Dear Members,
We hope you are well. Since we last wrote to you, schools have now reopened for the Autumn Term and we hope you have had a safe return to the workplace. We know many of you have been feeling concerned but we want to assure you of the Union’s continuing support.
The NASUWT advises all members to ensure that they:
- have been provided with a copy of the school’s COVID-19 updated risk assessment, which should contain all of the safety measures your employer is putting in place. Risk assessments should be the subject of consultation with staff, and if on reading the risk assessment you have any concerns about the measures being proposed or believe that something has been omitted, you should raise this with your headteacher immediately and contact the NASUWT for advice;
- are clear about and observe at all times the safety procedures and to follow the Outbreak Management Plan;
- use the incident report form provided by the NASUWT to report any incidents where the COVID-19 safety arrangements are breached or the employer fails to implement them;
- regularly review the NASUWT Coronavirus Hub on the Union’s website, which is kept up to date with the latest advice and guidance and FAQs and keep a check on their emails for the Union’s updates.
Members in vulnerable groups are advised to:
- make sure that they have received and are satisfied with their updated individual risk assessment;
- check the risk assessment is current and reviewed on a regular basis;
- ensure that the control measures in the risk assessment are implemented fully in the workplace;
- contact the NASUWT immediately if they have any concerns about their health and safety.
Supply teacher members, when agreeing to take up an offer of supply work, are advised to:
- make sure they request a copy of the school’s risk assessment and that COVID-19 safety procedures are made available to them on or, where possible, before their arrival at the school;
- ask, in addition to the general risk assessment, for an individual risk assessment if they have an underlying health condition, a disability, are pregnant and/or are from a BAME background.
Teachers’ Pay 2021/22
NASUWT alongside ASCL, NAHT, NEU and Voice Community has produced Joint Union advice for employers and local authorities on teachers’ pay in 2021/22. Nationally, the advice is being sent into schools with a copy for each headteacher and chair of governors. Locally, we have also shared the advice with employers and HR providers alongside the Pay Bulletin issued in July 2021. This advice supplements the correspondence which the NASUWT sent to local authorities and employers before the summer break.
NASUWT Representatives should seek to negotiate the provisions of the Joint Union advice, including jointly with representatives from other unions where it is possible to do so. Members should also be consulted on the updated Pay Policy for 2021/22.
On Pay Progression and Teachers Appraisal, we have been clear to employers that pay progression should be honoured for all members unless you have been in a capability process. We have further guidance here.
Local Association Meeting
Our next Local Association Meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday 5th October 2021 but due to unforeseen circumstances, the meeting will now take place on Tuesday 2nd November 2021 starting at 5pm. It will be a virtual meeting hosted on Zoom. We will be covering a range of issues including Pay and Finance. We will share a link to register and the agenda before the half term break.
Annual Conference
You will have received an email from our General Secretary, Dr. Patrick Roach on 13th September 2021 about being a delegate at the Annual Conference in Birmingham which is being held from Friday 15th April to Monday 18th April 2022. Please follow the instructions in the email if you would like to attend.
Vaccinations for 12-15-year-olds
Following the announcement from the Chief Medical Officers recommending that vaccinations should be offered to secondary-age children, the NASUWT has published advice for teachers and school leaders. We have written to employers in Coventry sharing this advice.
Women Teachers’ Consultation Conference – Saturday 2nd October 2021
Women members are invited to join us online for this event, where issues covered will include flexible working in the workplace and women’s wellbeing.
There will be CPD sessions, discussions, networking and you can hear from a panel of national and international speakers including Preet Gill MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development and Catelene Passchier, Worker Vice-Chairperson of the International Labour Organisation.
Book now
Training and CPD – catch up on advice and support
If you missed our programme of summer advice and training webinars, many are now available to watch again.
Catch up on our webinars for new teachers which included advice on induction, mental health and more or get up to speed with our topical CPD and advice webinars including ‘An Introduction to Unconscious Bias’ and ‘Restructuring and Redundancy’.
Training events from West Midlands Regional Centre
Several training events are being run by the West Midlands Regional Centre this term. If you would like to sign up, then please contact rc-westmids@mail.nasuwt.org.uk.
1st October 2021 – Training and Accreditation – 9.30am – 3.00pm
4th October 2021 – Working Assertively – 9.30am – 3.30pm
5th & 12th October 2021 – Mental Health First Aid Adult – 9.30am – 4.00pm
Equalities
The Big Conversation on securing Racial Justice
A virtual event for all NASUWT members in the West Midlands
Thursday 30th September 5.00pm-6.30pm
You are warmly invited to discuss crucial issues at our Big Conversation: NASUWT’s initiative seeking engagement with all our members – Black* and White – in the Union’s on-going Campaign for Racial Justice. A number of NASUWT speakers will facilitate the conversation which will include discussion of NASUWT’s efforts to remove the barriers and under-representation Black Teachers experience in our own Union.
Please do join us and contribute – Everyone is welcome! Everyone has a role to play! To book your place please contact the Conferences and Events Team at conferencesandevents@mail.nasuwt.org.uk or you can book online.
Black Teachers Network
Inaugural Virtual Event – Friday 8th October 5pm-6.30pm
NASUWT is inviting all our members who identify as Black* to join us at the first of what we intend to be a regular networking meeting. We intend these meetings to be a ‘safe-space’ to discuss the range of issues that we as Black workers experience with those who have similar experiences. We intend over time that these meetings will have a social aspect once it is safe to meet face to face and topics for discussion will be developed by members in attendance themselves with opportunities for presentations, workshops and other sessions.
Please save the date, register for the first meeting and watch out for further details soon. To book your place please contact the Conferences and Events Team at conferencesandevents@mail.nasuwt.org.uk or you can book online.
*Note on the term ‘Black’: The NASUWT uses the term Black in a political and inclusive sense to describe those who self-identify as African, Caribbean and Asian identities and those with a common and direct history of racism, racist oppression and diminished opportunities in today’s society.
Membership Records
It is particularly important that all members keep their membership record up to date including workplace details, address, phone number, email address and equalities information. 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 Union will keep you informed of developments, and you are requested to please continue to monitor your emails and the NASUWT Coventry (www.nasuwtcoventry.org) and NASUWT websites (www.nasuwt.org.uk) for updates.
If you have any issues or concerns, email advice@mail.nasuwt.org.uk.
Stay safe.
NASUWT Coventry 