Newsletter – 28th August 2020

Dear Member,

We hope you have had a rest during this Summer Break. The NASUWT recognises the concern and anxiety that many members may be feeling about the plans to open schools to all pupils from next week.

The Union also recognises that because the final guidance on the opening of schools was not issued until after schools closed for the Summer break, some members may be unaware of the details of the plans their employers and schools are making for the start of the new academic year. For this reason, we have made clear that all employers should be sharing their plans with staff in advance of the first day back.

Based on the issues and concerns most frequently raised by members with the Union, the NASUWT produced an updated version of the self-audit checklist and letters for individual members. The checklist was shared in an email sent to members on 10^th August 2020 and takes account of any changes in the guidance which have been made in preparation for the opening of schools. Members are strongly advised to consider the checklist and follow the advice the Union has provided at the end of each section.

We have had a number of webinars that have taken place online during the Summer Term and over the Summer Break. Topics covered include Risk Assessments, BAME, Self-Audit Checklists, Health & Safety, Accountability, Remote Learning and others. To catch up with previous webinars click here.  Please view them as they cover important topics and may answer any questions, queries or concerns you may have. Also, our website has a wealth of information in the Coronavirus Hub including the updated self-audit checklist and letters, the updated Health & Safety Checklist and regularly updated FAQs to help support you.

To support you with the Self-Audit the following may also be useful in reference:

• TUC Return to safe workplaces
• NASUWT advice and support on the reopening of schools across the UK
• NASUWT Health and Safety Q&A Webinar
• NASUWT Minimising Racial Disparities in the Reopening of Schools

The NASUWT continues to engage nationally with Ministers and Government Officials and locally with employers, schools, and the local authority in Coventry on the preparations for the reopening of schools and have been raising directly any issues and concerns of members.

 The NASUWT has recently written to every Local Authority, School and Trust, advising them of their legal obligations to their employees, reserving our members’ legal rights and entitlements and setting out the actions we expect them to take to safeguard the health and welfare of staff. In addition, the General Secretary has also responded in the press with the following statement.

NASUWT have been firm in what we expect from employers on the reopening of schools and we have been busy raising the following issues and concerns relating to staffing and teaching and learning with schools locally on your behalf:

Staffing Audits:

Schools must carry out an audit of the availability of staff for all activities during the school day, including lunchtime and break supervision, cleaning, and to provide support for pupils with special or additional needs, taking into account:

• staff who have underlying medical conditions
• staff who are self-isolating due to COVID-19 symptoms or diagnosis;
• staff who may be considered vulnerable, such as staff who are pregnant, staff with a disability and Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19;
• staff on maternity or any other form of leave, who will not be available for work;
• the availability of supply staff to cover any vacancies or long-term absences;
• the availability of appropriately trained cleaning staff to undertake the additional cleaning, including throughout the day.
• vulnerable staff have the right to have an individual risk assessment completed before any return to the workplace, as part of the planning for reopening.
• staff returning from home working, particularly those whose mental health has been affected during lockdown.

Teaching and Learning

Schools should be defining the expectations about teaching and learning, including: 

• how the number of pupils in school will be managed to ensure that appropriate distancing, groups and ‘bubbles’ are maintained in accordance with the Department for Education (DfE) Guidance.

School must take account of:

• the ability of pupils to maintain distancing, groups and bubbles;
• arrangements for staff and pupils during breaks and lunchtimes, including supervision of pupils in the context of distancing, groups and bubbles;
• any subject-specific requirements, e.g. practical lessons and PE, ensuring they have been specifically risk assessed.
• the extent to which existing planning, schemes of work and programmes of study will need to be adapted to take account of:
  • the number of pupils in groups and bubbles; 
  • the availability and the suitability of materials and resources for working with pupils, given the heightened cleaning and hygiene requirements;
  • provision for pupils who may need to self-isolate;
  • those pupils with special/additional educational support needs;
  • the management of staggered start and finish times.
  • the support, time and resources that will need to be made available to teachers and other staff to make any necessary preparations in respect of the above;
  • availability of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and access to soap and water, and arrangements for the regular cleaning of touch surfaces throughout the day.

We have also made clear that these key things should be in place before return:

• all risk assessment documentation is shared and consulted on with staff so they can contribute, and any concerns can be raised and resolved before the first day back.
• all individual risk assessments (i.e. VERAs) to be completed with vulnerable staff before the first day back so any concerns can be raised and resolved.
• Any updates or changes to policies and procedures (behaviour, safeguarding, e-safety, infectious disease etc.) should be shared with staff before they are put in place.
• Any updates or changes to safety procedures and guidance (PPE, fire drills, subject specific, etc.) should be shared with staff before the first day back with pupils.

Whilst we have been pushing this with employers, it will be Workplace Representatives and/or individual members who will need to inform us if any of this has not been put in place for your safety. NASUWT remains committed to supporting members individually and collectively during this next stage of these challenging and difficult circumstances, as we have been throughout the whole of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Given the contractual and potential legal issues relating to members who are in vulnerable groups, it is likely that most cases will be handled nationally after you have completed the NASUWT self-audit, followed the NASUWT advice in the checklist and you have still not had a satisfactory response from your school/employer about your safe return to work. As with other issues, if an exceptional circumstance arises where there are safety issues and concerns then we will identify the appropriate actions to take.

We hope for a safe return to school but please get in touch if you need our support by emailing advice@mail.nasuwt.org.uk.