HR, Advice Support and Training

Our Human Resources service is dedicated to working in partnership with headteachers, school leaders and governing bodies to provide a comprehensive and bespoke service to meet the requirements of your school.

We provide a responsive, flexible and comprehensive range of HR services to all schools including academies, irrespective of governance arrangements. Our services are underpinned by an extensive working knowledge of the education sector and the challenges ahead. In circumstances where your school needs a joint approach, involving other local authority services, we will dovetail our support together with the Payroll Services Team, Recruitment Services, Education Improvement Service, Occupational Health, Governor Services, Finance, Health and Safety and Legal Services to ensure your school receives the best possible joined up support in all of our work with you.

What we offer

An effective and comprehensive HR and Support Service that meets the day to day and strategic needs of your school.
Dedicated, professional named HR Business Partners who will work directly with your school to ensure you have the confidence through tailored support to address the many challenges you and your governing body face.
A team of HR professionals with a wealth and depth of experience to provide high quality, solution focused support, setting out the risks, within a timescale agreed with you.
Comprehensive up to date knowledge of education law as it relates to the workforce, employment law and HR best practice.
Expert communication on up and coming changes to terms and conditions for all school-based staff.
Our HR Service works at a national level with the Department for Education (DfE), the National Employer Organisation for Teachers (NEOST), and the Local Government Association (LGA) to ensure our written policies, guidance and toolkit documents are specifically designed to meet the ever changing and complex challenges faced by schools.
Comprehensive practical support and guidance on all employee relations matters including appraisal/competency, grievance, disciplinary, safer working, recruitment, absence, redundancy/reorganisation, industrial action, pay issues and opportunities for school-based apprenticeships.
Workforce planning, including advice on restructuring, salary safeguarding, job design, and employee development.
Training.
Advisory and professional legal and procedural support to head teachers and/or the governing body or trust at all formal hearings and appeals at no extra cost.
Specialist 'hands-on' support and advice to produce statements of case/supporting documents in preparation for formal meetings/hearings and outcome letters to confirm decisions taken and next steps at formal meetings/hearings and appeals as part of our service at no extra cost.
Video conferencing and on-site support to manage HR related casework/investigations including access to specialist HR Busines Partner consultants to undertake complex investigations on behalf of the school.
Access to the HR Service School Wellbeing resources toolkit and Whole School Stress Survey Tool.
A range of inclusive, bespoke training opportunities and online bitesize policy reminders specifically for you as a head teacher, school leader, school business manager, governor or trust board member. The package includes attendance at three training sessions delivered by the HR Service.
Expert job evaluation analysis to ensure that your staffing structures are effective and that all posts in your school comply with the School Teachers’ Pay & Conditions Document, Support Staff/Single Status pay structures and equal pay legislation.
The purchase of one of our annual HR Support packages gives you exclusive access to the Nottinghamshire Schools Staff Absence Insurance Scheme.
A choice of two levels of service: Standard or Enhanced, details of which are summarised in the packages document below.

Working alongside your school-designated HR Business Partners, telephone calls and emails will be responded to within one working day, written enquiries within five working days.

Testimonials

“The support and guidance offered by HR colleagues has been invaluable in the day-to-day operations of school. I would 100% recommend their services to Nottinghamshire schools.”

Duncan White, Head Teacher, Woodborough Woods CofE Foundation Primary School, Gedling

“As a headteacher, having reliable HR support is invaluable and the service we receive is exceptional. The advice is always clear, thorough and incredibly informative.

"Knowing there is always someone at the end of the phone who is approachable and supportive makes a real difference. No question ever feels too small, too silly or insignificant and the depth of knowledge and professionalism gives complete confidence in the guidance provided.

"I honestly couldn’t be happier with the service and would highly recommend it to any school leader seeking dependable and expert HR support.”

Lauren Cousin, Head Teacher, St Wilfrid’s CofE Primary School, Gedling

“It’s always reassuring to know that HR are literally an email or a phone call away, no matter how small or unusual a query might be! They have been a brilliant source of advice and knowledge, always on hand to support when needed.

"A key positive has been building such positive relationships with them - they have taken time to get to know our school, and over the past few years, we have experienced some significant changes and complex issues, and the team has been invaluable in their support. They bring their own expertise to their roles and really strive to provide a thorough, high quality and effective service, even checking back afterwards in case I have any other questions or concerns.

"As Headteachers, it can often feel quite isolated so knowing that support is a mere email away, is a great source of reassurance and calm – they really are my ‘go to’ service to ensure everything is in place and in order in all aspects of school, from polices to supporting in difficult meetings and even pinpointing the key detail needed in a given situation, they truly have been invaluable.”

Donna Quarless-McGee, Head Teacher, Coppice Farm Primary School, Gedling

“I am always very pleased with the support and advice provided by the NCC HR Service. They are a key part of our school team and are on hand to provide excellent advice and support to resolve any HR issues.

"Members of the HR Service respond swiftly to my email or telephone call and provide professional and pragmatic advice. They have extensive knowledge of the education system, which has enabled me as HT alongside our leadership team, to swiftly deal with issues in a proactive, informed and professional manner.

"NCC HR Team provide excellent support for our school, and we can highly recommend the HR Service as a responsive, caring and reliable service.”

Debbie Hyslop, Head Teacher, Nettleworth Infant and Nursery School, Mansfield

“I have found the help and support of the HR Service as a whole to be outstanding. As a new head, they have helped me to navigate the operational management of a school and have always been quick to respond to any queries or requests I have submitted.

"Being allocated a dedicated person for the school has been invaluable in ensuring continuity, and if my assigned Business Partner is unavailable, another member of the dedicated team has stepped in temporarily to ensure the support is continuous.

"I highly recommend the service HR provide and it is very reassuring to know that they are always at the end of a phone call or email if I am in need of guidance or just need to talk through next steps of a particular task. Thank you to the team for their incredible patience and personal support that they have offered in my first year of headship!”

Clare Furness, Head Teacher, Beckingham Primary School, Bassetlaw

“As a new Chair of Governors, I relied heavily on the support of our School dedicated HR Business Partner during my early days. I was able to ask for advice by email and by phone, and I was given impartial guidance in my decision making. Our Business Partner also came to school for key meetings and worked with us to ensure all processes were completed within timescales and correctly.

"All advice and information has been given quickly meaning I was able to carry out my role as Chair with the support and knowledge of the HR Service guiding the way.”

Ann Cotterill, Chair of Governors, Mission Primary School, Bassetlaw

“As a school I cannot recommend highly enough the support that we receive from Nottinghamshire HR Service. Over the few years that I have been headteacher, they have been excellent.

"I know I can always pick up the phone or send a quick email, and I get a really swift and helpful response. The HR team are always there to talk you through any HR problems and recommend a way forward.

"They have attended meetings, supported with any paperwork and generally helped me navigate through any staffing problems, no matter how big or small.”

Sarah Preston, Head Teacher, The Primary School of St Mary and St Martin, Blyth, Bassetlaw

“The HR service have provided our senior leaders with timely advice and guidance through HR processes.

"They have been readily available to support school and help give us confidence in processes such as attendance management and recruitment.”

Peter Fowlie, Lantern Lane Primary and Nursery School, Rushcliffe

Packages

Enhanced and Standard packages are summarised in the document below, and your HR Business Partner is happy to discuss any additional or bespoke requirements with you.

The enhanced level of service will provide your school with an increased number of on-site visits and face to face meetings ensuring a greater level of in-depth support.

Recruitment and Advertising

Our recruitment and advertising team now offers a comprehensive range of digital recruitment solutions designed to help schools meet their safeguarding obligations efficiently, securely, and transparently.

These services include social media checks, digital ‘right to work’ verification, digital DBS ID validation, and online referencing. For further information please visit: Recruitment service – advertising and pre-employment checks

Training

General

Access to a full range of HR related training opportunities and bitesize policy reminders for headteachers, school leaders, school business managers, governors and trust board members. We also provide bespoke training for individual schools or groups of schools on request. Please discuss with your named HR Business Partner. Both packages include attendance at three training sessions delivered by the HR Service.

Safeguarding training in Schools

In January, we launched a new suite of Whole School Safeguarding Training products. Available as workshops or flexible e-learnings modules, each option is quality-assured to help ensure schools meet safeguarding legislation, standards and Ofsted requirements. Workshops offer deeper discussion and direct access to a safeguarding expert, whilst e-learning provides a convenient, self-paced training pathway. For bookings and enquiries, please visit: Safeguarding in Schools Training. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training is also still available and can be booked via: safeguarding.training@nottscc.gov.uk.

Wellbeing in Schools

We continue to work closely with our partners to develop and deliver a revised wellbeing offer for all schools in 2026/27. This includes instant access to the online school HR wellbeing survey tool, which once completed by your school will analyse results and provide the basis for your school to develop your own wellbeing action plan.

Accessing Support

Contact can be made by telephone, email and video conferencing. Both packages include access to the HR Helpline available during normal office hours between 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 4.30pm on Friday.

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