Provider Access Legislation (PAL) Schools

Provider Access Legislation has a variety of requirements which schools must meet. Here are some basic details about the new changes schools must comply with:

As a minimum, schools must offer:

• two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend
• two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend
• two encounters for pupils during the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 or 13) that are mandatory for the school to put on but optional for pupils to attend

All six encounters must happen for a reasonable period of time during the standard school day. Provider encounters that take place outside of school hours, for example parents evenings, do not count towards fulfilment of the legal requirement for six provider encounters.

Careers leaders have the ability to track and monitor individual student activity relating to PAL through the use of the Compass + tool.

This will enable schools to produce detailed reports and relative evidence required for any Ofsted inspections. Using the CEC’s Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ) will also enable schools to demonstrate the impact these session have had on a student knowledge.

Resources and Documents: 

We have collated some basic overviews of PAL for your use and included some examples of good practice.

• Provider Access Legislation School Overview Document (PDF)
• Provider Access Legislation: Careers guidance and access for education and training providers. (PDF)
• Access to schools for education and training providers Examples of good practice. (PDF)
• Provider access legislation overview presentation (PowerPoint)
• The Careers and Enterprise Company - Provider Access Legislation Guidance