Head Start - frequently asked questions
Questions
1. Are academy principals eligible?
2. Am I entitled to apply for Head Start if I have already accessed the Early Headship Provision (EHP)?
3. What about acting heads who have accessed part of their EHP grant?
4. Is the Early Headship Provision grant of £1,300 still available to participants on Head Start?
5. I am an acting head. Can I have support from a professional partner for a term?
6. How do I access the professional partner database and search for a suitable partner?
7. Do professional partners and new heads have to be from the same local authority?
8. Do professional partners and new heads have to be from the same phase or type of school?
10. What should I do if there is not a suitable professional partner available?
11. What if things don’t work out well with my professional partner?
12. What support is available for graduates of previous models of NPQH?
Answers
1. Are academy principals eligible?
Yes, academy principals are eligible.
2. Am I entitled to apply for Head Start if I have already accessed the Early Headship Provision (EHP)?
No, if the EHP has already been accessed there will not be any entitlement to access Head Start as well. The remainder of your £1,300 flexible grant will need to have been spent by 31 March 2011. For further information about arranging coaching support please contact your training provider.
Online materials for Head Start are available to EHP participants via the online network.
3. What about acting heads who have accessed part of their EHP grant?
If an acting head has accessed part of their EHP grant previously and then ‘frozen’ it whilst not in headship, they would be able to unfreeze it again while the EHP grant is still available. They would not qualify for Head Start support having already accessed the EHP grant.
4. Is the Early Headship Provision grant of £1,300 still available to participants on Head Start?
No, Early Headship Provision closed on 31 March 2010 and has been replaced by Head Start.
5. I am an acting head. Can I have support from a professional partner for a term?
As an acting head you can receive support from a professional partner, however if you make full use of your professional partner entitlement of 20–30 hours you will not be able to receive further support once you move into a permanant headship. If only part of the entitlement has been used as an acting head, access to the remaining balance can be used when a permanent (or futher acting) headship has been secured.
6. How do I access the professional partner database and search for a suitable partner?
Once your application for Head Start has been successful, you will receive an automated email from the National College to inform you of how to access the database and all other elements of the Head Start programme. You will also be able to access the new heads handbook, which provides further advice and guidance about the programme.
7. Do professional partners and new heads have to be from the same local authority?
It will usually be the case that new headteachers choose professional partners from their own local authority or diocese, although there may be times when this is not possible or most appropriate.
8. Do professional partners and new heads have to be from the same phase or type of school?
No, you may find it more beneficial to work with a professional partner from the same phase or type of school that you work in, but this is not compulsory.
9.Can my local authority or diocese recommend a suitable partner for me to work with that hasn’t completed professional partner training?
Professional partners can only be selected from the professional partner database. All of our registered professional partners have had specific training to prepare them for the unique role. Any individuals that have not completed the training will be unable to act as a professional partner, but can support the new head as a coach/mentor aside from any Head Start work if they wish to do so.
10. What should I do if there is not a suitable professional partner available?
If a suitable professional partner cannot be found in the database please email headstart@nationalcollege.org.uk to let us know the locality and the type of school you've been appointed to. We can then help to establish when somebody suitable may become available or even attempt to speed up recruitment and training in that area.
11. What if things don’t work out well with my professional partner?
In the first instance, we would encourage discussion about any particular issue with the professional partner. If this is not appropriate, or does not resolve the issue, email headstart@nationalcollege.org.uk and we will arrange a convenient time to discuss the issue further.
To raise any issues or concerns in confidence, email quality@nationalcollege.org.uk with details of concerns, stating that you do not wish your identity to be passed on. The National College quality and evaluation team will then pass on comments to the Head Start team without individually attributing them. Please note that if issues are raised anonymously then it is unlikely that we will be able to address specific issues relating to support provided.
12. What support is available for graduates of previous models of NPQH?
Graduates from previous models of NPQH can access the aspects of Head Start designed for new headteachers from the point at which they accept their first headsh
13. Is it my responsibility to ensure that my chosen professional partner receives the funding that they are entitled to?
No, it is the responsibility of the professional partner to contact the National College should they have any queries about the funding that they are entitled to.
14. I am a graduate of the redesigned National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). Am I entitled to access Head Start and do I need to apply?
Once you have graduated from the redesigned NPQH you will be automatically enrolled onto phase one of the Head Start programme. Details of what this phase involves can be found in the programme details.
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