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DfE – GCA Supply Staff Framework RM6376 Guidance

A Guide To Education Recruitment, Department for Education

What Schools and Trusts Need to Know

 

From September 2026, academy trusts must procure agency supply staff through the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) framework (RM6376) or a compliant alternative, as set out in the Academy Trusts Handbook 2026. The good news: if you already use an approved Lot 1 supplier such as 4myschools, you can keep your current arrangements and remain compliant.

 

At a glance

  1. What’s changing: procurement must route through RM6376 (or a compliant alternative route) for academy trusts from September 2026.
  2. What’s not changing: you do not need to change agency if your supplier is on Lot 1 (4myschools is approved).
  3. Do now: confirm Lot 1 compliance, review contracts for value, and ensure you can evidence spend and compliance reporting.

 

What is GCA RM6376: A New Name, Not a New System

GCA is the rebranded Crown Commercial Service (CCS) procurement function, building on previous education supply frameworks rather than introducing a new system from scratch.
RM6376 strengthens transparency and value-for-money protections while expanding coverage. 4myschools has been an approved DfE framework supplier since 2018 and is approved on the new GCA framework (Lot 1), so partner schools can continue with confidence.

 

About Lot 1

  1. No agency change needed: if you already use 4myschools (or another Lot 1 supplier), you are compliant with the DfE mandate.
  2. No forced contract exit: trusts are encouraged to review existing contracts for value and compliance, but you do not have to terminate current agreements.
  3. Choice remains: you can continue to use agencies you trust, provided they are GCA framework compliant.

 

Who Can Use RM6376

The GCA framework RM6376 supplies teachers and educational staff to trusts and local authority schools. It caps the supplier fee, which is the agencies’ operating costs and profits, ensuring schools and trusts aren’t spending more than necessary.

The framework offers education sector specialist agencies who’ve been pre-approved through a rigorous evaluation process.

DfE recommends using the framework as procurement best practice. Additional benefits to the rate caps include:

  1. Transparent costs
  2. Free temporary-to-permanent provisions after 12 weeks to avoid paying transfer fees
  3. Expert support to deal with disputes
  4. Complete background and safeguarding checks

 

Why the DfE Has Introduced the Mandate and Why RM6376 Matters

The DfE mandate is designed to deliver:

  1. Better value for money through capped supplier fees
  2. Greater transparency on supply spend
  3. Clearer reporting and compliance for trusts and governing bodies

The framework is intended to protect budgets while maintaining access to high-quality supply staff, without removing schools’ choice where they use approved Lot 1 suppliers.

 

Safeguarding, Compliance and Quality Under RM6376

 

Worker background checking:

RM6376 suppliers must screen workers in line with the DfE’s Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) standards.
Lot 1 agencies are audited by DfE-approved auditors and typically hold independently verified compliance standards (for example, REC Audited Education or APSCo Compliance+).

 

Pricing, Agency Selection Tool and Better Value

The framework caps the supplier fee (agency mark-up), not what supply workers are paid, so pay and conditions are unaffected. This gives schools clarity on charges and greater transparency on worker pay.
Supplier fees cover operating costs (sourcing, payroll, statutory processes, and required checks) as well as margin.
Use the agency selection tool to quickly identify Lot 1 suppliers that meet your needs.

 

How Schools Use RM6376

Schools use the agency selection tool to appoint approved suppliers (including 4myschools) and evidence compliant procurement through the framework.

 

Next Steps and How to Engage

4myschools provides whole-school recruitment solutions, including:

  1. Daily and long-term supply
  2. Fixed-term and permanent appointments
  3. Teaching, support and all non-teaching roles

As an approved GCA Lot 1 supplier, 4myschools can continue to supply staff within the mandated framework using a transparent pricing model aligned to RM6376 requirements, for all teaching and non-teaching roles.

 

Our approach remains unchanged:

  1. Fair, ethical recruitment
  2. Local knowledge and relationships
  3. Outstanding service for schools and educators

 

The Role of AvailabilityGrid: Compliance Made Simple

Alongside 4myschools, the AvailabilityGrid platform plays a crucial role in supporting schools and trusts under the new mandate.
AvailabilityGrid is not a Master Vendor. It does not control agencies, restrict choice, or replace existing relationships. Instead, it acts as a neutral, non‑controlling platform that brings visibility and assurance to supply staffing.

Using AvailabilityGrid, schools and trusts benefit from:

  1. Visibility of available workers across approved agencies
  2. Real-time transparency of agency availability and bookings
  3. Live reporting of supply spend to evidence DfE compliance to trusts, governors, auditors and Ofsted

AvailabilityGrid preserves agency relationships, with pricing and communication remaining direct and transparent.

This is particularly valuable for trusts managing multiple schools, where oversight and consistency are essential.

 

Availability Grid is Not a Master Vendor – and That Matters

Traditional Master Vendor models can:

  1. Limit agency choice
  2. Centralise control away from schools
  3. Reduce transparency over the availability of the best staff for pupils

Availability Grid takes a different approach. It supports existing supply chains, rather than replacing them, giving schools and trusts the data they need without removing autonomy or flexibility.

This aligns closely with the DfE’s intent: oversight without unnecessary restriction.

 

What Schools and Trusts Should Do Now

Although the framework is live from May 2026 and mandatory from September 2026, now is the right time to:

  1. Review your current supply arrangements
  2. Confirm your providers are GCA Lot 1 compliant suppliers
  3. Plan how you will evidence compliance and spend reporting

4myschools and AvailabilityGrid are already working with schools and trusts to support a smooth transition, offering reassurance, clarity, and practical support every step of the way.

 

Reassurance Above All

If there is one takeaway, it is this:

You can continue working with 4myschools, confidently and compliantly, via the GCA Lot 1 RM6376 Supply Staff framework.

The GCA framework is an evolution, not a disruption – and with the right partners and the right tools, it can deliver exactly what it was designed to: better value, better visibility, and continued access to great people for your schools.

If you’d like to understand how this works in practice for your school or trust, the 4myschools team is always happy to help.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What does GCA RM6376 offer schools and trusts?

  • RM6376 provides access to pre-approved education specialist agencies with capped supplier fees, transparent charging and strengthened safeguarding and compliance requirements.

 

Is my school or trust required to use the RM6376 framework for supply staff?

  • The framework is set to be live from May 2026 and will be mandatory for academy trusts to procure supply staff through it, as outlined in the 2026 Academy Trusts Handbook in September 2026. Maintained schools are encouraged to use RM6376 as a best-practice route.

 

Does using RM6376 change what we pay our supply staff?

  • No. GCA RM6376 framework sets caps on supplier fees (agency mark-up) rather than worker pay, so the framework controls agency costs while keeping teacher pay competitive. 4myschools gives full transparency on supply staff pay via the framework.

 

Can we move existing supply arrangements onto GCA RM6376?

  1. DfE will not force your trust to exit an existing contract. We recommend you compare your contracted rates against the GCA framework rates for future planning once your agreement comes to an end, in case the GCA framework provides cheaper rates.
  2. Be wary of pressure from other agencies to favour contracts outside of the framework agreement or replace terms and conditions with their own.
  3. You may void all contractual protections and benefits of the framework agreement if you sign an agency’s terms and conditions rather than the official GCA RM6376 call-off terms and conditions.

 

How quickly can we start booking supply staff through GCA RM6376

From September 2026, single and multi-academy trusts must procure supply staff through the framework agreement. If you wish to use GCA framework sooner, you can use the current live GCA framework. Get in contact today and we can guide you through the process

 

Does RM6376 only cover supply teacher roles?

In scope roles include:

  1. Teachers
  2. Educational support staff (for example teaching assistants and cover supervisors)
  3. Headteachers and senior leaders
  4. Admin, clerical, finance, IT, maintenance, caterers and cleaners.