This policy sets out who is permitted to write, review and deliver National LifeSkills Academy content, and how their competence is maintained and evidenced.

Requirements

Anyone writing or delivering NLSA content must hold a recognised teaching, training or coaching qualification, or equivalent assessed experience, together with demonstrable knowledge of the subject. Evidence is held on file before any work begins.

Content on safety-critical or clinical subjects is additionally reviewed by a suitably qualified specialist under the Subject Matter and Clinical Review Policy. Subject expertise alone does not qualify someone to write learning material, and teaching expertise alone does not qualify someone to make clinical statements.

Continuing professional development

• Everyone writing or delivering NLSA content undertakes appropriate CPD each year.
• CPD records are reviewed annually by the Director.
• Where a course rests on national guidance, the author keeps up to date with changes to that guidance.

Working with children and young people

Anyone who delivers training in a school, or who produces material used directly by children and young people, holds an enhanced DBS check and current safeguarding training, and works under the Child and Young Person Safeguarding Policy.

Associates and contractors

Associates and contractors meet the same standards as NLSA staff. Evidence of qualifications, insurance, DBS status where relevant, and CPD is held before engagement and reviewed annually. Associates work to the NLSA house style and quality standards and their output is reviewed before publication.

Records

For every course, NLSA records who wrote it, who reviewed it, their relevant qualifications, and the date of each review. These records are available to accrediting bodies on request.

National LifeSkills Academy Ltd  |  Trainer and Author Competence Policy  |  v1.0 September 2026