Languageassistants Schools Fla Booklet Unitedkingdom 2012 18

FOREIGN LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS 201213
INFORMATION BOOKLET FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS AND THEIR EMPLOYERS IN THE UK
British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213 www.britishcouncil.org
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS 201213

If you represent an organisation employing (or about to employ) a foreign language assistant please go to Section 1 in the rst instance. If you are about to start a foreign language assistantship in the UK please go to Section 2 in the rst instance. For more information, downloadable forms and documents, and pedagogical support for foreign language assistants, consult our website www.britishcouncil.org/ languageassistants
British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213
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CONTENTS
SECTION 1: Notes for schools, colleges and local authorities
1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 Employment legislation and conditions of employment Police clearance (under review) Offering and conrming the appointment Sharing arrangements 5 8 13 15 16 17 21 21 22 23 23 24 25 25 26
1.05 Accommodation 1.06 1.07 1.08 Payment, pension, Income Tax and National Insurance Medical care and Statutory Sick Pay Council Tax
1.09 Banking 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 The role of the foreign language assistant Use of the internet and personal safety Personal studies and out-of-school activities Second year extensions Full-time teaching opportunities Administrative checklist
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SECTION 2: Notes for foreign language assistants

2.01 Terms and conditions of the job FAQs 27
Getting yourself prepared

2.02 Familiarise yourself with the UK education systems 29 31 2.03 Thinking ahead about your role as an foreign language assistant
Before you leave home

2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 First contact with your school Legal matters: police clearance and immigration Bringing a car to the UK Planning your arrival: travel matters and personal insurance 36 37 41 43
Once you arrive in the UK

2.08 Police registration 45 46 2.09 Accommodation
Money matters
2.10 Payment, Income Tax and National Insurance 48 52 53 54 2.11 Pension 2.12 Council Tax and Housing Benet
2.13 Banking
Your work as a foreign language assistant

2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 First days in school FAQs Induction meetings/observing classes Your role as a foreign language assistant Use of the internet Professional associations and online resources 55 59 60 61 61
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Your life outside work

2.19 2.20 2.21 Settling in Extra-curricular activities Things you may wish you had known 66 66 67 67 68
2.22 Travel 2.23 Saving money
Appendix I: Statement of Employment and code of conduct Appendix II: Tax matters Appendix III: How to make the best use of your FLA Appendix IV: Clarification of terms Appendix V: Embassies/consulates in the UK Appendix VI: Acronyms
69 72 76 79 80 82
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SECTION 1: NOTES FOR SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Thank you for employing a foreign language assistant (FLA) during the current session. We have collated the information in this booklet to help you full your contractual obligations and enable you to get the best out of the services your FLA can offer. By taking note of the advice, information and suggestions you should be able to address many of the questions concerning your FLA(s). Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information. However, the British Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors which may exist or any subsequent changes. This section is intended to provide advice and guidance to schools, colleges and local authorities employing FLAs. However, you may also wish to read SECTION 2: Notes for foreign language assistants, in order to get a better idea of FLA concerns. Please note: in Northern Ireland there are similar arrangements in place for language assistants in Irish who also use these guidance notes so the preferred term in use is Modern Language Assistant (MLA) rather than FLA.
1.01 E mployment legislation and conditions of employment

All employing establishments are asked to note the following points:
FLAs should be included in the employers insurance policy for public and professional liability. In the event of an emergency or natural disaster, mentors should check on the whereabouts of their FLA(s) to ascertain that they are safe and well whilst in the UK. Please refer to the Country Safety Leaet and FLAs should be made aware of the health and safety policies in schools. The legal position of FLAs is the same as that of any other employee working the same number of hours for the same total period of employment. FLAs have no distinct or special status in this respect. The host school/local authority must act in accordance with data protection laws when processing FLA personal data.
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A Statement of Employment (contract) is to be provided by the local authority or the host school, depending on who has been designated as employer. Notes relating to this and example statements can be found in Appendix I. It is a legal requirement (Employment Rights Act 1996) that such particulars be given to an employee in writing within two months after their start date. Schools and local authorities in Scotland are asked to send this out with the offer of employment where possible. FLAs must be made aware of important issues regarding child protection under the relevant countrys legislation. The Children Act 1989 The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007
England, Wales and Northern Ireland Scotland
The mentor teacher or other relevant staff are strongly advised to inform FLAs of their responsibilities in this area. Each school has a designated teacher for child protection who should be able to provide FLAs with a copy of the relevant school policies. Further information may also be obtained from the appropriate government department. It is the local authoritys/ schools responsibility to explain that it is not appropriate for any reason at any time to touch a child. Since cultural norms differ from country to country, it is especially important to stress this point to FLAs. Guidance should also be given regarding appropriate use of the internet.
Conditions of employment
Assistants are contracted to work 12 hours a week and timetables should not exceed this unless previously agreed with the FLA. In the case of FLAs from non-EU countries, under the Home Ofces immigration rules, permission for additional hours must also be sought from the British Council. If additional hours are agreed, FLAs should be paid on a pro rata basis and should not work more than a total of 18 hours per week. Where possible, the timetable should be blocked to allow reasonable free time and one full day free each week. For details of the period of appointment see pages 17. Please read the Administrative Checklist and Appendix III How to make the best use of your FLA.
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All employers are requested to respect the following basic principles of good practice: FLAs should be:

allowed a period of observation before starting work (35 days) allocated appropriate classroom accommodation to enable them to work effectively treated as members of the regular teaching staff and allowed to enjoy normal staffroom privileges paid regularly at the same time each month and at a rate not less than that specied on pages 17 given clear information about: a. the pastoral system and sanctions they can use b. the schools policy on the use of computers and the internet c. the schools procedure for absence in the case of illness and completing the back-to-work form
given a list of all the members of the Modern Languages department and their responsibilities given a xed timetable given the option of leaving or not joining the Local Government Pension Scheme.
FLAs should not:

take sole responsibility for whole classes supervise or discipline pupils regularly take responsibility for marking pupils work or exam papers give classes in a language other than their own or undertake duties unrelated to the teaching of their language and culture be shared between more than 3 schools be dismissed without a verbal warning, a written warning, formal written notice and advance reference to the British Council.
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Employers have the same right of dismissal over their FLA as over other members of staff but it is hoped they will not exercise it except in the case of a grave breach of the rules or of conduct highly prejudicial to the welfare of the school. The British Council is responsible for informing the appropriate authorities abroad whenever disciplinary action is to be taken against an FLA, and it is therefore essential that the correct procedure be followed. Local authorities and/or schools are asked to provide essential professional and administrative induction for their FLAs and to monitor their progress on a regular basis. FLAs may work in primary schools and the British Council will try to select those who have had some experience of primary teaching or who appear to be suitably qualied in other ways. If your FLA is to work at primary level, you must ensure that they are informed of this in advance of their arrival and that they are willing and able to comply.
1.02 Police clearance

(A) From abroad
All FLAs working in the UK will need to provide a police clearance certicate from their home country. Dossiers from Belgium, Canada, China, Switzerland, and all Latin American countries automatically include the police clearance certicate. FLAs from EU countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) as well as those from Oman, Japan and Russia must be reminded to provide the relevant document(s) prior to taking up their post. It is your responsibility to ensure that these documents are provided. Please note that your FLA may take up employment before the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check has taken place. In accordance with Department of Education (DfE) guidelines they can enter the school and work as normal as long as they are always accompanied by a teacher. CRB policies do vary in each of the UK countries and should be checked. Documents required are:
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Important Notice (July 2012)

The CRB is currently making changes to the process for applying for a CRB check. This includes changes to the supporting documentation required to be submitted with the CRB form. We advise schools to check directly with CRB www.homeofce.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/crb/ FLAs should check the requirements for carrying out criminal records checks in each of the UK countries. (see section B) Your FLAs will require the following documentation in 201213: EU Nationals (including Switzerland): Non EU Nationals: Passport and EU national ID card Bank/building society statement (UK or EEA) if no EU ID card Bank opening letter with UK address Passport Visa Bank opening letter with UK address
(B) From the UK authorities

For FLAs coming to England, Wales Schools are required to request pre-employment criminal history background checks on prospective employees. This means that all FLAs, whether 201213 is their rst, second or third year as an FLA, must by law receive CRB clearance. It is the host schools responsibility to request this check. Once clearance is given, information should be disseminated to all sharing schools. Given the practical considerations, this procedure is best started once the assistant has arrived in the UK and presented themselves for work. The school, as the employer, must: a. verify the assistants identity on arrival b. give the assistant the form to complete for an enhanced check c. check that the form is fully completed and is accurate d. submit the form to the CRB, together with the appropriate fee. The application for a check must be ofcially submitted by the employer and a fee of 44 is to be paid.
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In Northern Ireland responsibility for undertaking criminal history background checks lies with Access NI (www.accessni.gov.uk). Please note that after the Access NI application has been submitted, FLAs may start work in schools but should not be left unsupervised with children until the disclosure certicate is returned. It is the employers responsibility to pay for criminal history checks.
For FLAs coming to Scotland

The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (PVG scheme) came into force on 28 February 2011 and replaced enhanced disclosures for those working with vulnerable groups. Like its predecessor, it is designed to ensure that people who have a known history of harmful and abusive behaviour are not put in positions of trust with vulnerable people. It is managed by Disclosure Scotland as before. This applies to all FLAs, regardless of whether or not they have a history of previous residence in this country. This is in addition to the police clearance from their home country. The procedure for this must be undertaken by the employer local authority or independent school. It is assumed that these are already registered bodies with Disclosure Scotland. The employer should: 1. verify the FLAs identity on arrival (see below for acceptable documents) 2. give the FLA the form to apply for membership of the PVG scheme 3. ensure that both the FLA and the employer have completed the relevant parts fully and accurately 4. submit the form to Disclosure Scotland together with the fee of 59.
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It is up to the employer to decide what constitutes sufcient evidence of identity. The code of practice issued by Scottish Ministers recommends three forms of identication, one of which should be photographic, one address related and one other.
Documentation which has been cleared with Disclosure Scotland as acceptable includes any of the following, of which THREE are required: passport national ID card (EU or non-EU) please note that while ID cards are acceptable, employers should be aware of potential forgeries and value the ID card based upon the country of origin birth certificate driving licence (including foreign driving licence) school leaving exam certificate or university exam certificate letter from landlord or hostel confirming current address marriage certificate work permit/visa (less than 12 months old) UK National Insurance card (if FLA has previously worked in the UK) UK utility or council tax bills (if a second- or third-year FLA) (for Chinese language assistants only) letter from Chinese headteacher conrming the FLAs identity and position within their school.
It is strongly recommended that employers ask for all documents to be originals, or copies certied by a notary public. Please inform FLAs whether documents in the original language will be acceptable, bearing in mind that it can be very expensive to have these translated. At least one document must conrm the FLAs date of birth, and one must include a photograph. Employers should also be satised of proof of current address at the time of application in the UK. It is at the employers discretion what proof is required for this. If you have arranged accommodation for all assistants in a hostel or residence and you know they are resident there at the time of completing the form, for example, you may deem this is sufcient, and in this case only two additional forms of ID are required. If however, the FLA is not in accommodation you have arranged, you may request proof of their address such as a letter from a landlord or hostel manager.
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Please note these documents need only be shown to the employer, and should not be submitted to Disclosure Scotland unless requested by them. Disclosure Scotland has a service level agreement to produce 90 per cent of all types of disclosure for a correctly completed application with no further enquiries, within 14 calendar days. At the time of going to press (July 2012) a turnaround time of approximately nine days should be expected for a correctly completed Police Act Disclosure application with no further enquiries. PVG Scheme applications with no further enquiries should expect a turnaround time of approximately 15 days. This is measured from the day they receive the application to the day of despatch. Applications that are sent via a registered body or an umbrella body can spend time being processed by these organisations prior to being received at Disclosure Scotland. For the period between the FLAs arrival and the obtaining of disclosure, it is at the discretion of the employer what working practice they wish to follow but we recommend that FLAs start work in a supervised situation, for example team teaching with class teachers. Regardless of what practice employers adopt for this period, assistants should continue to be paid at the full normal rate. For further information, see: www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/pvg_index.html
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1.03 Offering and confirming the appointment

The formal written offer of appointment to the FLA must come directly from the host local authority or school: it is not issued by the British Council. It is strongly recommended that you contact the FLA by phone and email immediately on receiving the dossier to avoid potential withdrawal. Your initial letter to the FLA should be sent as soon as possible, and should include a contact name, address, phone number, email address and school website address. A pro forma letter can be found online. Assistants from France and Italy must be told that your offer is dependent on the receipt, in due course, of a satisfactory medical certicate. This is being reviewed for other countries.
Points-based immigration system

If you are making an offer to a national from Canada, China, Latin America, Oman or Pakistan, you should send your offer letter by email to speed up the procedure and cc the email to assistants.london@ britishcouncil.org (England, Wales), assistants.belfast@britishcouncil.org (Northern Ireland) or assistants.edinburgh@britishcouncil.org (Scotland) as appropriate. Please include the name and full postal address of the host school in your email. This will allow us to assign the assistant a Certicate of Sponsorship (with a unique reference number) and pass on the unique reference number required for the FLA to obtain their visa and create a T5 conrmation of maintenance form. Both of these are crucial to obtain visas for non-EU/EEA nationals under the points-based immigration system. FLAs from non-EU/EEA countries who require a visa to enter the UK must not travel to this country before they have received their visa as they will be refused entry by the UK Border Agency and required to return home. As a licensed sponsor on tier 5 of the points-based immigration scheme, the British Council is legally required to keep copies of non-EU assistants ID documents and to record within ten days any change of personal contact details, changes or breaches of working terms or conditions, any criminal activity, etc. We will send all local authorities and independent schools employing non-EU FLAs further details on the need to keep us informed of any such changes for the duration of the assistantship.
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FLAs will understandably be anxious about their reception, the duties expected of them and their accommodation arrangements. You should therefore include the following points in your offer of appointment:
the period of appointment (usually 1 September to 31 May inclusive for Scotland and Northern Ireland, and 1 October to 31 May for England and Wales). Note: the core period can be extended within the same academic year provided that all parties are in agreement and that additional pro rata payments are made. the exact allowance details (see page 17) and the date on which their rst monthly allowance will be paid the school website address, the type of school, the number, age range and sex of pupils, enclosing a school prospectus would be helpful important dates such as start and nish dates and school holidays: the shape of the school year, particularly the key exam dates where and to whom they should report on arrival the address and details of any accommodation arranged for them, or suggestions for where to stay on a temporary basis the name of the local authority, if applicable name and address, telephone number and email address of the schools previous FLA, if applicable; permission to be obtained in the rst instance local transport information and websites local facilities for study and attending courses an idea of the teaching materials and resources which the FLA could usefully bring an idea of what kind of clothes to wear in school and the climate (especially for assistants from outside Europe).
If a candidate has not replied to the written offer of appointment within two weeks, you should telephone or email them to explain that if the offer is not accepted within a further two weeks, you will return their dossier to us and request a replacement. If at the end of this four week period you have still have not heard from your FLA candidate, you must cancel the original offer to them in writing. If a candidate declines the offer or you do not receive a reply to your two attempts to make contact, you should advise the British Council immediately (via the local authority if appropriate) so that a replacement can be sent to you.
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Confirming the appointment

For FLAs coming to England, Wales or Northern Ireland For FLAs coming to Scotland Form AD/F4 is sent to schools together with the FLA dossier. The Acceptance Slip is sent to schools together with the FLA dossier.
Note: Form AD/F4 is also available on the language assistant website at www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants-contacting-your-assistants It is imperative that you complete and return the form to the relevant British Council Ofce (i.e. London, Belfast or Edinburgh see page 85 for contact addresses) as soon as the candidate has been offered and has accepted a post. All future correspondence between the British Council and your FLA depends on this conrmation from you. If the Form AD/F4 or the Acceptance Slip is not returned, FLAs will not receive:

important information on training and induction their personal Certicate of Registration conrming their exemption of payment from at least part of the Council Tax their invitation to the appropriate Cultural Institute or Embassy/Consulate brieng.
1.04 Sharing arrangements

Where an FLA is shared between two or three establishments, it is essential that a single host school be identied. The host establishment should:

be the principal point of contact for personnel matters co-ordinate requests for the FLAs presence draw up the FLAs timetable and assist with travel arrangements.
When drawing up sharing arrangements and timetables, you are asked to ensure that travel between schools does not become unreasonable for the FLA. Where local public transport is limited, it may be possible to consider offering lifts to or from school. Where FLAs are required to travel to more than one school on the same day, the schools involved (or the local authority where applicable) should reimburse the assistants additional travel expenses.
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1.05 Accommodation
The FLAs settling-in period will be a lot smoother if you are able to assist them in nding accommodation, even if only on a temporary basis, at a reasonable cost, and before their arrival. Finding accommodation is always the FLAs biggest concern before coming to the UK. You may wish to ask your FLA for any information that will help in making arrangements, such as:

whether they are a vegetarian, smoker or car owner whether they prefer to live independently, with other FLAs or students, or with a family if you are able to provide accommodation, there should be a formal lease and record of payments. You should also make it clear to the FLA what is the notice period should they not wish to stay there for the full period of their employment. Note: You should NOT sign a contract for accommodation on behalf of the FLA .
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1.06 P ayment, pension, Income Tax and National Insurance

Payment (allowance) and period of appointment
The current rates for 201213 will be posted on our website as soon as they are available: www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants-how-much-will-it-cost.htm Note: The ofcial period of appointment for Chinese Language Assistants is 13 September to 30 June. England and Wales Minimum payment is set by the Department for Education (DfE). The monthly FLA allowance set for 201213 is 879. 1 October to 31 May (eight months)
Period of appointment
London Weightings (201213) Inner London Outer London London fringe areas Northern Ireland 1,105 1,044 936 Minimum payment is set by Department for Education. The agreed minimum rate for 2012 2013 is 879 per month. 1 September to 31 May (nine months) Minimum payment is set in agreement with COSLA (Confederation of Scottish Local Authorities). Agreed minimum rate for 201213 is 879 per month. 1 September to 31 May (nine months)
Period of appointment Scotland
Period of appointment
Pension
FLAs are eligible for membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and will automatically be enrolled into the scheme through the payroll section of their employer. However, they have the right to opt out of the scheme or not to join it.
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The local authority must give the FLA a guide to the LGPS. If the FLA does not wish to join the scheme, they must complete an opting out form prior to the rst months payroll run or, if they join, they can opt out of membership and receive a refund of contributions provided they opt out within two years. Once the FLA has two years membership they are not entitled to a refund; instead they are entitled to a deferred benet in the scheme, payable at pension age unless the person decides before then to transfer the accrued benets to another scheme (which could be to a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme). A guide to the LGPS together with the relevant membership forms should be sent to the FLA with the offer of appointment letter or given to them with their Statement of Employment (i.e. contract). Note: Some local authorities process refunds via the payroll for those who opt out within the rst month, whereas others process all refunds (including those for people who opt out with less than one months membership) via the pension fund.
Income Tax
Following the raising of the tax free personal allowance across the UK and due to the fact that the FLA contract is split across two nancial years, all FLAs should now be exempt from paying income tax on their standard FLA salary as they will earn below the threshold in each nancial year. It is still essential that the FLA is issued with the appropriate tax code, however, and in order to minimise delay the FLA should be given tax form P46 immediately on arrival. On P46 the FLA completes section 1 and the employer completes section 2. The FLA should be referred to as foreign language assistant. The completed P46 form must be sent to the employers tax ofce. FLAs from countries which have a double taxation agreement (with Teachers Article) with the UK should complete and attach the covering letter for HM revenue and customs (HMRC) to their completed P46 form. The assistant should keep a photocopy of the completed forms and covering letter in case of a future query regarding a possible tax refund. The UK has double taxation agreements with some countries which supersede domestic tax rules. (See HMRC website for information specic to FLAs: www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/dtmanual/DT1938.htm). Most FLAs will therefore be exempt from paying UK income tax on their earnings from teaching for the period of their assistantship. They should eventually be issued with an NT (no tax) code. However, HMRC judges each case individually and the outcome depends on specic circumstances.
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Income tax can cause a lot of problems for FLAs. Please refer to Appendix II for detailed information and procedures. Only the employers tax ofce can deal with problems and refunds: no other tax ofce can access the information.
National Insurance (NI)

An amount of (currently) around 45 (a bit more in the London area) is deducted from an FLAs monthly allowance. All FLAs have the right to a National Insurance number to enable the contributions they pay to be registered in the system. Assistants need to apply for their insurance number as soon as possible on starting their job. Temporary NI numbers: employers are no longer recommended to give FLAs temporary NI numbers as these cannot be used on the HMRC online tax return system. However, if you need your FLA to create a temporary NI number for any other reason, a suggested format is date of birth (ddmmyyyy) + M or F (for example 13071987M). It is very important that employers update records to show the permanent number as soon as the FLA has this.
For FLAs posted in England, Wales or Northern Ireland

The school or local authority should contact the National Insurance Fastpath team on 0845 641 5047. Postal applications for NI numbers will then be sent to the school or local authority as appropriate, with guidance on completing the form. When the assistant has completed the form he/she must return it to the address given, together with a photocopy of their passport or identity card and (for non-EU nationals) visa. The assistant will then be allocated an NI number within three to four weeks.
For FLAs posted in Scotland only

We advise FLAs to check if a group booking has been arranged in their area, or if they will need to make an individual appointment. Group interviews: Local authorities may prefer to arrange for all FLAs to go for a group interview on the same day, and in some cases it may be possible to arrange for someone to come to you (for example if you are holding an induction meeting). This is dependent on staff availability at your local National Insurance Ofce. For groups of ten of over contact the National Insurance administrative hub to discuss by phoning 0131 456 3322, ideally as soon as you have xed your date for induction. To organise interviews for groups of less than ten call 0845 6000 643.
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Individual interviews: If a group booking is not organised by the local authority, FLAs will need to arrange an individual 30 minute interview by phoning the national call centre on 0845 6000 643 and an appointment will be made for them at one of seven main sites. Assistants from non-EU countries applying individually should mention their nationality and indicate that they have a visa under tier 5 of the points-based system when phoning for an interview, as it may be possible to apply by post instead of attending the interview. Fast track applications: Some local authorities may be signed up for the fast track service. There are three dedicated telephone numbers: 0845 641 5047/5048/5049 to check if your authority is signed up for fast track. If so, request form CA5400 for each of your assistants. You are advised to check that the fast track ofce has the correct delivery address for you. Any unused forms must be returned within one month. FLAs should expect to travel up to an hour for an interview, but if they reside more than one hours travelling distance from one of these sites they are entitled to a rural appointment with a Jobcentre Plus within reasonable travelling distance. We suggest that they should emphasise to the call centre staff when booking an appointment that they need a rural interview if located in a more remote area. The call centre will then forward their details to the head ofce in Edinburgh, who will contact the appropriate local ofce and get them to arrange an interview for the assistant. At the time of making an appointment (group or individual) you should clarify what supporting documentation FLAs will need to take to the interview. The length of time to get an interview varies across the country, but it should take ten working days from the time of phoning. FLAs should then receive their permanent National Insurance number around ten days after their interview, issued from Glasgow.
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1.07 Medical Care and Statutory Sick Pay

You are asked to inform your FLA about local medical services and to recommend that they register with a doctor as soon as possible. FLAs from countries within the EU/EEA are entitled to everyday medical care on the same basis as UK residents. However it is at the discretion of individual GPs whether they accept assistants from countries outside the EU/EEA. FLAs from Canada, China, Japan, Latin America, Oman and Russia may therefore be advised to take out private insurance. All FLAs receive free emergency treatment. However, repatriation is not covered by the NHS assistants must check that their own insurance covers this. All assistants are liable for prescription charges. Every employee in the UK, FLAs included, is entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), and to the full range of benets once they have worked continuously for the same employer for 12 weeks. FLAs should be made aware that SSP is signicantly below their monthly allowance (currently 81.60 per week).
1.08 Council Tax

FLAs appointed through the British Council are regarded as students for the purposes of Council Tax and are exempt from the personal component of the tax. Providing the AD/F4 or acceptance slip has been received by the British Council, a Certicate of Registration conrming their status will be sent directly to the FLA at the host school address in September (Northern Ireland/Scotland) or October (England/Wales). Please note that Council Tax is not applicable in Northern Ireland the equivalent of this rates should be covered by the rent paid to the landlord. However, the following should be borne in mind when arranging accommodation for FLAs: FLAs are not necessarily exempt from the property component of Council Tax. If they live with other FLAs or with students, they will not have to pay Council Tax at all, but if they share accommodation with others who are liable for Council Tax, they also become liable. This would include their own partner if s/he were employed or on Jobseekers Allowance. While they are not legally required to pay any of this bill, they may wish to help their atmate(s) by contributing something towards the cost. If there is only one working person in the property, apart from the FLA, they can apply for a Disregard Discount which means that they are only required to pay 75 per cent of the full normal bill.
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You may also wish to consult www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/tax/council_ tax.htm and click on the appropriate country tab for up-to-date information. Note: If FLAs rent property before their assistantship contract starts or after it nishes, they will be liable for Council Tax for those additional periods.
1.09 Banking
Your FLA will need to open a bank account as soon as possible after their arrival as their allowance will be paid directly into the account. When opening an account we suggest they take with them:

Their passport or national identity card. A letter of introduction from the local authority or host school. The letter of introduction should be on headed paper and if possible addressed to the specic bank and branch concerned. It should conrm:
the name, address and telephone number of a contact person responsible for them (for example the person who has written the letter) the FLAs name, address in their home country, address in the UK (even if a temporary address such as a hostel), their position, details of where they are working, and their conditions of employment.
Opening a bank account can be a difcult process for FLAs as they are regarded as short-term clients. Please note that a decision on what is acceptable is often at the discretion of the individual branch. If the FLA has any other identication (for example their lease if they have already moved into a at, birth certicate, photo driving licence, a letter or recent statement from their bank at home, the British Council Certicate of Registration), they should bring this with them. If you can recommend a local bank where you know past FLAs or members of staff have banked, or if a member of staff can accompany the FLA when they rst visit the bank, this may be helpful.
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1.10 The role of the foreign language assistant

FLAs are only very rarely trained teachers: the vast majority of them are either undergraduates or recent graduates and they will therefore require support and guidance from the modern foreign languages (MFL) department of the host school. Their main role should be to support the language teacher, either working alongside them in the classroom or taking small conversation groups on their own. FLAs can undertake exercises in reading, comprehension, pronunciation, dictation and oral composition, and may also contribute to specic projects either related to their interests or those of the school. The British Council provides online pedagogic support. FLAs and their teachers are able to download teaching materials from our site, which is linked to other relevant internet sites. FLAs will also have access to a moderated email discussion group to receive and exchange teaching ideas and share best practice in the classroom. This can be found here: www.britishcouncil.org/asonline For more ideas on how to make the best use of your FLA see Appendix III. In Scotland, within the framework of Curriculum for Excellence, schools are strongly encouraged to consider using FLAs to bring an international perspective across a range of cross-curricular activities and projects. Examples of good practice can be found on the British Council Scotland website www.britishcouncil.org/scotland-education-a-good-practice-guides.htm
1.11 Use of the internet and personal safety

We would ask schools to allow FLAs to use the internet as a source of up-to-date material for the classroom, for helping with school projects and similar. It is also helpful if FLAs can access information on the UK which will help them to make the most of their stay. You are asked to ensure that FLAs are aware of and fully understand the schools policy on the use of computers, and particularly that they are aware of any restrictions on access to certain internet sites or on the content of emails sent from school computers. FLAs must be told that it is a sackable offence to access pornographic and other unsuitable sites. They should also be given clear guidelines regarding the use of social networking sites (for examples Facebook) and not sharing personal contact details with pupils.
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Personal safety
A leaet on personal safety can be found on the British Council website. If the FLA is working or living in an area where it is felt there may be risk to their personal safety, you should give them appropriate advice. You are also asked to advise FLAs on the procedure to follow should they suffer a burglary or theft or need to contact any of the emergency services. You should be the rst contact for the FLA if this does arise and then the British Council. Please advise the FLAs where their embassy/consulate is located. We would strongly encourage FLAs to take out contents insurance for personal items of value, for example laptops, cameras.
1.12 Personal studies and out-of-school activities

You are requested to support FLAs with their studies, to let them know about educational facilities available locally and to grant them permission to attend courses and any other functions arranged specially for them. In particular, they may wish to sit a Cambridge Certicate examination to accredit their level of English. Some assistants may be interested in attending classes in English and other subjects at their host school. Many assistants also wish to become involved in extra-curricular activities at school. It would be helpful to inform them of any clubs or societies which might be of interest. At rst assistants will be dependent on staff at their host school for information on events and activities in the local area. Please try to be as helpful as possible in informing them about opportunities to follow their own hobbies and interests outside school and to meet other young people. Assistants should be given leave of absence to sit examinations if they produce written evidence from their home authority. This period should not exceed two weeks during the academic year. Assistants can be asked to make up the hours. French language assistants may be able to sit certain examinations at the French Institute in Edinburgh or London, and so assistants should check whether this may be possible before requesting leave of absence to return to France.
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1.13 Second year extensions

The British Council and our co-operating partners abroad do not normally allow any extensions, apart from for assistants from France, as there is a long waiting list of excellent candidates each year who want to come to UK. Please note where schools make independent arrangements with FLAs to stay for a second year, this can have an impact on the future success of the programme including the posts available for outgoing assistants.
1.14 Full-time teaching opportunities

FLAs who wish to become teachers of modern foreign languages should be advised to talk to teaching staff regarding the current recruitment for modern languages, and to consult the following websites: England, Wales and Northern Ireland Scotland www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching www.teachinginscotland.com
Further information, advice and links can also be found on the British Council website at the following address: www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants-teaching-as-a-career.htm
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1.15 Administrative checklist

The table below lists tasks to be completed on receipt of an assistants dossier. Task Receive and read FLA dossier (application form) from British Council. Contact assistant at once by phone or email and provide current/ last assistants contact details. Send formal Standard Offer Letter and relevant helpful information (prospectus, area information, accommodation contacts, suggestions for materials that they should bring) to the assistant as soon as possible. For non-EU assistants (excluding Swiss) i.e. Canadian, Japanese, Latin American, Omani and Russian FLAs, see special action required on page 9. Remind assistants from EU countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, or Spain) as well as those from Oman to obtain a police clearance certificate in their country. We recommend that you ask them to fax it to you and bring the original with them on their first day. Remind assistants from France or Italy to obtain a medical certificate and to send it to you in advance of their arrival. Your offer of the job should be conditional on the provision of a satisfactory certificate. Liaise with your partner school(s), if applicable, regarding sharing arrangements and support for the assistant. Confirm the appointment to the British Council and the local authority if applicable by completing and returning the acceptance slip (Scotland), ADF4 (E/W) or ADF4 (NI) once the assistant has at least verbally accepted your offer. Arrange accommodation for the assistant, or provide advice. Discuss with appropriate colleagues when to obtain tax form P46 in advance of the assistants arrival. Prepare the Statement of Employment (contract) in advance of the assistants arrival.
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SECTION 2: NOTES FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS

Introduction
Congratulations on being allocated a post as a language assistant in the UK. We hope you enjoy your time here and make the most of the year ahead. This booklet is intended to help you prepare for your assistantship and to provide a source of reference and information during the year. Most of the information applies to assistants from every country. Where the information is specic to any one country, this is clearly indicated. For simplicity we use the word school for all kinds of institution to which assistants may be appointed. The main school that you work in, which is most likely the school making the rst contact with you, is referred to as your host school. If you have any queries about your entitlement to medical insurance or unemployment benet in your own country following your assistantship in the UK, remember to check with the relevant organisation(s) in your home country before you leave home. Please note: In Northern Ireland there are similar arrangements in place for language assistants in Irish who also use these guidance notes so the preferred term in use is modern language assistant (MLA) rather than FLA.
2.01 Terms and conditions of the job FAQs

How long is my contract?
Unless you are an FLA from China, your appointment will run from 1 September (posts in Scotland or Northern Ireland) or 1 October (posts in England or Wales) to 31 May unless you have agreed with your local authority/host school to an earlier starting date and/or a later nishing date. If it is absolutely necessary, for some exceptional reason, for you to start work later and to nish earlier than the dates above, this too must be agreed in advance with your school(s). FLAs from China usually work from mid September to 30 June.
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What is my status as an FLA?

FLAs do not have the status of a student except in the matter of Council Tax (see page 53). In all other respects your status is that of a paid employee.
Who is my employer?
Your employer is either the host school, the local authority, or if working in Northern Ireland the local education and library board (ELB). You are not employed or paid by the British Council.
What will my allowance be?

The current rates for 201213 will be posted on our website as soon as they are available: www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants-money-matters-a-2.htm
How many hours do I work per week?

You will normally work 12 class contact hours each week. If you are asked to work additional class contact hours, and you agree, you should be paid for the extra hours on a pro rata basis, up to a maximum total of 18 hours per week. Lesson preparation time is in addition to the 12 contact hours. Please note that FLAs are not paid for preparation time.
Will I get an official contract?

You should receive and sign a Statement of Employment which constitutes your employment contract from either your host school or local authority. It is a legal requirement (Employment Rights Act 1996) that this information is given to an employee in writing. The best practice is for this to be signed as soon as you present yourself for work, and for two copies to be printed, each of them signed by each party.
How many schools will I work in?

You may be required to work in more than one school: FLAs are often shared between two or three neighbouring institutions depending on the sharing arrangements. If you work in more than one school, one of them will be your host school and will be responsible for co-ordinating your timetable and providing administrative support. A named member of staff will be designated as your mentor, normally based in your host school.
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Will I get holidays?

You will have the same (paid) holidays as the other teaching staff in your school, and you are expected to be present during term time.
Would I be able to extend my contract for a second year?

The British Council and our co-operating partners abroad only allow FLAs from France to remain for a second year as for all other countries there is a long waiting list of candidates every year wanting to gain experience in the UK.
Getting yourself prepared 2.02 F amiliarise yourself with the UK education systems
The United Kingdom is comprised of the four countries England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales each with their own education system. Scotlands education system in particular is quite distinct from the other three. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the system of the country to which you are allocated. You can nd comprehensive descriptions of the different UK education systems on the Eurydice network for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. For up-to-date information visit the following websites: Understanding the National Curriculum (England and Wales), Understanding the Northern Ireland Curriculum and Curriculum for Excellence (Scotland).
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Below is a brief comparison of the different stages currently in use in primary and secondary schools: National Curriculum, England, Wales, Northern Ireland Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Key Stage 1 (KS1) Key Stage 2 (KS2) Key Stage 3 (KS3) Key Stage 4 (KS4) Ages Description/stages Education sector Pre-school Primary Primary Secondary Secondary Secondary/ Tertiary
35 57 711 1114 1416 1618
Reception (ages 45) Years 1 and 2 Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 Years 7, 8 and 9 Years 10 and 11 Years 1213
Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland Early Level First Level Second Level1 Third and Fourth Level Senior Phase 36 610 1012 1215 15 18 Pre-school years and Primary 1 (P1) To the end of Primary 4 (P4) To the end of Primary 7 (P7) Secondary 13 (S1 S3) S4 S6/college or other Pre-school/ Primary Primary Primary Secondary Secondary/ Tertiary
Modern Language Descriptors start at Second Level as there is no obligation for schools to deliver language learning before Primary 6.
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2.03 Thinking ahead about your role as a foreign language assistant

As a foreign language assistant you are a native speaker bringing the language and culture of your country to the classroom. You should therefore use every opportunity to help make language learning relevant and fun for your pupils. Keep in mind that some maybe all of the pupils with whom you will be working may never have visited your home country or met a young person from it, so the more real you can make their language learning experience, the better. Depending on your teacher(s) and the age of the pupils, your tasks during the assistantship will include working together with a teacher in the classroom, working on your own with small groups of pupils, helping to prepare pupils for oral examinations and contributing to cross-curricular work in collaboration with other subject areas. However, since you are unlikely to be a trained teacher you should not be asked to, and should not, take sole responsibility for a whole class, supervise, deal with pupils discipline problems or take responsibility for marking pupils work or exam papers.
Compile resource materials for your lessons

One way of making language learning real for your pupils is bringing authentic materials from your home country into the classroom. Take the opportunity to collect a variety of resources while you are still at home. There are a lot of authentic materials that will come in useful in your lessons, such as:
photos: your house, street, town or village, region, your family including grandparents, pets etc. maps (for example of your home town and/or of countries where your language is an ofcial language) tourist information: hotels, campsites, monuments, price lists, opening and closing times, museum tickets, tourist brochures and postcards music: latest hits, golden oldies easy to understand and/or related to social themes or illustrating grammar points (for example, conditional tense) video (or DVD): weather, quiz shows, word games, soap operas (especially those known in UK), adverts, cartoons television/cinema listings and reviews
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local newspapers, teen magazines with horoscopes, weather forecasts, minor news items, problem page games photos and character portrait of well known actors/singers a school timetable/a school report transport timetables and tickets real menu from restaurant, price list from bar empty packets: toothpaste, soup, chocolates, etc.
The more materials you can nd the better. Think about what worked well for you as a language student and about which items you nd interesting when you are in a foreign country (keep in mind that the language level of the pupils may not be the same as the level of English of students in your country). You can also ask your school whether there is something specic they would like you to bring and to nd out about topics you are likely to be asked to cover during your assistantship. The British Council also provides online pedagogic support for FLAs. FLAs and teachers are able to download teaching materials from the British Council website and our site is linked to other relevant internet sites. You will also have access to a moderated email discussion group to receive and exchange teaching ideas. If you have not received an email inviting you to join by mid October, visit the website and request to join: www.britishcouncil.org/asonline In addition there are some guides produced by various cultural organisations, which also give information about aspects of life and education in the UK in your mother tongue: Consolato Generale dItalia in Londras www.conslondra.esteri.it/Consolato_Londra/Menu/I_Servizi/Per_i_cittadini/Studi/ Corsi_di_lingua/Didattica/ Mallette pdagogique pour les assistants (French Institute) www.institut-francais.org.uk/pages/malette_pedagogique STEPS, Leitfaden fr Fremdsprachenassistent(inn)en (Goethe Institute) www.goethe.de/ins/gb/lp/prj/stp/deindex.htm Information pages for Auxiliares de Conversacin Espaol (Consejera de Educacin) http://bit.ly/sSmXMt
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Frequently asked questions

What will my role involve? You will usually be working in a secondary school either assisting the language teacher with the language classes or teaching small groups on your own. We have a small number of posts in primary schools, sixth-form colleges and in colleges of further education. Your role will be to improve your students condence in communicating in your language and help classes to become more interactive and fun by discussing contemporary aspects of youth culture in your country such as current affairs, education, sport, fashion, lms, television, lifestyles and celebrations. You will do this by planning activities and games and using photos, travel guides and maps as well as texts from newspapers or the internet. At the same time, you will improve your language skills, learn how to become a more effective communicator and experience living and working in the UK. What will the job be like? Although the role of the FLA is fairly standard, your experience may differ from other FLAs depending on the type of school you will be working in, the teachers, the students backgrounds, and the local area. If you are enthusiastic, keen and have lots of different ideas for activities and lessons, you are likely to make the most of your experience. What is the UK like to live in? The UK is a very diverse country. Most cities have a multicultural population and a lot of people do not have English as a rst language. Cities are usually lively with a lot to do, but are expensive to live in and can be impersonal at times. Smaller towns are cheaper to live in and often easier to make friends in. The UK is quite densely populated, so even if you are in a small town, you can usually reach a larger place quite easily, except in areas such as Cumbria and northern Scotland. Who will I be working with? You will be assigned to a mentor teacher who will probably be a teacher in the modern foreign language department. However, you are likely to work with other teachers who teach your subject as well. Teachers in the UK tend to be very busy and dont always have a lot of time to chat between lessons, but if you make the effort, it is usually easy to make friends in school.
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Will I work in more than one school? Possibly! Remember that it is not the British Council or the UK government but the school or local education ofce that pays your allowance. You may work in up to three different schools and some secondary schools may send you to work at a local primary school for a couple of hours a week. What are the conditions like in schools in the UK? Conditions vary from school to school and place to place. For example, if you work in two schools, you may nd one easier to work in than the other for a number of reasons. A lot of schools in inner city areas may have more students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds whose rst language is not English. Some schools have more discipline problems than others, so it is impossible to generalise. It will depend on the teachers and students you will be working with. You will almost certainly teach some classes with the teacher together and take some small groups of your own. You are not responsible for overall discipline, but it is a good idea for you to try to command respect from your students, while trying to be friendly at the same time. What will the students level of ability be like? Again, it is impossible to generalise, but the situation regarding foreign language learning is not the same in the UK as that of English in other countries. English is, in a sense, a world language and it would be more appropriate to compare the teaching of the second foreign language (after English) in your country to the teaching of foreign languages in the UK. You should probably not assume that their level is the same as the level of English of students in your country. Some schools employ their FLAs to help the most able students prepare for university entry-level examinations; others employ FLAs to help prepare for oral examinations of the relevant school leaving qualications. Your role will be to make language learning more interactive and fun, whatever level(s) you end up teaching and to build your students condence in communicating in your language. What is the climate like? The climate is fairly similar from place to place within the UK, but northern areas tend to be a few degrees colder than southern areas. You will be here during the autumn and winter months when it is coldest. Temperatures may dip below 0C during the winter, especially in northern England and Scotland, but as high as 20C towards the end of your time here. If you are not sure about which clothes to bring, check with your school once you are in direct contact with them. You can check current temperatures on the BBC Weather website at: www.bbc.co.uk/weather
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Is the allowance enough to survive on? The UK is fairly expensive compared to most European countries, but the allowance is quite generous for the number of hours (usually 12 per week). There are additional allowances for London, but living in London is still very expensive. Rent varies depending on the size of the town/city and the standard of the accommodation. You may be able to supplement your income by giving private lessons or doing a part-time job as long as these do not affect your working hours in school. However, if you do this may affect your tax-exempt status. Also, if you are not from an EU country, you can only work extra hours if you are working in a school and teaching. You should make sure that you bring enough money to live on (say 1,0001,500) until you receive your rst payment, which should be at the end of the rst month. What is the situation regarding accommodation? The best thing to do is ask your school once you are in direct contact. They can often help you or let you stay with a teacher while you nd your own place to live. It is not usually difcult to nd accommodation, especially if you rent a room in a shared house. This can be done by looking online, in local newspapers, in libraries, in shop windows or by asking around. However, please understand that nding accommodation is ultimately your own responsibility. The type of accommodation will vary. If you live in a house with a family or rent someones room while they are away for a few months, you will probably not have to provide your own bedding and kitchen cutlery, pots and pans. However, if you rent a room in a shared house with students, workers or other FLAs, you will probably have to provide your own. It is best to check this before you move in. Will I get the chance to travel? Yes. You will have half term holidays as well as two weeks holiday at Christmas and Easter. The VisitBritain website can provide you with useful advice on what to see and do during your time here.
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Before you leave home 2.04 First contact with your school
You should receive a letter or email in June or July from your employer, which will be the local authority or host school, not the British Council. To secure the job you should reply immediately to this letter with the following information:
a brief introduction of yourself, your interests and any previous teaching experience the address, telephone number and email address where you can be contacted until one month before you are due to start work (i.e. end of August or September) the dates of any examinations during the academic year for which you may be obliged to return home.
Ask the following questions:
When should I arrive in the UK? (You will probably be expected to be in school on Monday 3 September 2012 (Scotland/Northern Ireland) or Monday 1 October 2012 (England/Wales) unless you have agreed another starting date with the school, but you will need to arrive a few days earlier to settle in). Can you help me nd accommodation, or give me advice? (Tell the school if you have any special dietary requirements or if you smoke or will have a car. However, you should be realistic and remember it may not be possible for them to meet all your requirements. It may be possible for them to nd you only temporary accommodation, for example in a hostel, but this should be enough to give you time to nd something more permanent.) If the school has indicated that it is able to provide you with accommodation ask for the address and telephone number. See also the notes on helping you nd accommodation yourself on page 48. What are the address, fax and telephone numbers, email and website of the school? What are the contact details of my mentor teacher throughout the summer? Will I be working in one school or more than one? How many hours will I work?
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What will my allowance be? What type of school(s) will I be working in? How big is the school? How many pupils? How many teachers? How many teachers of my language are there? What is the social environment of the school? How old are the pupils? What is the age-range and language level of the pupils I will be working with? Does the school have a link with a school in my country? Would the school like me to bring any authentic materials such as photographs, maps, postcards, posters, etc. which I could put up in the classroom, or tourist brochures, magazines, newspapers, advertisements, information on festivals in my country? What are the name, address, telephone number and email address of the previous FLA, i.e. my predecessor? How do I get to the school or my accommodation from the airport/station/ port of arrival? What type of clothing will I be expected to wear in school?
Once you know the area you have been posted in, you may nd the following websites useful for research: Yellow Pages www.yell.com

Street View http://maps.google.co.uk My Village www.myvillage.com
Type in the rst part of your schools postcode (for example, EH4 or SW6), rather than the place name, in order to get a specic search.
2.05 L egal matters: police clearance and immigration

(A) Police clearance from abroad
If you come from an EU country (i.e. Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy or Spain) or from Oman and did not include a police certicate in your original application, you must apply for a police clearance certicate and give it to your local authority or school on your rst day at school or send it earlier if requested. It must be less than six months old when you present it. Your host school may also ask you to fax it to them in advance of your arrival. This is a very important document. Without it you will be unable to start your job.
British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213 |37
(B) Police clearance from the UK authorities

It is an offence for an organisation to knowingly offer work in a childcare position to anyone who is on the disqualied list from working with children. For this reason it is important to comply with any requests from your employer to provide the necessary information. This applies to all FLAs, regardless of whether or not they have a history of previous residence in this country. This is in addition to the police clearance from your own country. The schools being the employer should: a. verify your identity on arrival (see below for acceptable documents) b. give you the appropriate form to apply for an Enhanced Check (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) or for membership of the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) Scheme (Scotland) c. ensure that your form is fully completed and is accurate d. submit the form to the appropriate authority (i.e. Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or to Disclosure Scotland, together with the fee if applicable (Note: Check with your employer if they will pay this fee for you). Please refer to section 1.02 for information on the documents required.
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England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Only original documents are valid: photocopies are not acceptable unless certied by a notary public. A foreign driving licence is not acceptable. All Group 1 documents must be in the your current name. At least one document must conrm your UK address at the time of application for the CRB check, and at least one document must conrm your date of birth. In section D of the CRB application form you must also provide (but not prove) all addresses where you have lived in the last ve years, ensuring that you leave no gaps in the dates between addresses. An application which has gaps in the dates between addresses will be rejected. Documents such as bank and credit card statements cannot be used unless they show your UK address at the time of application for the CRB check, so very few FLAs will be in a position at the start of their assistantship to offer these for their identity check. Your current UK address (section A of the form) cannot be the address of the school unless you live at the school. However, the document required to show the address could be a letter from the headteacher (host school), on headed paper, conrming your address on the basis of a letter from the landlord. Q12 in section A of the form can be left blank. It is not mandatory information since you may not have a permanent National Insurance number at the start of the academic year. Q14 in section B of the form should state the host/lead school, NOT the British Council.
Scotland
On 28 February 2011 The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (PVG Scheme) came into operation. The PVG Scheme is managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland. The Scheme Record is the replacement for enhanced disclosure for work with vulnerable groups. Once an individual is a PVG Scheme member Disclosure Scotland will keep the individuals PVG Scheme membership and vetting information up to date. This process is called continuous updating and is one of the principal differences between enhanced disclosure and the PVG Scheme. Just because an individual is a PVG Scheme member (and so not unsuitable to do that type of regulated work) does not necessarily mean that the individual is suitable to work in a specic position. That decision must always be taken by the employer, informed by the content of the individuals scheme record as well as other good recruitment and employment practice.
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For Chinese language assistants only

A letter from the headteacher at your school in China conrming your identity and position within the school. Please note: Ask your employer which documents you should bring if they do not advise you.
All documents should be originals, or copies certied by a notary public. Your employer will inform you whether documents in your language will be acceptable, or whether they need to be translated into English. At least one document must conrm your date of birth, and one must include a photograph. Employers also need proof of your current address in the UK at the time you are making the application. Your employer will tell you what they will accept as this proof. If you are staying in accommodation booked yourself (for example at, hostel or student hall of residence) they will probably ask you for a letter from the landlord or hostel manager to conrm you are living there. If you are staying in accommodation arranged and booked by the local authority, they may not require this proof, and you may only require TWO further forms of identication (rather than three).
Immigration
The immigration procedure will depend on whether or not you are a national of a country within the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA). Foreign Language Assistants from countries within the EU/EEA and Switzerland You will be allowed to enter the UK on presentation of a valid passport or national identity card.
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FLAs from countries outside the EU/EEA All FLAs who are non-EU nationals must obtain a visa to enter the UK under the UK Border Agencys points-based system Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) Government Authorised Exchange. As a licensed sponsor, the British Council will assign each non-EU FLA a Certicate of Sponsorship. The Certicate has a unique reference number which we will send to you by e-mail. We will also send you by post a T5 Conrmation of Maintenance Form, conrming that you will be paid for the duration of your assistantship. You cannot apply for your visa without the unique reference number and T5 form, but it is essential that you apply for your visa as soon as you have these as the Certicate of Sponsorship will expire within three months of receipt/ issue and your visa application will be refused if the certicate is not used within that time. You will be sent full instructions on how to complete the online visa application process by the national agency in your own country. Please be particularly aware of visa processing times and the start and nish dates of your assistantship. It is your responsibility to ensure that your visa is valid for the full duration of your placement. You will have your ngerprints checked on arrival to ensure they match those in your biometric details. It is also your responsibility to make sure that your travel to and from the UK is within the period stated on your visa. It is an offence to stay longer than the period given on your visa.
2.06 Bringing a car to the UK

Normally EU vehicles circulating temporarily within or between EU countries are limited, under EC Directive 83/182, to visits of six months in a 12-month period. If the vehicle remains in the UK for more than six months in a 12-month period, you are required by law to register it (UK number plates, UK insurance, fees to pay), and failure to register can lead to a substantial ne. However, FLAs appointed for a specic duration of eight or nine months may be exempt from the normal six-month rule, provided HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) grant an exemption. This would be an exemption from customs relief but as a result you will also qualify for an exemption from registering and licensing the vehicle in the UK. The procedure on arrival for bringing your car into the UK depends on whether your home country is in the EU or not.
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Foreign Language Assistants from countries within the EU

You can bring your car into the UK without declaring it to HMRC on arrival as long as the car is not classied as new. This means that more than six months must have passed since the date of its rst entry into service and it must have travelled under its own power for more than 6,000 kilometres since its rst entry into service. If your car is classied as new you will probably have to pay an import tax to HMRC. You are not required to register and license your vehicle with the UK authorities for the duration of your assistantship, provided that the vehicle complies with the requirements of your home country at all times. If stopped by the police or other authority, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) advises you to present a letter on headed paper from your host school. This letter should explain that you are doing an assistantship in the UK on a xed short-term contract and should give the start and end dates of your appointment. We also advise you to keep a copy in the car of your offer letter or Statement of Employment from your host school or local authority.
FLAs from countries outside the EU

You should visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/arriving/moving.htm and look at: Bringing your belongings and private motor vehicle to the United Kingdom from outside the EU. This gives information on importing a car into the UK. Before you leave home, you should download (from the same website) and complete form C110 in duplicate, providing your name, car details and a UK contact address. On arrival at the UK port you can drive through the green nothing to declare channel if you carry no more than the customs allowance and no banned or restricted goods (check www.hmrc.gov.uk Reference Notice 3: Section 3.1). Although no formal customs declaration to claim temporary import relief for your vehicle is required, you should carry your two completed copies of Form C110 with you, in case you are asked to present them. Within a few days of entering the UK you must send one (original) copy of the form, together with evidence of your appointment from your local authority or host school to: National Import Reliefs Unit (NIRU), CITEX/Cross Cutting Group, Local Compliance, HM Revenue and Customs, Abbey House, Head Street, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland BT74 7JL. (Telephone: 028 6634 4584). NIRU will write back to give you a temporary import reference number.
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You can remain in the UK without payment of import charges for six months or for the duration of your appointment. Keep the NIRU letter showing the temporary import reference number in your car, together with the copy of form C110 (which you sent to NIRU) and a copy of your local authoritys/ host schools offer letter or Statement of Employment. Any breach of the temporary import rules will result in charges and possible seizure of your vehicle. No formal customs declaration is required when the vehicle leaves the UK, however you should return your remaining copy of the notication form to NIRU.
All FLAs bringing a car to the UK

As long as all other conditions are met, vehicles brought into the UK need no further insurance if they are covered by a valid Green Card or are normally based and currently insured in another EU country or in Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. However, you are strongly advised to check with your insurance company whether you need any additional cover if you plan to use your car to travel between schools. In some cases this may be regarded as business travel. You should obtain a copy of The Highway Code as soon as possible. You can buy this in most bookshops and there is also an online version at www.direct.gov.uk/highwaycode
2.07 P lanning your arrival: travel matters and personal insurance

For travel to/from the UK and for your time in the UK
We strongly recommend that you take out personal travel insurance to provide cover for you and your possessions, in particular personal items of value such as laptops, cameras, etc. for your journey to and from the UK, and for your stay in the UK. This should also include cover for emergency medical repatriation and personal liability (civil responsibility).
For holidays outside the UK during your assistantship

If you take holidays in other countries during the time of your residence in the UK, you are advised to take out additional travel insurance for these periods.
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Transport
If you arrive in the UK by plane, and especially if you arrive during a school day, it may not be possible for someone to meet you at the airport. If this is the case, you should ask your school for directions. You may nd the following websites useful: BAA Airports www.baa.com (London Heathrow, London Stansted, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Southampton www.gatwickairport.com www.belfastairport.com www.belfastcityairport.com www.cityofderryairport.com www.nationalrail.co.uk www.scotrail.co.uk www.nationalexpress.com www.citylink.co.uk or www.megabus.com www.translink.co.uk www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp www.tfl.gov.uk/tube
London Gatwick Airport Belfast International Airport George Best Belfast City Airport City of Derry Airport Rail Travel Rail Travel Scotland Coach Travel UK Coach Travel Scotland Coach Travel Northern Ireland Road route planner London Underground
You will need to bring money with you to the UK or have access to funds to pay for rent (and perhaps a deposit) and other initial expenses before you receive your rst months allowance. You should expect to need around 1,0001,500.
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Once you arrive in the UK 2.08 Police registration

If you hold a passport from a non-EU country you may be required to register with the police within seven days of your arrival in the UK, and to re-register (within seven days) if you change your address during the year. This requirement may or may not be stamped on your passport, so we advise you to check carefully the exact wording of the stamp and to nd out whether you need to register. You should contact your local police service for details of the nearest police registration ofce. When registering with the police you will need:

your passport (including visa) and two passport photographs your T5 Registration of Maintenance form a registration fee of 34 (this is non-refundable, but only paid once regardless of the number of times you may move). Note: the payment can sometimes only be made in cash.
Failure to register is an offence and the police have the right to consider prosecution.
FLAs posted to Northern Ireland

In the rst instance contact the Foreign Nationals Unit in Belfast on +44 (0)28 90 650222 extension 23104/23105 and they will advise you how to proceed. If you are a holder of any other non-EU passport from a country NOT on the Language Assistant Programme contact the Foreign Nationals Unit to check if registration is required. Remember to check what immigration ofcers have stamped on your passport or what is written in relation to your visa. Immigration rules are continuously being revised. Opening hours are MondayFriday 09.3012.00 and 14.0016.00 (not bank holidays or weekends).
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2.09 Accommodation
Although your school may be able help you nd accommodation, you are in fact responsible for nding accommodation yourself. We therefore recommend that you arrive in the UK at least a week before you start work (longer if coming to a larger town) so that you have time to nd somewhere to live. It may be easier to move into temporary accommodation in the short term. The website www.hostelworld.com provides good and reliable information. Bear in mind that while accommodation at hostels or charitable organisations such as the YMCA and YWCA (where these are available) can be expensive the fee usually includes all meals and provides an instant group of friends. In addition to accommodation they offer sports and social facilities, entertainment, cafeterias and restaurants. You can also try the following:

ask the previous FLA if they can offer any advice ask around at school and advertise on the staff notice board check university or other student notice boards look online on websites such as www.gumtree.com or www.atshare.com buy the local newspaper and call early in the morning go to the local Citizens Advice Bureau/tourist ofce and ask if they keep accommodation lists FLAs in London should buy LOOT magazine.
Note: When you move into your long-term accommodation we recommend that you take photos of your room and the at. This is to help you get back any deposit you may have to pay, which is usually dependent on the accommodation being in the same condition as when you rst arrived. You should not:

visit places alone advertise your telephone number in public places sign any contract with an agency without nding out if there are any fees to pay.
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Note: Your host school will not pay your transport costs between your accommodation and school, so make sure that you dont arrange accommodation too far away as travel could be expensive. However, if you are working in more than one school and have to travel to both schools in one day, and have to pay higher transport costs, the schools should make a contribution to your costs. If you share accommodation with people other than FLAs or students, you may have to pay Council Tax (see also page 53).
Medical care
FLAs from countries within the EU/EEA
You are entitled to treatment under the National Health Service (NHS) on the same basis as UK residents. However, like other UK citizens and depending on which part of the UK you are posted to, you may have to pay for the following: a. prescriptions (each item on a prescription costs 7.65 in England, but is free in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland) b. dental treatment (Note: It can be extremely difcult to register with a dentist that will provide NHS treatment, which is less costly than private dentistry services, so we strongly advise you to have a dental check up/ and any follow-up treatment in your home country prior to travelling to the UK) c. eye care or treatment, purchasing contact lenses or glasses, except in Scotland where eye tests are free. You will need to prove your identity and your work status, so bring your passport or ID card, offer of appointment letter and any other useful documents. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you have an EHIC from your own country, you should bring it with you. The amount deducted from your allowance each month for National Insurance will also entitle you to an EHIC issued in the UK. (The application form for this is available from any UK post ofce or you can apply online at www.ehic.org.uk). A UK-issued EHIC will entitle you to free emergency treatment (not to full healthcare) when you return to your home country or visit another EU state while you are in ofcial employment in the UK.
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FLAs from countries outside the EU/EEA

You are allowed free emergency treatment but some doctors may not offer you other medical services free of charge. You are strongly advised to take out private medical insurance before leaving your home country or you may need to pay for private treatment in the UK, which is very expensive.
All FLAs
You should register with a local NHS health centre as soon as you arrive in the UK. Staff at the school may be able to recommend where to go. Note: The NHS does not cover emergency repatriation in the case of severe illness or accident. You must have your own insurance to cover this. If you are posted to England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can also try obtaining a list of doctors from your local library or go to www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/pages/servicesearch.aspx If you are posted to Scotland, go to www.nhs24.com NHS-24 is the Health Information and Self Care Advice centre for Scotland; it has a self-help guide and general health advice section. If you feel unwell outside your health centres normal hours, you can also call NHS-24 on 08454 242424 for free advice.
Money matters 2.10 Payment, Income Tax and National Insurance

You will receive a gross monthly payment (allowance) see page 17 for further details. As soon as you have opened a bank account you must give your account details to the person in your school or local authority in charge of staff pay. You will usually be paid at the end of each month and will receive a payslip which tells you your gross allowance (before deductions) and net allowance (after deductions). The allowance paid to FLAs is adequate to support one person only. Remember to keep your payslips for reference in case you have any queries about your pay or the deductions made. You may also need them in the future to prove to your home authorities for pension purposes that you spent a year working in the UK.
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Income Tax
Following the raising of the tax free personal allowance across the UK and due to the fact that the FLA contract is split across two nancial years, all FLAs should now be exempt from paying income tax on their standard FLA salary as they will earn below the threshold in each nancial year. It is still essential however that you are issued with the correct tax code from the tax ofce and you must complete form P46 as soon as possible after you arrive in the UK. Your local authority or school should have the forms. If they do not, you can download them at the HM Revenue and Customs website: www.hmrc.gov.uk the form gives the UK tax authorities information about who you are and whether you should pay tax or not. Your local authority or school should send the completed P46 to the local tax ofce. FLAs from countries which have a Double Taxation Agreement (with Teachers Article) with the UK see list in Appendix II should complete and attach the covering letter for the HM Revenue and Customs (provided by the British Council) to their completed P46 form, and return it to their local authority or school. You should keep a photocopy of the completed form and accompanying letter in case of a future query regarding a possible tax refund. For more information please read Appendix II carefully. Only the employers tax ofce can deal with problems and refunds: no other tax ofce can access the information.
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National Insurance (NI)

(A) National Insurance Payments National Insurance has nothing to do with income tax. It is the UK equivalent of social security in other countries. It entitles you, for example, to treatment under the National Health Service (NHS). Every employee in the UK has to pay National Insurance and this applies to you too, even if you have insurance from your home country. If you have any problems relating to your NI payments, you should speak to your local authority or school as your employer. If you have any queries about your entitlement to healthcare or unemployment benet in your own country following your assistantship in the UK, remember to check with your own authorities before you leave home. (B) National Insurance Number (NI number) If you already have an NI number from previous work in the UK, you can use it again as it is valid for life. Otherwise, you need to apply for your insurance number as soon as possible on starting your job. The card provides you with the unique number which all employers must have in order to offer you work and ensure that you do not pay too much tax on your wages. The National Insurance number can be obtained by using our online service which can greatly reduce the time you have to wait to nd work, earn money in the UK and communicate with the government in the UK. Standard applications cost 38 are usually processed within three working days. Fast track applications cost 58 and will be processed within three working hours. Please visit the National Insurance website for registration www.nationalinsurance.uk.com/
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FLAs posted to Scotland

Check with your local authority co-ordinator to see if a group booking has been arranged for FLAs in your area. If not, you will need to arrange for a 30-minute individual interview to get a National Insurance number. Phone the call centre on 0845 6000 643, and an appointment will be made for you at one of seven main sites. FLAs from non-EU countries applying individually should mention their nationality and that they have a visa under Tier 5 of the new points-based system when phoning for an interview as it may be possible to apply by post instead of attending the interview. FLAs should expect to travel up to an hour for an interview, but if they are more than one hours travelling distance from one of these sites they are entitled to a rural appointment with a Jobcentre Plus within reasonable travelling distance. Emphasise to the call centre staff when booking an appointment that you need a rural interview if located in a more remote area. The call centre will then forward your details to the head ofce in Edinburgh, who will contact the appropriate local ofce and get them to arrange an interview for you. When making an appointment you should check what supporting documentation you will be required to take to the interview. The length of time to get an interview varies across the country, but should take ten working days from phoning. FLAs should then receive their permanent National Insurance number around ten days after the interview. More information on National Insurance is available on this website: www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/tmanational-insurance.shtml
(C) Benefits on your return home

FLAs from within the EU When you return home, you will need to contact the Social Security ofce in your country of residence and tell them that you have made National Insurance contributions in the UK. The Social Security authorities will contact the HMRC on your behalf to request the relevant paperwork. If you would like more information, please go to: www.hmrc.gov.uk/nic/work/new-rules.htm Alternatively call the HMRC on 0845 915 4811 or from abroad +44 (0)191 203 7010. You may also obtain a hard copy by contacting: HM Revenue and Customs, Centre for Non-Residents BP1301 Benton Park View Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE98 1ZZ
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FLAs from outside the EU We advise you to check with the authorities in your home country as to whether National Insurance paid in the UK can be credited on your return. We also suggest that you ask them if you need to bring any documentation or forms from the UK when you return home.
2.11 Pension
If you work for a state school (i.e. funded by local authorities) you are eligible for membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and you will automatically be enrolled into the scheme. However, you have the right to opt out of the scheme or not to join it. The host school or local authority must give you a guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme. If you join the scheme, you will have money deducted from your salary each month as contributions towards your pension. If you do not wish to join the scheme, you must complete an opting out form before the rst months payroll run (which may be quite early in September/October ask your local authority for the date). If you do join but then change your mind, you may opt out of membership and receive a refund of contributions provided you do this within two years. Once you have two years membership you are not entitled to a refund; instead you are entitled to a deferred benet in the scheme, payable at pension age unless you decide before then to transfer the accrued benets to another scheme (which could be to a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme). A guide to the LGPS together with the relevant membership forms should be sent to you with the offer of appointment letter, or given to you with your Statement of Employment (i.e. contract). Note: Some local authorities process refunds via the payroll for those who opt out within the rst month, whereas others process all refunds (including those for people who opt out with less than one months membership) via the Pension Fund.
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2.12 Council Tax and Housing Benefit

Council Tax is a property tax based on both the value of the property (house or at) and the number of adults living there. You are exempt from paying Council Tax as you are regarded as a student for Council Tax purposes. We will send you a British Council Certicate of Registration in your rst month of employment so that you can prove your status as an FLA. You may need to show this certicate to your landlord, or send it to your local Council Tax ofce if you receive a letter from them asking you to pay Council Tax. No one in your property should be required to pay Council Tax providing everyone living there is a student or FLA. However, if you live with anyone who is employed, they will be liable to pay Council Tax, and a Council Tax bill will be sent to the property. You are not legally required to pay any of this bill, but you may wish to help your atmate(s) by contributing something towards the cost. If there is only one working person in the property, apart from you, you can apply for a Disregard Discount which means that they are only required to pay 75 per cent of the full normal bill. If you have any queries about Council Tax when you are in the UK, ask your school to give you the address of the local Council Tax ofce where you can go for further advice. You may also wish to consult http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/tax/council_tax.htm and click on the appropriate country tab. Note: If you rent property before your assistantship contract starts or after it nishes, you will be liable to pay Council Tax for any days outside the exact dates of your contract. FLAs living in rented accommodation sometimes ask about the possibility of receiving housing benet (a rent rebate). If you would like further information about this, you should contact the local councils Housing Department. Your school or the local library will be able to tell you where it is. However, you are unlikely to qualify unless you are paying a relatively high rent and you have a formal, documented rent agreement with your landlord.
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2.13 Banking
Your allowance will be paid directly into a UK bank account, and so you must open one as soon as possible after your arrival and give the account details to the appropriate person in your local authority or school (for example nance ofcer or bursar). When opening an account you must take with you:

Your passport or national identity card. A letter of introduction from your local authority or host school. The letter of introduction should be on headed paper and if possible addressed to the specic bank and branch concerned. It should conrm:
the name, address and telephone number of a contact person who is responsible for you (for example the person writing the letter) your name, address in your home country, address in the UK (even if a temporary address, such as a hostel), your position, details of where you are working, and your conditions of employment.
The British Council has been told that the above documents will normally be enough to open bank accounts with the following major UK-based banks: HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Clydesdale Bank (Scotland). Some branches of some banks may refuse you an account because they regard you as a short-term client. Decisions on what is acceptable are sometimes made by the individual branch, so not all branches of the banks mentioned above may accept the documents we have mentioned in every case. If you have any extra identication and proof of your address (for example your lease if you have already moved into a at, birth certicate, photo driving licence, a letter or recent statement from your bank at home, the British Council Certicate of Registration) you should bring them with you. You should ask your school to help you nd a suitable bank, perhaps one used by past FLAs or other members of staff. It may also be helpful if a teacher can accompany you to the bank on your rst visit. If you are unsuccessful in applying to one bank or branch, you should try another.
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Your work as a foreign language assistant 2.14 First days in school FAQs
Who is my mentor teacher? You should have been contacted by your mentor teacher before your arrival to meet on your rst day at school or even before. Your mentor will almost certainly be a member of the modern languages department in the school. He or she will be your initial contact for any queries or problems you may have. If you are the rst FLA your school has ever had, ask your mentor for some time to discuss what FLAs can and cannot do, and to work out your role in the school. This should help avoid misunderstandings and encourage co-operation with staff. The following are questions you will have about how to settle into your school, and some suggested answers. How do I meet everybody? Your mentor teacher should introduce you to key staff in school: the headteacher, deputy head, school secretary, bursar (nance ofcer in independent schools), principal, teacher of modern languages or faculty head, and other teachers. You are now a member of staff and should be treated accordingly. How do I learn my way around? Ask to be shown around the school, even areas where you might not normally teach. Note room codes of how pupils are expected to behave. Ask for a plan of the school buildings. How do I link my work with my colleagues work? Discuss with your colleagues how your lessons t into the relevant education curriculum in operation. Ask for copies of the course books as these could help you develop linked topics. Preparation is key to your teaching as a FLA. How do I keep track of my pupils? Ask for a complete list of the names of pupils who should be in your classes. If pupils are absent, tell your mentor. Keep notes on the progress of pupils and inform your mentor regularly. How do I nd out the dates of school holidays? Ask the secretary to give you a school diary which shows all the holidays and training days for your school. You could also check the schools website.
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How do I borrow equipment for my classes? Ask your mentor about the procedure for using a CD player, television, DVD, overhead projector, computer or interactive whiteboard for your lessons. These media will give your classes more variety. You will probably have to reserve or book them in advance. How do I get photocopies done? Ask your mentor or the school secretary how and where to get materials photocopied in school. Check if there are limits on the number of copies allowed. Ensure that your photocopies are done in plenty of time for your class. What are the rules regarding discipline in class or aggressive behaviour? Ask your mentor what the school policy is on disruptive or aggressive behaviour. This will ensure that any action you take is understood by the pupils and supported by the school. If one child is very disruptive (badly behaved) in your lessons, speak to the teacher. It may be possible to remove the child from your class. Remember that you are a member of the school staff and deserve the same status and respect as other teachers. You must be extremely careful about your use of the internet, email, blogs and social networking sites. You should avoid being alone with individual pupils. You must never for any reason at any time touch a child. Any complaint will be taken very seriously and you must take care that you do not behave in a way which could be misinterpreted by pupils or staff. If a case were brought against you, you could be dismissed from your job or even taken to court. Please be sensitive to cultural differences at all times and be aware that some types of behaviour may be seen as inappropriate in a school context. Comments or gestures which are intended to be funny may cause offence and, exceptionally, may even be seen as threatening violence or constituting sexual harassment. If you wish to select discussion topics with a political, religious or sexual bias, you must ask your mentor teacher for advice before introducing the material in the classroom. Similarly, you must seek advice from teachers before involving pupils in communication with others on the internet. Some of your students may be of a similar age to you but remember that you are a member of staff. Use your discretion. Please adhere to your schools and local authoritys policies in terms of acceptable behaviour and language.
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England, Wales, and Northern Ireland

You must be aware of the issues regarding child protection under The Children Act 1989 and should consult the Department for education (Dfe) website on this subject at www.education.gov.uk
Scotland
You must be aware of the issues regarding child protection under The Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 and should consult the information on the Scottish Government website on this subject at www.scotland.gov.uk You may be instantly dismissed from your post if you interact with pupils in any way which is seen as inappropriate.
What are the rules regarding sick leave?

Ask your mentor what the procedure is in your school regarding absence in the case of illness and when a doctors certicate would be required. Make sure you phone your school to inform them as soon as possible if you are sick or you may not get paid. If you fall ill within the rst 12 weeks of starting work, you will only be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (currently 81.60 per week), and not to the full range of social benets. The amount is unlikely to cover your living costs. It is therefore expected that if you are ill for an extended period you will return home. If you do return to your home country because of illness, you may not be paid for this period. You should check any arrangements for sick pay with your school before returning home. If you have to return home for any reason during the year, you must let the school know in advance and as soon as possible.
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What about the examinations I may have to take for my home university?
If you think you may have to return to your home country at some point during the year to take examinations, mention this to your mentor in your rst few days at school. You must in due course show your mentor the ofcial request from your university. French FLAs may be able to take exams at the French Institute in London or Edinburgh and should enquire about this possibility before arranging to return home. Schools are asked to be sympathetic to reasonable requests by FLAs for time off to take examinations but you should ensure that you are absent for as little time as possible, and you should offer to make up the hours you miss during your absence. If you work the same number of hours you missed, once you return, you should be paid the same as in a normal month where you are there all the time.
How do I manage to chat to colleagues when they all look so busy?

You will nd that if you stay in the staffroom occasionally when you have free periods between your lessons, you may meet teachers of all subjects. Also, if you bring your lunch to school and eat with your colleagues in the staffroom, you may have more opportunity for social chat. If you have particular interests or would like to get involved in local activities, ask colleagues for advice or ask if you can join them. Often there are organised school trips to theatres and other towns in which you could easily be included. However, you must check, when accompanying a school trip anywhere (in the UK or abroad), that you are fully covered by the schools insurance. You must NOT have sole responsibility for accompanying a group of pupils on a school trip.
How do I find where things are outside school?

Explore your local area. Find the post ofce, bus stop, railway station, bank, and supermarket. Note the type of area where most of your pupils will be living.
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Do I get a timetable so I know where I have to be and when?

You should have a timetable for your classes. Most timetables are weekly but some may be for ten day (i.e. two week) periods. Your timetable has to t in with the rest of the school timetable, so although schools will try to arrange for you to have one free day during the working week, this cannot be guaranteed. If you have not received your timetable by your third week in school, ask your mentor when it will be ready. If you have any problems with your timetable, tell your mentor. Try to understand the timetable and any abbreviations which are used. Ask your mentor whether or not your pupils are set (grouped) according to ability.
2.15 Induction meetings/observing classes

Some local authorities arrange induction meetings for FLAs appointed to schools in their area. You will also be invited to meetings organised by your embassy or cultural institute. You are strongly advised to attend as you will be given lots of useful information and will meet other FLAs working in your area.
Observing classes
Before you begin to work closely with pupils you should be given the opportunity to observe the class teacher. If you are not offered this opportunity, it may not be possible but we suggest that you ask. Observation will allow you to experience classroom management techniques as well as to get to know the names, faces and personalities of your pupils. Try to note the following:

how the teacher starts and ends the lesson how much the target language is used what the teachers attitude is to pupil errors and error correction how the teacher controls behaviour, lateness and lack of effort how the teacher speaks to pupils and if they are given foreign names in class how the teacher involves all pupils in the class activity.
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2.16 Your role as a foreign language assistant

Depending on your teacher(s) and the age of the pupils, you may be asked to:

work with the teacher in the classroom work on your own with small groups of pupils help prepare pupils for oral examinations make recordings in your own language which the school can use as an example of native-speaker speech introduce and contribute to group discussions and role plays in your own language work on specic topics with small groups of older students contribute to cross-curricular work in collaboration with other subject areas help set up links with schools in your home country contribute to an international project.
Language teachers may wish to talk to you in your own language for practice. Try not to use English in the classroom. You should meet your teachers on a regular basis in order to plan your work. Their feedback will be helpful to you and they will appreciate your feedback on your pupils. Also, experienced teachers can sometimes forget that you need time to prepare a lesson and cannot do a good job if asked to cover a specic topic only a few minutes before going into the classroom. Keep in touch with your language colleagues so that you develop a good working rapport. FLAs are not employed as teachers. You should not be asked to: take sole responsibility for whole classes

supervise or discipline pupils regularly take responsibility for marking pupils work or exam papers give classes in a language other than your own.
In class a good rst impression will help and you should try to establish yourself from the start as a well-organised, professional and motivated person. Make it clear that you expect your classes to be taken seriously. Always try to ensure that what you have prepared is not too easy or too difcult and is interesting for the pupils. Actively encourage each member of the group to participate as much as they can. If you have problems, including any aspect of your assistantship, talk to your mentor.
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2.17 Use of the internet

You are encouraged and expected to use the internet for professional purposes, and you can usually do so at your school. However, you should check with your mentor when you can and cannot use the internet. Do not overuse it: if you need to use the internet for personal matters, try to do so outside school. Be careful: if you access pornographic and other unsuitable sites (even accidentally) on school computers, you could be dismissed from your job. You should be very careful about how you use social networking sites (such as Facebook) while you are an FLA. Keep your prole private so that it can only be seen by people you intend to see it. If you invite other teachers to be friends, remember to remain professional in what you say on your wall. You should never swap personal contact details with pupils or invite them to be friends, or accept similar invitations from them, as this is likely to be regarded as inappropriate behaviour and could lead to disciplinary action. Ask advice from teachers if you want to get pupils involved in online work, for example for projects.
2.18 Professional associations and online resources

England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Association for Language Learning (ALL) Once you have arrived in the UK you may be invited by an ALL member in your area to a meeting with local MFL teachers and other FLAs. You should go along to meet people and to find out how the Association can be of benefit to you. Association for Language Learning University of Leicester University Road Leicester LE1 7RH T: +44 (0)116 229 7600 F: +44 (0)116 223 1488 info@all-languages.org.uk www.all-languages.org.uk
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England and Wales

CILT, the National Centre for Languages CILT works to convince people of all ages, at all stages of learning and in all walks of life, of the benefits of learning and using more than one language. It does this by using its expertise as the National Centre for Languages to influence policy, spread best practice and to support the development of language professionals. It now operates as part of the CfBT Education Trust. CfBT Education Trust 60 Queens Road Reading RG1 4BS T: +44 (0)118 902 1000 F: +44 (0)845 612 5995 info@cilt.org.uk www.cilt.org.uk CILT Cymru, the National Centre for Languages in Wales CILT Cymru is the national centre of expertise on language teaching in Wales. Established in 2002 as part of the CILT network, CILT Cymru has been given a key role in implementing Languages Count, the Welsh Assembly Government strategy for Modern Foreign Languages. WJEC 245 Western Avenue, Cardiff CF5 2YX T: +44 (0)2920 265400 F: +44 (0)2920 265411 info@ciltcymru.org.uk www.ciltcymru.org.uk
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Northern Ireland
NICILT, the Northern Ireland Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research NICILT is a partnership between CILT, the National Centre for Languages, and Queens University Belfast with funding from the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (DE). NICILT aims to serve all sectors and stages of education in Northern Ireland and support the implementation of national objectives in language learning and teaching. This includes, where appropriate, support for early language learning, for the post-16 sector and for adult education. School of Education 8 College Green Belfast BT7 ILN T: +44 (0)28 9097 5955 F: +44 (0)28 9097 6571 w.phipps@qub.ac.uk www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ SchoolofEducation/NICILT Teaching in Northern Ireland If you are interested in training to become a teacher in Northern Ireland please consult: www.deni.gov.uk/index/teachers-pg/teachersteachinginnorthernireland_pg.htm European Resource Centre The European Resource Centre (ERC) is funded by the Department of Education, Northern Ireland to provide information on Europe for teachers, students and young people and to support the development of the European dimension in the curriculum. The ERC has a wide range of free European publications and classroom materials for teachers, students and young people in Northern Ireland on general and specific topics. Web access is also available free of charge. British Council Norwich Union House 7 Fountain Street Belfast BT1 5EG (British Council office is moving in Autumn 2012) T: +44 (0)28 9019 2250 ercni@britishcouncil.org http://www.britishcouncil.org/ northernireland-education-erchome. htm
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Scotland
SCILT, Scotlands National Centre for Languages SCILT provides information, and promotes learning and use of languages, offers professional development, and conducts research in support of language teachers and professionals. You can sign up for their weekly news bulletin for information on the weeks news in languages and language learning in Scotland. For more information visit: D1.23 David Stow Building University of Strathclyde Jordanhill Campus Glasgow G13 1PP T: +44 (0)141 950 3308 / 3369 F: +44 (0)141 950 3381 scilt@strath.ac.uk www.strath.ac.uk/scilt
Teaching in Scotland If you are interested in training to become a teacher in Scotland in the future, visit www.teachinginscotland.com for more information. Scottish Association for Language Teaching (SALT) Once you have arrived in the UK you may be invited by a SALT member in your area to a meeting with local teachers of modern foreign languages and other FLAs. You should go along to meet people and to find out how the Association can be of benefit to you. They hold a popular annual conference in early November. For more information visit www.saltlangs.org.uk
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Curriculum for Excellence Curriculum for Excellence is a Scottish Government initiative to ensure that all children and young people in Scotland develop the knowledge and skills they will need if they are to flourish in life, learning, and work, both now and in the future. By identifying and developing four main themes to enable each child or young person to be a successful learner, a confident individual, a responsible citizen and an effective contributor Curriculum for Excellence aims to improve the quality of learning and teaching and increase the attainment and achievement of all children and young people in Scotland, including those who need additional support in their learning. Scotland China Education Network (SCEN) SCEN is a group of individuals, national agencies, schools and associations keen to promote the teaching and learning of Chinese language and culture in Scottish schools. For more information, see http://scen.uk.com Education Scotland The national body supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education by:

leading and supporting the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence increasing the capacity for self-evaluation and self-improvement among education providers and practitioners promoting high quality professional learning and leadership identifying and stimulating innovation, sharing successful approaches widely with others providing independent external evaluations of the quality of educational provision at individual provider, local authority and partners, and national levels supporting the development and implementation of policy at National Level. For more information visit: www.educationscotland.gov.uk
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Your life outside work 2.19 Settling in

Even if you have been to the UK before it is possible that you will nd some things strange at rst and will need a little time to settle in. Tell people if you have problems or if you need information. Otherwise they will assume everything is all right. Tell people what your interests are and ask them to let you know whats going on in the local area. Accept invitations to places and activities even if they do not sound interesting as you might meet other people there who do share your interests.
2.20 Extra-curricular activities

The people you meet in school initially will be members of the MFL department. By getting involved in other activities you will have the opportunity to meet other members of staff. Apart from your work in the classroom you may be able to attend other classes in subjects which interest you. You will nd that you become much more integrated into school life and gain considerably more from your stay if you become involved in activities organised by the school, for example: sports days, theatre or music productions or modern language societies. Go to school open days or parent evenings as these are also a good way of meeting people. If you hear of something happening which interests you, ask if you can become involved. Dont wait to be invited as people may assume that youre not interested.
Private study
You should have lots of time during the year for private study as well as for preparing and giving your lessons at school. You could investigate the possibility of doing a part-time course at your local College of Further Education (also a good way to meet people). If you are interested in taking the Cambridge English Prociency Exam, visit their website www.cambridgeesol.org/home/learner.html for further information. However, remember that your school work and timetable must take priority. Do not arrange any classes for personal study until you have a xed timetable at your school(s).
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2.21 Things you may wish you had known
Smoking is banned in all public places in all parts of the UK. This usually includes the area immediately outside school buildings. It is illegal to carry a CS gas canister in the UK, even for personal protection. CS gas is a riot control agent used by police and is classied legally as an offensive weapon. The maximum penalty on indictment is four years imprisonment or a ne, or both. Child protection laws in the UK are very strict, and may also apply to situations outside of the classroom, for example on school buses or at private parties. Inviting your students to join blogs or online discussions could lead to an offence against child protection regulations. Consult your colleagues before doing so.
2.22 Travel
If you intend to do a lot of travelling, ask in your own country if there are any cheap tickets or passes for UK travel which are available to buy there but not in the UK. Coach (bus) travel is cheaper than rail but you can get cheaper rail tickets by booking in advance. Rail travel is usually more expensive at peak times of day Monday to Friday. Always ask for the cheapest ticket possible (you may not be offered it automatically) and also ask whether you are entitled to any student or Young Person discounts (Young Person usually means under the age of 26). If you are under the age of 26 and are planning on using a lot of train travel throughout the year you may wish to purchase a Young Persons Railcard. These cost 28 and save you 30 per cent on off peak train travel. Go to www.16-25railcard.co.uk to get more information or to buy your card online. See page 44 for useful travel websites. If you are from a Non-EU country and are considering travel to other European countries at Christmas or Easter you should apply for a Schengen visa, which allows travel to 15 European countries on a single visa. There is more information at www.theschengenofce.com You should apply for the visa at the consulate of the country in which you will be spending most time.
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2.23 Saving money

If you qualify for it, you should get an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) before you come to the UK. With this card you will be eligible for discounts in shops, restaurants and tourist attractions among other things. Additionally, ask at your school if there are cheap days for activities in your area; for example, cinemas are often cheaper on Wednesdays. A number of shops and supermarket chains also offer loyalty cards: you can collect points on a card each time you shop there. The number of points you get depends on how much you spend. When you have a certain number of points you can exchange them for products or cash vouchers.
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Appendix I: Statement of Employment and code of conduct

Example Statement of Employment for FLAs
Employers (local authority in the case of state-funded schools or the host school in the case of independent schools) will already have a Statement of Employment form for their other employees and this may well be appropriate for foreign language assistants too. The Statement should be provided to the FLA as soon as possible after commencement of employment and must by law be provided within two months of the FLA starting work. If the FLA works in more than one school the Statement should be provided by the host school. There should be two signed copies, one for the FLA to keep and the other for the school. Please ensure that the FLA fully understands all aspects of the Statement before being required to sign it. Click on the following link for a sample Statement of Employment. It may be adapted as appropriate by employers. Statement of Employment - UK
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Code of conduct
It is strongly recommended that FLAs are issued with a code of conduct. The sample below may be adapted as appropriate by employers.
Foreign language assistants are reminded that the assistantship is a job. Colleagues in the school(s) where you are appointed will expect you to behave in a responsible and professional manner. In cases of serious misconduct FLAs can be, and have been, dismissed by their school(s). You must be present to take your timetabled groups/classes but are not required to remain on school premises at other times. You should work under the guidance/direction of the responsible class teacher(s). You are obliged to work up to 12 hours per week, excluding preparation time; any hours worked over the 12-hour period (up to a maximum of 18 hours per week) are by mutual agreement and will be paid on a pro rata basis. You must be punctual for every lesson and, if possible, arrive before the class is due to begin. Prepare thoroughly and in advance for lessons; check what is expected of you; remember that you are an employee of the local authority or school and are being paid as such. If you nd yourself alone with a student, conduct the class with the door left open so that you can be observed at all times. Under no circumstances should you ever touch a child/student, not even in a friendly or encouraging way. Child protection laws in the UK are very strict, and may also apply to situations outside of the classroom. Always be aware of your behaviour and relationship with the students, and check if these are appropriate. Ask permission, in writing, from the headteacher 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. Speak at the earliest opportunity to the headteacher (or the head teachers secretary) when genuinely incapacitated by illness and unable to take classes. You must be aware of and abide by the schools policy on absence in the case of illness. Sick leave of a certain number of days (the number varies among schools) must normally be justied by a medical certicate from a doctor.
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Offer formally to make up any and every class missed on account of personal illness or for any other reason, including exam leave. You are expected, while on school premises, to dress and behave in a manner acceptable to the host establishment. Clothing which is smart/ casual is the norm but you should 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 you should dress accordingly (for example no t-shirts with inappropriate slogans, revealing tops, etc.) and respect the guidelines given. If your accommodation is on school premises, abide by the schools regulations regarding noise, visitors and so on. 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 your dismissal. Certain behaviour such as interacting inappropriately with pupils may lead to instant dismissal.
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Appendix II: Tax matters

Information about Income Tax and Double Taxation Agreements
(A) If you are from Austria China France Germany Italy Japan Spain Pakistan You may not have to pay income tax in the UK on your FLA allowance because there is a Double Taxation Agreement, with an article for teachers, between your country and the UK (in the UK you are considered as a teacher for payment purposes). Please note, you may still be eligible to pay tax in your home country. A list of agreements can be found at www.hmrc.gov.uk/ taxtreaties/in-force/index.htm find your country in the list and then the article relating to teachers. This agreement lasts only for two years (for three with China). If you do any teaching work in the UK after this time, you will start paying tax and will also have to pay the tax back for your first two years. In addition, if you have worked in the UK before, or if you have been living outside your home country for a long time, you may have to pay income tax anyway. (B) If you are from a country not listed in point A above and do not work in the London area You may have to pay income tax because no Double Taxation Agreement (with Teachers Article) exists. Your Revenue and Customs office should calculate the correct amount for you to pay each month allowing for the fact that you start work half way through the tax year. However, sometimes they make you pay the full amount of tax (about 65 per month), so you should write to them in February to claim the money back. You will have to pay a small amount of income tax because the London supplement takes you over the no tax threshold. However, you pay tax only on the amount you earn in excess of the no tax threshold.
(C) If you are from a country not listed in point A above and do work in the London area
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(D) All FLAs
You may be subject to tax (emergency tax) in the first month or two as it takes time for your income tax form, P46, to be processed. You should automatically receive a refund with your next salary (usually in December).
What you have to do regarding income tax

On arrival All FLAs must fill out form P46 Section 1 and ask their employer to fill out Section 2 on the same form. This is the form they need when recruiting a new employee who has not worked in the UK recently. The P46, when completed, must be sent to the employers tax office (schools or local authoritys as appropriate). If your country has a Double Taxation Agreement (with Teachers Article) with the UK you must attach a covering letter and a printout of the relevant Teaching Article to the completed tax form. Otherwise, you may be taxed. If your country has a Double Taxation Agreement (with Teachers Article) with the UK and if you are still paying tax, call your personal Revenue and Customs office to ask if the figures are correct. If they have made a mistake, you should get the money back with your next payment. If your country does not have a Double Taxation Agreement (with Teachers Article) with the UK and you do not work in the London area and if you have paid around 65 tax per month, you may be able to claim back some of it. Call your personal Revenue and Customs office to ask if the figures are correct. If you have paid a lot less than 65, the office may have already calculated the correct monthly amount. FLAs who pay income tax in the new tax year (i.e. from April onwards): since you will normally work for only two months of the new tax year, you should be able to claim back the tax. You need to fill out the income tax form P85 just before you leave the UK. As you will no doubt leave the UK before you receive the money, keep your bank account open and when the tax refund arrives in your account, ask your bank to transfer it to your account at home.
On arrival
January
February
April/May
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Income tax is specic to each person, so you must nd out what applies to your personal situation. If you do non-teaching work, you would normally have to pay tax on it. If you have a question about your own income tax situation, please ask your personal Revenue and Customs ofce: details are available from your school or www.hmrc.gov.uk/enq sometimes the nearest ofce is not the one your school uses. Note: The British Council is unfortunately unable to help with individual enquiries. This is because we are not trained in tax, do not know about each individuals background and current nancial situation, and for data protection reasons we are not allowed to contact the tax ofce on your behalf. Additionally, for data protection reasons, the tax ofce will only speak to the individual involved so you have to call them directly no one else can do this for you.
Possible questions relating to income tax

1. I think I have paid too much tax what should I do? It takes time for your forms to be processed, so you may be paying emergency tax (which is a high rate). Dont worry: you should get the money back with your next salary or by December at the latest. Only your personal (i.e. your employers) tax ofce can deal with this matter: no other tax ofce can access the information. 2. There is a Double Taxation Agreement with my country but Im still paying tax. What should I do? There are agreements with some countries which do not include teaching work. In this case you will have to pay income tax. a. But the agreement with my country does include teaching work. It is possible that the Revenue and Customs ofce made a mistake. Find the agreement at www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/dtmanual/dt2140+.htm and then nd the article relating to teachers. Print it and send it to your Revenue and Customs ofce with a covering letter. 3. My school cant help me with my income tax problems. What should I do? Income tax is very complicated and your situation is different from that of normal teaching staff as you are not from the UK and are working at the school for only a few months. It is better to contact your personal Revenue and Customs ofce to check your situation. 4. I havent been paying income tax on my FLA salary but I have worked in a bar/restaurant and paid tax on that salary. Can I get it back? Possibly. It depends on how much you earned. Before you go home, ll out form P85, send it to your Revenue and Customs ofce and they will investigate.
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5. Im going back home soon and Im worried I wont get my tax back before I go. Make sure you ll out form P85 before you leave. Revenue and Customs will not send you the money in your local currency, so you will either have to cash a cheque in at home or keep your UK bank account open so that the money can be paid into it after you leave. You can ask your UK bank at that point to send the money to your bank at home and then close your UK account. There is usually a fee for this service. 6. Ive tried everything, but Im certain Im paying too much tax. There is a procedure for making a complaint to the Revenue and Customs ofce. Information on this can be found at www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaets/c12.htm Please do not call the British Council with regard to income tax enquiries as we cannot give advice on how your personal circumstances will affect your tax.
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Appendix III: How to make the best use of your FLA

In order for your FLA to feel welcome and settle in quickly, we would recommend that you: make your offer letter as comprehensive as possible: provide travel information, a what-to-bring list, local area and climate information, school prospectus

prepare for their arrival organise at least temporary accommodation meet your FLA on day of arrival introduce your FLA to head, deputy head, school secretary, bursar or other nance contact, MFL team and other colleagues (especially the younger ones or those with coinciding interests) sort income tax, National Insurance (NI) number, bank account, with FLA on arrival pass on helpful information from previous FLAs give your FLA the same information as you would give to a student or probationer: school site plan and introduction to the relevant school system which is likely to be very different for them; this will include exam system and curriculum guidelines you may want to use handbooks, websites, personal introductions and meetings remember FLAs often come from very different, more formal school cultures: it may take time for them to understand the relationship between staff and pupils in the UK help with nding permanent accommodation if relevant help with signing up with a doctor and getting NHS number support with understanding their role, status, discipline FLAs are colleagues and should be treated as such ensure they understand child protection issues make arrangements for lesson observation across the curriculum use in the classroom principally, especially in rst term, so that they understand how children learn language and how to use authentic materials/resources; FLA may not know much about the practicalities of language teaching needs to learn when/if FLA teaches groups independently, ensure appropriate room in school if possible, provide FLA display board make sure FLA has timetable by third week rolling timetable can give exibility
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involve FLA in department staff meetings, parent evenings nd out about their interests and how these can be put to good use in school (sport, music, drama, art) encourage involvement in interdisciplinary and out of school activities music, drama, sport, trips appoint a MENTOR does not need to be a principal teacher (PT) or head of department, it could be a young teacher who is not overcommitted elsewhere; they should have a short meeting with your FLA every week or two contact with other FLAs in neighbouring schools: it would be helpful if you could give them the appropriate contact details EFL mention Cambridge Prociency or other courses the rst few weekends are the most difcult try to arrange for the FLA to be invited by younger members of staff to join outings October break should they really want to rush home?
FLAs need to know: what you, the teacher, expect of them in good time before each lesson

about the pastoral system and discipline procedures they might use about the shape of the school year and Standard Grade and Higher exams, etc. about teaching groupings/sets, etc. where to go to get things (for example, photocopies) and who to speak to about nancial problems (for example, pay) where to nd departmental resources teachers books, supplementary books, ashcards, scissors, card, glue, OHTs, VCRs, DVDs, tape recorders, computer schemes of work, smartboard or other classroom equipment, dice, etc. about useful sources of support: for example, www.britishcouncil.org/ languageassistants British Councils FLAs online (and online mentor).
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With regard to teaching, FLAs need to understand basic, essential concepts like: using authentic resources

how to set up pair work information gap exercises receptive versus productive language how to stay in the target language promoting discussion in the senior years (for example with Advanced Higher or A-level students) fun ways of practising role plays and other creative activities the importance of games (including grammar games) and competition the importance of pictures and sources magazines, calendars, clip-art how to approach a new topic with higher classes without frightening them how to tackle a sophisticated text in which there is a lot of new vocabulary planning to go from familiar to unfamiliar and from easy to harder, and the need for planning (give a template format?)
The best way for the FLA to understand the above is for them to be in the classroom with the teacher and to see these concepts in practice. Team teaching, at least initially, is very valuable as it exposes the FLA to the methodology and establishes their status as a member of the teaching staff. It also ensures regular, pre-planned and structured teaching as well as authentic use of language.
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Appendix IV: Clarification of terms

There is sometimes confusion over terminology. The following is intended to clarify. 1. FLAs are NOT classroom assistants. These are two completely different roles with different terms and conditions, but unfortunately the terms are often used interchangeably. 2. Classroom assistants (generally) have permanent contracts while FLAs always have temporary contracts. FLAs are in the UK as part of an international exchange programme; their contract is for eight, nine or a maximum of ten months and they are not paid during the summer holidays. The few who stay in the UK for a second (or sometimes third) year are simply starting a second temporary contract.
FLAs are paid an allowance and not a salary. This appendix should be read in conjunction with the advice on pages 23 of this booklet on the conditions of employment for FLAs recruited via the British Council programme, which stipulates that FLAs should not be used as teachers or teaching assistants.
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Appendix V: Embassies/consulates in the UK

All embassy websites are available at http://embassyhomepage.com ENGLAND ARGENTINA AUSTRIA BELGIUM CANADA Address 65 Brook Street, London W1K 4AH 18 Belgrave Mews West, London SW1X 8HV 17 Grosvenor Crescent, London SW1X 7EE Macdonald House, 1 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 4AB 12 Devonshire Street, London W1G 7DS 4951 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL 3 Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 0LN Flat 3b, 3 Hans Crescent, London SW1X 0LS 58 Knightsbridge, London SW1 7JT 23 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PZ 14 Three Kings Yard, Davies Street, London W1Y 2EH 101104 Piccadilly, London W1J 7JT 16 St George Street, London W1S 1FD Telephone +44 (0)20 7318 1300 +44 (0)20 7344 0292 +44 (0)20 7470 3700 +44 (0)20 7258 6600
CHILE CHINA COLOMBIA
+44 (0)20 7580 6392 +44 (0)20 7299 4049 +44 (0)20 7589 9177
ECUADOR FRANCE GERMANY ITALY JAPAN MEXICO
+44 (0)20 7584 1367 +44 (0)20 7073 1000 +44 (0)20 7824 1300 +44 (0)20 7312 2200 +44 (0)20 7465 6500 +44 (0)20 7235 6393
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ENGLAND OMAN PARAGUAY RUSSIA SENEGAL SPAIN SWITZERLAND VENEZUELA SCOTLAND CHINA FRANCE GERMANY ITALY SPAIN
Address 167 Queens Gate, London SW7 5HE 344 Kensington High Street, 3rd floor, London W14 8NS 67 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QP 39 Marloes Road, London W8 6LA 39 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8SB 1618 Montagu Place, London W1H 2BQ 1 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2HW
Telephone +44 (0)20 7225 0001 +44 (0)20 7610 4180 +44 (0)20 7229 3628 +44 (0)20 7938 4048 +44 (0)20 7235 5555 +44 (0)20 7616 6000 +44 (0)20 7584 4206
55 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 5QG 11 Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7TT 16 Eglinton Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 5DG 32 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7HA 63 North Castle Street, Edinburgh EH2 3LJ
+44 (0)131 337 9896 +44 (0)131 225 7954 +44 (0)131 337 2323 +44 (0)131 226 3631 +44 (0)131 220 1843
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Appendix VI: Acronyms

Applicable in AifL AS A2 BELB CfE CILT CRB CT DfE DHT DTA DTS DVLA DWP EEA EFL EHIC ELB ERC EU FLA GCSE Assessment is for Learning Advanced Subsidiary Level Advanced Level Belfast Education and Library Board Curriculum for Excellence The National Centre for Languages Criminal Records Bureau Chartered Teacher Department for Education Depute Headteacher Double Taxation Agreement Determined to Succeed Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Department for Work and Pensions European Economic Area English as a Foreign Language European Health Insurance Card Education and Library Board European Resource Centre European Union Foreign Language Assistant General Certificate of Secondary Education Scotland England, Wales, Northern Ireland England, Wales, Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Scotland England England, Wales, Northern Ireland Scotland England, Wales, Northern Ireland UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK Northern Ireland Northern Ireland UK UK England, Wales, Northern Ireland
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Applicable in GP GTC GTCS GTP HOD HT ICT ISA ISIC IT IWB KS LA LGPS ML/ MFL MLPS NEELB NHS NI NICILT General Practitioner (doctor) General Teaching Council (for England and Wales) General Teaching Council for Scotland Graduate Teacher Programme Head of Department Headteacher Information and Communications Technology Independent Safeguarding Authority International Student Identity Card Information Technology Interactive white board Key Stage Local Authority Local Government Pension Scheme Modern Languages/ Modern Foreign Languages Modern Languages in the Primary School North Eastern Education and Library Board National Health Service National Insurance Northern Ireland Centre for Language Teaching UK England, Wales Scotland England, Wales, Northern Ireland UK UK UK England, Wales, Northern Ireland UK UK UK England, Wales, Northern Ireland UK England, Wales, Northern Ireland UK Scotland Northern Ireland UK UK Northern Ireland
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Applicable in NIRU NQT OFSTED OHT P1P7 PBS PGCE PGDE PT PVG QTS S1S6 SALT SCEN SCILT SMT SQA SSP TDA WELB National Import Reliefs Unit Newly Qualified Teacher Office for Standards in Education Overhead transparency Primary 1 Primary 7 (pupils aged 511) Points Based System Postgraduate Certificate in Education PostGraduate Diploma in Education Principal Teacher Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme Qualified Teacher Status Secondary 1 Secondary 6 (pupils aged 1218) Scottish Association for Language Teaching Scotland China Education Network Scotlands National Centre for Languages Senior Management Team Scottish Qualifications Authority Statutory Sick Pay Training and Development Agency for Schools Western Education and Library Board England, Wales UK England, Wales, Northern Ireland UK Scotland UK England, Wales, Northern Ireland Scotland Scotland Scotland England, Wales, Northern Ireland Scotland Scotland Scotland Scotland UK Scotland UK England, Wales, Northern Ireland Northern Ireland
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Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this booklet. However the British Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors which may exist or any subsequent changes. Foreign Language Assistants in England and Wales British Council 10 Spring Gardens London SW1A 2BN T: +44 (0)20 7389 4596 F: +44 (0)20 7389 4594 assistants.london@britishcouncil.org Ofces also in Manchester and Cardiff Foreign Language Assistants in Scotland British Council Waverley Gate (4th Floor) 24 Waterloo Place Edinburgh EH1 3EG T: +44 (0)131 524 5717 F: +44 (0)131 524 5701 assistants.edinburgh@britishcouncil.org Foreign Language Assistants in Northern Ireland British Council Norwich Union House 7 Fountain Street Belfast BT1 5EG T: +44 028 90192200 F: +44 028 9023 7592 assistants.belfast@britishcouncil.org Please note that the British Council ofce Northern Ireland will be moving in Autumn 2012. Please check our website or email us for information.
Photo credits Page 38 and 69 John Cooper/Icon Partnership Page 49 James Glossop All other images Mat Wright
British Council 2012 Brand and Design/C137 The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland).

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FOREIGN LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS 201213

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213 www.britishcouncil.org

FOREIGN LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS 201213

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

SECTION 2: Notes for foreign language assistants

Getting yourself prepared

Before you leave home

Once you arrive in the UK

Your work as a foreign language assistant

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

Your life outside work

2.22 Travel 2.23 Saving money

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

SECTION 1: NOTES FOR SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES

1.01 E  mployment legislation and conditions of employment

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

England, Wales and Northern Ireland Scotland

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

FLAs should not:

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

1.02 Police clearance

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

Important Notice (July 2012)

(B) From the UK authorities

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

For FLAs coming to Scotland

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

1.03 Offering and confirming the appointment

Points-based immigration system

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

Confirming the appointment

1.04 Sharing arrangements

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

1.06 P  ayment, pension, Income Tax and National Insurance

Period of appointment Scotland

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

National Insurance (NI)

For FLAs posted in England, Wales or Northern Ireland

For FLAs posted in Scotland only

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

1.07 Medical Care and Statutory Sick Pay

1.08 Council Tax

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

1.10 The role of the foreign language assistant

1.11 Use of the internet and personal safety

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

1.12 Personal studies and out-of-school activities

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

1.13 Second year extensions

1.14 Full-time teaching opportunities

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

1.15 Administrative checklist

British Council Foreign Language Assistants 201213

SECTION 2: NOTES FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS

2.01 Terms and conditions of the job FAQs

SECTION 2: Notes for foreign language assistants

Getting yourself prepared

Before you leave home

Once you arrive in the UK

Your work as a foreign language assistant

Your life outside work

2.22 Travel 2.23 Saving money

1.01 E mployment legislation and conditions of employment

1.06 P ayment, pension, Income Tax and National Insurance

2.05 L egal matters: police clearance and immigration

2.07 P lanning your arrival: travel matters and personal insurance