Dear Members,
As we come to the end of another exceptional academic year, we wanted to provide you with an update. We appreciate how hard you have worked this year and we thank you for everything you have done and continue to do.
We have continued to support members with issues locally and engaging with employers. Nationally, the Union has continued to support members by issuing guidance, providing support via the AdviceLine and hosting training and webinars.
COVID-19 advice and guidance
On the 6th July 2021, the Department for Education (DfE) published its guidance to support schools and colleges to coincide with England moving to Step 4 of the roadmap from the 19th July 2021. The NASUWT has shared Operational Guidance with members and also sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Education. Any further guidance published will be shared with members and Reps and will also be shared with schools in Coventry.
In any case, schools and workplaces will need to consider appropriate control measures and risk mitigations with full consideration of local data. All schools and workplaces will need to review their safety procedures and protocols, risk assessments and individual risk assessments (i.e., VERAs) in consultation with Unions and staff before the return in September.
Our advice and guidance for members on Covid safety and the arrangements which should be in place in schools and colleges can be found at our Coronavirus Hub.
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions section for answers to common work-related questions during the pandemic.
Long Covid
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT’s General Secretary, explains why the Union is campaigning for Long Covid to be legally recognised as a disability and for greater support for teachers experiencing Long Covid.
Read our Long Covid advice and email your MP asking them to back our call
Working hours and directed time
Do you know your rights about the days and working hours you can be contracted to teach and undertake professional duties?
Make sure you are informed of your entitlements on PPA time, breaks, meetings, parents evenings and more.
Read our guidance
As we approach the end of the school year, we hope that your School Leadership has shared the School Calendar, Directed Time Budget and individual timetables. It is important that you ask for these so you can review what is being proposed.
With regards to the Directed Time Budget, it is important your school adheres to the following for the academic year 2021/22, in acknowledgement of the additional Bank Holiday for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee:
‘The Spring Bank Holiday in 2022 will be moved to Thursday 2 June and an additional bank holiday on Friday 3 June will see a four-day weekend to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
‘Many schools will already be on their half-term breaks in the week commencing 31 May, but where the additional bank holiday falls in term time, schools and local authorities (LAs) should observe the bank holidays on 2/3 June and may therefore need to prepare and make any amendments to their published term dates for the academic year 2021/22.
‘We [the DfE] have laid regulations to reduce the minimum number of sessions schools are required to meet in the academic year 2021/2022 and enable everyone to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen on 3 June 2022.
‘The Department will review the necessary legislation and, as far as the STPCD is concerned, make an amendment for the September 21 version that reduces the number of days that teachers need to be available to work from 190 (+5 INSET days) to 189 (+5 INSET days) and will also reduce the number of directed hours by 6.5. The total school year will therefore be 194 days.’
In essence, teachers will teach one less day for the academic year 2021/22, down from 195 to 194 (including INSET days), or down from 190 to 189 (excluding INSET days) across 1,258.5 hours as opposed to 1,265 hours of directed time.
In Coventry, the Jubilee Bank Holiday will fall during the half term break, and we will be engaging with Coventry Local Authority on where the extra day of holiday will be allocated. Schools and academies in the city tend to follow the term dates determined by the Local Authority but we would ask NASUWT Representatives and members to be engaged in discussions with employers on where the extra day of holiday should be allocated in the academic year, where this is necessary.
The Union is clear that any proposals must be made in consultation with the NASUWT, as well as parents and the local community, recognising the potential impacts on those affected.
Further information is available in this briefing.
Workload
As shared in the previous update, a group of Trade Union (including NASUWT), Local Authority and Headteacher representatives has met regularly over the last few years to ensure that the workload agenda retains a high profile in Coventry.
We are looking to relaunch the Workload Charter in September and are encouraging our members, Workplace Reps and Health & Safety Reps to encourage Headteachers to adopt the charter in their school. If your school would like to adopt the charter or would like further information, then please get in touch.
International travel
With the shifting restrictions on international travel, make sure you’re informed about the implications for your availability for work in the new term with our guidance.
Early Career Framework
Induction arrangements for new teachers in England are changing from September.
Find out what this means for you and your school
Health and Safety
Get the latest advice on health and safety in your school or college.
Updates on excessive classroom temperatures, ventilation and post-pandemic health and safety measures
Training and CPD
Support for new teachers
We have free online CPD events taking place this summer for teachers starting their first posts.
Covering:
- behaviour management
- voice care
- induction
- staying safe online
Visit our website to book
Summer webinar programme
Get advice and your questions answered at our programme of free member, Reps and Caseworker webinars.
During July and August, we have events running on pensions, TUPE, redundancy and restructuring, unconscious bias, and our Valued Workers Scheme.
Visit our events calendar to book
Annual Conference 2022 – Your Union, Your Voice
Represent your Local Association at the NASUWT Annual Conference 2022
The ICC, Birmingham
Friday 15th April to Monday 18th April 2022
The Union’s Annual Conference makes the NASUWT’s policy and sets the Union’s priorities for the forthcoming year. Policy is made by serving teachers attending the Conference.
Every Local Association has the opportunity to elect members to attend Conference to debate and vote on those motions which are chosen for debate by a ballot of all members. Every full member of the Union is entitled to seek election.
If you would like to represent the Coventry Local Association at Annual Conference please follow the instructions in the email.
Local Association Meetings
We wanted to share advance notice of the dates for the Coventry Local Association General Members Meetings for the next academic year. We hope you will be able to attend:
- Tuesday 5th October 2021 at 5.00pm – 6.30pm (Venue to be confirmed)
- Tuesday 8th March 2022 – AGM – at 5.00pm – 7.00pm (Venue to confirmed)
- Tuesday 21st June 2022 at 5.00pm – 6.30pm (Venue to be confirmed)
Membership Records
It is particularly important that all members keep their membership record up to date including workplace details, address, phone number and email address. This can be done by logging in to the e-membership section of the NASUWT website or by contacting the Membership Department at membership@mail.nasuwt.org.uk.
The NASUWT will continue to work with employers at local, regional, and national level to represent and protect the interests of members. We will be away from the office over the Summer Break until we return in September, but we wanted to assure you that NASUWT is still operational through Headquarters and the Regional Centre throughout the holidays and the following information should help you:
- In order to ensure you continue to have the most up to date information on the coronavirus, we would ask that look at the website in the first instance. If a general query relating to schools and the coronavirus is not answered on the website then please contact the Members Support Team at advice@mail.nasuwt.org.uk and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
- If you require urgent support we would ask that you email rc-westmids@mail.nasuwt.org.uk with the necessary details.
- Criminal Support – Throughout the holiday period NASUWT members requiring urgent legal assistance because of a criminal allegation being made against them which is related to their teaching employment should contact Thompsons Solicitors on the following freephone number 0800 587 7530.
The Union will keep you informed of developments, and you are requested to please continue to monitor your emails and the NASUWT Coventry and national NASUWT websites for updates.
If you have any issues or concerns, email advice@mail.nasuwt.org.uk.
We hope you have a safe and restful summer break.
Stay Safe.
NASUWT Coventry 