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We're a strategic partner to over 1,000 schools, academies and trusts...

Advance your school or trust with confidence

Dedicated advice on all HR & employee matters

Navigating employee relations and complex staffing issues can be challenging. Educational institutions need practical, customised support. Access swift and actionable advice from our CIPD-qualified education-HR specialists, at a fixed annual rate. Whether you need assistance with a grievance or trade union case, we are here to help with your school or trust’s day-to-day and strategic HR issues.

Reduce risk and free up time for your leadership team

How can we help?

Tailored and comprehensive support for all employment law and HR matters at our fixed, annual rate. Alternatively, opt for HR Flex for a more flexible solution, allowing you to utilise hours at a fixed hourly rate.

We can support with all employment law and HR matters, including:

  • Unfair dismissal claims
  • Sickness management 
  • Disciplinary and grievance
  • Performance management
  • Sickness absence
  • Trade union  

Our HR Advisory package includes: 

  • Swift responses and tailored advice via phone and email (helpline open 8 am – 5 pm Monday-Friday) on all employment law and HR matters.
  • Guidance from a CIPD-qualified team with extensive knowledge of employment law and the education sector
  • Bi-weekly meetings with your dedicated HR consultant if required
  • Unlimited access to HR resources via a shared portal, providing access to template policies, letter templates, and guides
  • Regular updates, newsletters, and webinars to advise on best practices and key changes in employment law
  • Completion of employment letters

Key features

Swift & actionable advice

Dedicated advice helpline open 8am - 5pm

Support from CIPD-qualified professionals

Meetings in line with client requirements

Regular updates, newsletters & webinars

Unlimited access to HR policies & documentation

Additional services

  • HR personnel files pre-audit
  • Gender pay gap reporting
  • Single central record audit
  • Staffing review
  • School workforce census 
  • DBS checks
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HR Audit

Our HR audits include a comprehensive review of current policies, procedures, documentation, and systems, with an emphasis on fostering best practice and ensuring compliance.

  • HR strategy
  • SCR scrutiny
  • Personnel data, including retention
  • Absence management
  • HR policies
  • Recruitment
  • Performance evaluation
  • Disciplinary and grievance procedures
  • Discrimination, equality, and diversity
  • School website compliance
  • Staffing review – structure & restructure
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DBS checks

Ofsted requires an enhanced with barred list DBS check for all staff, including both teaching and non-teaching support roles in paid and voluntary positions.

We can process DBS checks for new and existing staff, helping you make informed and safer recruitment decisions.

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Employee Assistance Programme

24/7 support for your employees

Health Assured's Employee Assistance Programme can be purchased as part of our HR Advisory package.

This includes unlimited access to a 24/7 365 confidential helpline and 24/7 critical incident telephone support, as well as counselling sessions and information services.

 

What our payroll and HR clients say about us

We have had the pleasure of working with SAAF HR Advisory for the past two years, and their expertise in education HR has been exceptional. Their response times are consistently prompt, and they maintain a professional yet approachable demeanour, making collaboration both effective and pleasant. We have developed a strong and trusting partnership.

Human Resources Manager, Park High School

The payroll team is responsive to our needs and always helpful in resolving issues as and when they arise. We have an excellent working relationship with them.

Director of Finance, The de Ferrers Trust

We’ve had an outstanding experience with SAAF’s payroll team. They go above and beyond and are always there to answer our queries. The payroll service is highly efficient and cost-effective for our trust.

CFO, One Academy Trust

It has been a smooth and efficient transition from our old payroll provider in a limited timeframe. We are very happy with our move

Bursar, Wrangle Primary School

Our school has worked with SAAF for the past 10 years for Financial support and 8 years for Payroll support. In all this time we have found them to be very efficient, helpful and supportive. All staff have great knowledge of their area of expertise and are very personable. We would highly recommend the SAAF team.

Business Manager, Glade Hill Primary School

Having had a poor experience with a previous external payroll provider, we entered into a new SLA with SAAF. From the initial presentation through to the diligence shown throughout the transfer the experience has been so different to what we have experienced before. Queries are answered quickly and diligently and nothing seems to be too much trouble. We are very much looking forward to a long-term relationship with SAAF.

School Business Manager , Allestree Woodlands School

Frequently asked questions

What areas of HR do you support?

Are staff CIPD-qualified?

Are there limits to how many times we can contact you?

Can you help with legal employment advice?

Do you offer ad-hoc support?

What are your phoneline and support hours?

Payroll & HR Solutions

Payroll & Pensions

Cost-effective. Responsive. Flexible. Say goodbye to time-consuming processes and the administrative burden of payroll. Say hello to SAAF’s cost-effective, efficient, and accurate payroll bureau!

HR Compliance

We produce new starter documentation and health questionnaires, as well as advise on recruitment best practice, so you can focus on the enhancement of your workforce and school excellence.

HR Administration

With our automated HR Administration service, we help you streamline the administrative process. We produce employment contracts, request DBS checks, and process maternity leave – so you don’t have to.

On-demand training

Enhance your professional development with our on-demand training videos. Whether you're selecting the right finance software or seeking training on GAG pooling, our continually updated catalogue is designed to support your business leadership journey.

Watch now

Cover all bases

Save time, money and resources with our range of cost-effective school business support services

Internal Scrutiny 

Our specialists work independently with trusts to provide comprehensive assurance that internal controls and risk management procedures are operating effectively and efficiently.  

School & Academy Finance Support

Strategy. Planning. Growth. We can support you with everything from day-to-day transactions to financial planning.

School Recruitment Support

How many recruitment agencies can say they’ve never charged a temp-to-perm recruitment fee? We understand that recruitment costs can be expensive, that’s why we also offer fixed margins.

Keep up to date with our expert HR resources

Resource

Managing Sickness Absence Resource

Template

Return to Work Interview Template

FACT SHEET

Important Changes to Holiday Pay & Calculations Fact Sheet

Let's talk

Get in touch to find out more!
Contact us