarification is needed.

2. Guidance and training
We will produce and circulate additional guidance on assessment, produced in consultation with partner LAs, as and when appropriate. We will also hold annual `progress meetings` to give LAs the opportunity to raise any issues and feed back to us on our Quality Marks. This also gives us the opportunity to update you on new initiatives.

We normally provide training and ‘peer learning’ opportunities throughout the year.

3. Induction
It is essential that the operation of the Quality Mark is consistent within an LA as well as between different LAs in the partnership. We plan to work particularly closely with partner LAs for the first three months that they are in the partnership or for a longer period if a significant number of schools are not assessed during this period. LAs that have been actively involved in the pilot of the Quality Mark and satisfy the requirements set out above may be exempted from this induction period. During this induction period LAs may recommend schools for the Quality Mark. However, we will not agree the award until the end of the induction period.

4. Checks
We reserve the right to make random checks through visits to schools recommended for the Quality Mark.

5. Information material
We will provide copies, free of charge of all Quality Mark material, including our booklet, Basic Skills Quality Mark for Primary Schools, Recommendation Forms etc in quantities agreed between the Agency and the LA.

6. Plaques and certificates
We will provide a recognition plaque and certificate for each school awarded the Quality Mark. Additional plaques and certificates will be provided by the Agency, on request, at cost.

7. Process applications
We will process applications from LAs within 20 working days of receipt if all the necessary paperwork is complete.