Your essential guide to staff related tasks for the start of the academic year

Published September 2026

The new academic year is here, and while you’re preparing for the year ahead, it’s also the perfect time to ensure the HR and safeguarding processes for your workforce are organised.

To help you start the term with confidence, we’ve pulled together the essential updates and tasks you need to keep on your radar for September 2026.

Safeguarding: The number one priority

Safeguarding remains the heartbeat of your school. With the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) September 2026 guidance now in effect, it’s important to ensure your staff are up to date with changes to this years’ guidance and that all staff including those who are not working directly with children have read at least Part One of the guidance.

1. The big change - volunteers: As of 1 September 2026, the 'supervision exemption' for volunteers has been removed. This is a critical update. If you have volunteers who teach, train, instruct, care for, or supervise children for more than 3 days in any 30-day period, or participate in overnight stays, they are now officially in 'regulated activity'. This also includes volunteers who participate in overnight stays.
   
   What we suggest: Audit your current volunteer list and ensure those meeting these criteria have an enhanced DBS check and a children’s barred list information. Please refer to our DBS page for further information. 
    
2. The Single Central Record (SCR): Your SCR is the statutory record of your school’s pre-appointment vetting checks.
   
   What we suggest: Use the start of the term as an opportunity to conduct a review - ensure there are no gaps, and that everything is accurately recorded. We recently launched the SCR audit toolkit available for schools who buy into our services to use.

HR tasks: Things to consider for this year

Between staff onboarding and policy refreshes, there’s plenty to get through. Here are the key priorities:

1. TLR pro-rating (mandatory): As of 1 September 2026, the way Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) allowances are prorated has become mandatory. Ensure these payments accurately reflect the proportion of responsibilities each teacher is actually undertaking.
   
   What we suggest: Use the TLR Assessment Form in our Pay section* to document your decisions.
    
2. Probation periods: With the Employment Rights Act 2025 shifting the landscape - specifically around the six-month mark for unfair dismissal claims - it’s more important than ever to have a robust probation process in place for your new starters.
   
   What we suggest: Set clear expectations and assessment milestones from day one. Don't wait until the end of the term to raise concerns. Please refer to our guidance and toolkit* on probation periods.

Staff wellbeing

We know that a new term is intense. Amongst the compliance and payroll tasks, make sure staff wellbeing stays as one of the top priorities also. Whether it’s sharing resources on work-life balance or simply checking in with your staff members, a supportive school culture is the best asset you have. Please refer to our Health and Wellbeing page* for further information.

*Please note: these documents are only available to schools and settings that purchase our HR Traded Service.

HR training

For our headteachers and school business managers, we always have upcoming training sessions to keep you up to date and prepared throughout the school year. Keep an eye out for the following scheduled training sessions and more to come.

Resources

Check out the resources available through the Hackney Services for Schools HR page. From policies to guidance, FAQ’s, and template letters.

Need extra support?

Whether you have questions about the new DBS volunteer rules, need help with complex casework, or just want to double-check your payroll deadlines, the Schools HR and Traded Services team is here to support you. Check out the resources pages for the latest policies, toolkits, and contact information.

Here’s to a safe and successful autumn term!

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