Task 5a - Workplace Ethics and Codes of Practice/Regulations

Task 5a asks to consider the workplace Ethics and Codes of Practice/Regulations without any consultation of any documents or discussion on these topics, relying wholly on my own thoughts and opinions.  Initially this struck me as strange, something that goes against the grain of writing posts towards this module but then I thought about it on a professional level.  These policies, regulations and codes of practice should be present in the minds of all staff working within the establishment and as a new member of staff at my current place of work I should be completely up to date.  So why be phased by this?  In my professional practice, teaching, I think that we (teachers) are continuously tested on our knowledge of routine practice, procedures and codes of practice, and in the effort to get these tests correct refer back to the policies directly.  Being asked to consider these policies without consulting the policy directly requires me to strive for the same element of perfection but without the safety net.  After considering this task for a little while I realised that this task isn't testing me in anyway but it is another chance for reflection.  A chance for me to consider what I do everyday, not an opportunity for me to be tested to check I'm doing what I should be doing everyday.

After getting over this initial frame of mind, I then set to the task in hand - reflecting on the Ethics, Codes of Practice and Regulations:

Ethics:

• Every Child Matters - Though this initiative has now been taken out of the education system the key factors that it aimed to implement still should be present within every young person's experience throughout compulsory education.  Every students right to an education should be honoured.
• All Students to be Considered as Equal - It is important that all students are considered as equals within the classroom.  This means that all students should be treated equally and all students should have their opinions, beliefs and thoughts listened to a considered equally against one another.
• Safeguarding - This is the protection of all involved within the education establishment, especially the protect of the students.  It is important that all students are given a safe environment in which they feel confident and comfortable to express themselves in an appropriate way and are confident to discuss any issues they are experiencing on a day-to-day basis.
• Differentiation - It is important to give all students the ability to access the learning that is happening within the classroom through the use of differentiation strategies.  The ability to learn links in with the Every Child Matters (ECM) initiative as it ensure all students are given the opportunity to learn.

Codes of Practice/Regulations:

• Teaching Standards/Ofsted Criteria - It is important that all teaching staff have an understanding and an awareness of the current teaching standards.  The reason for this isn't only to ensure that staff are awarded a high level when inspected but to ensure the development of all students is consistent and appropriate. 
• Confidentiality - Confidentiality is something that there is two sides to within education.  Whilst it is important to keep the information stored confidential, it is also important not to promise confidentiality to a student that makes a disclosure, whether this be deliberate or inadvertently. 
• Health and Safety/Professional Facilities - It is the responsibility of the teacher as well as the school leadership (responsibilities of the site) to ensure that all working spaces meet the Health and Safety Regulations.  It must not be possible for anyone to find harm within the school, with all eventualities thought through and minimised.  It is also important that protocols are considered and put in place if something does happen.
• Professionalism - Professionalism within teaching requires the member of staff to ensure whilst in work and outside of work they maintain the expectations that are made of them by the students and by the school.  Social medial usage needs to be kept to a minimum and when used, it is important that everything shared is still professional and kept private.  It is also important that there is no communication outside of the education establishment between staff and pupils or parents of pupils.  This will ensure that the professional image of the school can not be tainted.