How to manage the end of a fixed term contract
This page has been created to guide and support managers through the fixed-term contract process. Please note that this resource should only be used once you have received a Business Alert for Managers (BAM) notification via email.
You can find the answers to the most common questions on our FAQs page. If you have any further questions about the process, please contact Employment Services.
To help us continuously improve our service to you, please send any feedback to our Continuous Improvement Project mailbox.
Related policies and procedures
Guidance notes for managers
When a fixed term contract ends, the contract can either be extended, transferred to a permanent contract, or it can expire without renewal. Schools/Directorates must make a formal decision on one of these options in plenty of time before the contract ends. The decision will depend on a range of factors that could include funding, the reason for the fixed term contract or the work to be completed. Where a fixed term contract ends, the member of staff may be entitled to a redundancy payment depending on their length of service.
Managers must enter into a formal consultation with employees five months before the end of the contract. People Services will support this process and send emails to managers and letters to employees at key points during the consultation. This begins with a six-month email alert to the managers.
During the consultation managers must:
- Meet with the fixed term member of staff at least five months before the expiry of the contract to provide an indication of what will happen at the end of the contract and begin discussions with the individual about the future. Even if it is not clear what will happen at the end of the contract this meeting must still be held.
- The member of staff will be given redeployee status four months before the potential expiry of their contract. Employees who have redeployee status will be considered for vacancies before other internal or external applicants.
- Liaise with People Services to make sure that a letter is issued at least three months prior to the expiry of the contract, along with information on any redundancy payments where applicable.
- Undertake appropriate consultation with the fixed term member of staff. This may include discussing alternatives to the end of the contract, looking at opportunities for redeployment and taking into account the individual’s comments. People Partners will provide advice and support on consultation where required.
- Remember that the member of staff has the right to appeal the decision to end their fixed-term contract.
- Liaise with People Services regarding any final letters and communications.
During the consultation People Services will:
- send letters to the member of staff at six and three months before the end of their contract
- send reminders to managers at six months, four months and six weeks before the end of contract.
Which BAM did you receive?
When you have received a BAM alert, please use the relevant templates below to help you communicate with the employee about the consultation, and carry out the final parts of the process at the end of the contract.
Six month
Invitation to 1st Consultation Letter - Finite Funded
Need to know which letter to use? See our FAQs.
Six Weeks
If the employee is not leaving and additional funding has been created, please submit an Employee Change Request (ECR).
If the contract is not being extended and will come to an end, please complete the leaver notification form to finalise the exit process.
Which letter did my direct report receive?
People Services will write to colleagues coming to the end of their fixed term contracts at six months and three months before the end of their contract. These letters will explain the reasons for the contract ending, that they will be entering into a consultation proces and that their manager will be holding consultation meetings with them. We're not able to share employee letters containing personal information with managers. Here you can view the templates we use to create these letters so you can get an idea of what they contain: