Dear Members,
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 return for the Autumn Term, so we wanted to write to you with a local update following the national email with guidance for members sent to you yesterday.
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 Autumn Term reopening and have been raising directly any issues and concerns of members.
On the 2nd 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 and we shared Operational Guidance with members before the summer break.
We have now updated the Operational Guidance and the Health and Safety Checklist for members to use for the Autumn Term which is based on the latest Government guidance (updated 27th August 2021). The Operational Guidance covers many of the aspects of school operation, including steps that should be taken in relation to clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely vulnerable staff, testing, and remote education.
We have also provided detailed guidance on school contingency plans, which all schools in England are required to have to deal with outbreaks of COVID-19. These are sometimes called an outbreak management plans.
Guidance on ventilation has been also been updated – with most controls removed in the Government guidance, ensuring adequate ventilation will be one of the key mitigations in the autumn term. This also includes updated guidance regarding the Government’s announcement that schools are to be provided with carbon dioxide monitors.
We have also written to all employers including the Local Authority, 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. We have also shared the updated Operational Guidance and Health and Safety Checklist.
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 next term. We have provided updated guidance on risk assessments.
We have 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 updated with vulnerable staff before the first day back so any concerns can be raised and resolved.
- all risk mitigations identified by the risk assessments are in place before return.
- any updates or changes to policies and procedures (outbreak management, 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.
Our latest 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.
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.
Stay Safe.
NASUWT Coventry 