The most important thing to note from those procedures is that, unlike almost any other area of employment, schools routinely call for references before candidates are invited for interview. So, if you've not told anyone at your school that you've applied for another job, it might be a good idea to tell them before they suddenly get a request for references!
As far as being given (paid) time off for interviews is concerned, this is standard procedure for teachers. (It's probable that other staff will also be given paid time off for interviews).
All schools have to budget for providing supply teachers to cover such absences. (Where non-teaching staff are absent because of interviews, schools usually try to 'muddle through' for the day, rather than bringing in temporary staff). For example, a large secondary school with 80 teachers might (at the peak time for interviews) lose 10 or more 'teacher-days', through interviews, in a single week. (There might not be ten staff attending interviews. Some interviews for senior staff take two or three days). Some of those absences will be covered by staff giving up their 'free perods' but perhaps 6 teacher-days will need to be covered by agency staff at �300 per day. So a wise head teacher would budget about �2000 per week (during 'peak interview periods) just to cover for staff attending interviews. This is perfectly normal and happens throughout the country. (Obviously, the figures will be lower in a small primary school but the same principles apply. Head teachers usually have to budget for interviews, although some LEAs agree that the money can come from a central fund, rather than directly out of the school's budget).