Coronavirus Update: September 2020
Welcome back to the start of the new academic year. The start of term sees us moving into unchartered territory, with schools and colleges opening for all students but the virus still out there. Many members will be glad to be back in class, but some of you will be also coping with anxiety and uncertainty due to the threat to health which is Coronavirus.
The NEU believes that children should be back in school and that everything should be done to maintain this safely for as long as possible. That means having robust plans in place to ensure the safety of staff and children. It also means being ready to respond to changes in the local situation and having a clear outline of what happens if cases develop.
You will now be experiencing how the return to work, and the careful planning around this, is working out in reality at school. Do not hesitate to bring anything concerning to the attention of your leadership: risk assessments are live documents, and must be kept under continual review, addressing issues as they occur.
We have seen a huge increase in members becoming reps, either workplace reps, or health and safety reps. If you do not have either of these in your school, please get together and elect one or two members to take on these roles. This is the best way to make sure our members’ interests are being looked after in the workplace, and it is really vital in the current pandemic. H&S reps are entitled to work with leadership on H&S issues, and many leaders have been grateful for the various risk assessment documents from NEU. Our workplace reps should engage with the risk assessment and discuss at regular intervals with leadership and members. To become a rep, click here: neu.org.uk/become-rep#reps-form.
This a brief guide of what you need to know – for a full guide visit the NEU website.
1. The Plan
Schools must have a full plan, or risk assessment, in place to welcome staff and students back at the beginning of term, this should be discussed and agreed with staff. This is covered by the NEU checklist and covers issues such as:
hygiene
cleaning
groupings
movement around the building
start and finish times
lunch and break times
use of equipment
marking
meetings and more.
Reps should be consulted on the risk assessment and all staff should be made familiar with the arrangements.
To view or download the “Coronavirus Crisis Workplace Checklist” PDF, click here: neu.org.uk/media/11476/view.
2. Keep it Under Review
Many schools have thorough plans in place that meet the NEU checklist, now being tested by the reality of having hundreds of adults and children on site - there will be things that don’t work, things people haven’t thought of and, above all, we must avoid complacency setting in.
It is important, therefore, that the plan is seen as a live document and kept under continual review. The NEU suggests that a system is set up for staff to refer any issues and that these are dealt with promptly. We also suggest a regular catch-up meeting between unions and SLT.
3. Plan B
It is equally important that schools are prepared for a change in circumstances and are ready to respond in the event of positive cases within the school or a rise in the local case rate. It is vital that everyone knows what to do if circumstances change and what their responsibilities are. Local figures are now available and the government has issued a four-tiered approach to guide local responses. As part of their Plan B schools should be ready to support home learning, if groups of children have to be sent home or the school has to close down again.
4. Issues Arising – NEU Position
While we all want to be back in school, many staff are anxious and there are many questions from NEU members.
Full guidance is available on the website but here are some of the most commonly asked questions:
Vulnerable staff: individual risk assessments should be carried out for staff in higher risk groups, including pregnant women. Everything should be done to minimise risk to these members and where possible we recommend that they be allowed to work from home. Pregnant women in their third trimester should work from home. For more information, click here: neu.org.uk/advice/coronavirus-medically-vulnerable-and-higher-risk-groups.
Masks and face coverings: although the government advise that face coverings are not necessary, the NEU recommends that staff who wish to wear a face covering are allowed to do so. The advice on face coverings is being kept under review and schools should agree a policy with staff.
Quarantine: staff who have been instructed to quarantine on return from holiday should discuss the situation with their head and be available to work from home. Staff should not be deducted pay as a result of quarantine.
Timetabling alterations: We have heard of teachers being asked to attend meetings during their holidays, and timetable changes which are affecting length of breaks, lunchtime, duties, and the school day. Teachers are still covered by the School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document, which limits the time you can be directed to a maximum of 1265 hours, over 195 days a year. If there are changes, and you are not sure if the STPCD is being upheld, then please ask for the directed time budget calculation, so you can check it. If you were expected to attend work during your holiday before the official start of term, and were told that this would be paid back later in the year, you need to be given the date of this day in lieu. Your PPA entitlement is still unchanged, minimum 10% of your teaching time. For more information, click here: neu.org.uk/advice/workload-and-working-time.
5. Teacher Pay Award and Progression
If you are in a Hampshire Local Authority School, the Hampshire pay scales apply, not the national ones!
Hampshire pay scales, with extra interim pay points compared to national pay scale, have been raised broadly in line with the national award. This year there is a tapered award, with those in their early career receiving a larger award than those near the end of the upper pay scale. Reps/members should ask their head to confirm that these will be implemented for all teaching staff.
Reps should also confirm that all eligible teachers will be awarded pay progression for September. No member of staff should be penalised if they have been unable to complete their appraisal. Pay progression needs to be based on evidence available at the time of school closures, when the overwhelming majority of Performance Management cycles /meetings/observations will have been halted.
Note: support staff received a 2.75% pay increase in April as part of the local government award.
6. Exams, Assessment and Other Matters
In the current opening of schools, we must not forget the disastrous handling of this year’s GCSE, A-level and BTecs, which should not be allowed to happen again. For the union position on this matter, visit neu.org.uk/assessment/fair-grade-2021 and for primary assessment visit neu.org.uk/assessment/primary-assessment.
Dignity at Work: School employees now have access to a Dignity at Work policy, thanks to the efforts of the officers of the education unions in Hampshire. This deals with your rights to be treated with dignity, and not be subjected to detrimental treatment, such as bullying, harassment or discrimination.
Academisation: we are aware that some Hampshire schools are currently considering academisation. Please let us know if this is being discussed at your school, as we want you to be aware of what this might mean for your terms and conditions at work, including union recognition. Further information is available on the NEU website.
We will issue further updates and hope also to hold virtual meetings with branch members. Please do check the NEU website www.neu.org.uk and contact us if you have any concerns about any aspect of this situation. Please keep your details up-to-date at my.neu.org.uk/login. It is important to make sure the right email/postal/mobile/workplace details are registered, so that the NEU can give you relevant advice.
The NEU are starting to hold their national Zoom webinars for various phases of education, and groups of members. If you are not receiving these targeted emails and would like to, please go to www.neu.org.uk/add-my-email. Please use the website, www.neu.org.uk for answers to your questions about the arrangements in schools.
If you need individual casework help for a personal situation in school, please email the Adviceline at www.neu.org.uk/employment-adviceline in the first instance.
With thanks for all that you do in these uncertain times, and with very best wishes for the term ahead,
Karen Williams and Sue Kent
Joint Branch Secretaries, Hampshire State Education Branch