Our zero tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking in our business and supply chain.
Last reviewed: September 2026
Modern slavery is a criminal offence and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking, all of which involve depriving a person of their liberty in order to exploit them.
Educate East Ltd is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships. We have a zero tolerance approach to modern slavery and are committed to preventing it in our operations and supply chain.
This policy applies to all persons working for or on behalf of Educate East Ltd, including directors, employees, educators and candidates we place, and any suppliers or partners we work with.
Educate East Ltd is a SEND specialist education recruitment agency, founded and directed by Hayden and Nick, placing supply, long term and permanent educators into schools and specialist settings across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. The business currently employs 3 to 5 people, operates on a fully home based basis with no office premises, and does not source or supply physical goods.
Educate East's own supply chain is deliberately small and service based, reflecting the nature of a recruitment business rather than a goods based one. It consists principally of a DBS umbrella body, a payroll bureau, and our recruitment CRM, all of which are UK based, regulated service providers rather than manufacturers or suppliers of physical products.
Educate East assesses its main area of risk as sitting in the recruitment and placement of educators, given the recognised vulnerability of workers in the recruitment sector generally, particularly around identity, right to work, and control over pay.
Educate East's supply chain risk is assessed as comparatively low, given that our suppliers are UK based, regulated professional service providers rather than businesses operating in sectors more commonly associated with modern slavery risk, such as manufacturing, agriculture, or facilities services. This assessment is reviewed at least annually, and sooner if a new supplier or type of supplier is engaged.
Our approach to registering and placing educators follows the checks set out in our Safer Recruitment Policy. In particular, we:
Before engaging a supplier, and at each annual review, the Directors confirm that the supplier has taken reasonable steps to prevent modern slavery in its own operations and supply chain, in line with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, as set out in our Sustainable and Ethical Procurement Policy.
Where a supplier is large enough to be legally required to publish a modern slavery statement, meaning an annual turnover of £36 million or more, Educate East requires sight of a valid, in date published statement before engagement and at each annual review. Where a supplier is not required to publish a statement, Educate East asks the supplier to confirm directly what steps it takes to prevent modern slavery, and to evidence this where reasonably possible.
A supplier that cannot demonstrate an appropriate approach is handled in line with the non compliance process set out in our Sustainable and Ethical Procurement Policy, which may result in the relationship ending.
Educate East measures the effectiveness of this approach through the following indicators, reviewed by the Directors annually:
The Directors, as Educate East's leadership and its only managers and supervisors at its current size, complete recognised modern slavery awareness training, such as that available through the Home Office's Modern Slavery Training Resource Page, and refresh this at least every two years.
All employees receive an overview of modern slavery awareness, including how to recognise and report a concern, as part of onboarding.
All employees, and all educators placed through Educate East, are paid at least the appropriate National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage for their age, and never below it, as set out in our Employee Wellbeing Policy.
This policy is owned by the Directors of Educate East Ltd, who are responsible for its implementation, for the effectiveness measures set out above, and for ensuring adequate systems are in place. This policy has been approved by the Directors.
This policy is published on the Educate East website, linked from the home page, and is reviewed, and republished where updated, at least annually.
Anyone who suspects that modern slavery or human trafficking may be occurring, whether in connection with Educate East or one of the settings we work with, must raise it immediately. Concerns can be reported to a Director of Educate East at hello@educate-east.co.uk or 01284 664343, or raised under our Whistleblowing Policy, including anonymously through our dedicated reporting form.
Where there is an immediate risk to a person's safety, the police should be contacted on 999. Concerns can also be reported to the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700.
Any concern involving a child will also be handled in line with our Safeguarding Children Policy and our Managing Allegations Against Staff and Educators Policy.