Dear Members,
We hope you are well. We appreciate how hard you continue to work, and we thank you for everything you have done and continue to do.
On Saturday 27th November, the Prime Minister announced new temporary measures following the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the UK. The new measures are being introduced as a precaution to slow down the spread of the variant. The DfE published information online on Sunday 28th November in relation to this.
Further, on Monday 29th November, the Department for Education (DfE) updated its official guidance to schools to take account of the revised general guidance and instructions issued by the Government in the light of the Omicron variant beginning to spread in England.
The guidance to schools has changed in the following ways:
Face coverings
It is now recommended that face coverings are worn in communal areas by all adults in all schools, and by Year 7 and older pupils in middle/secondary schools and colleges, unless exempt. Schools should be actively encouraging pupils to wear coverings in these circumstances. Staff should still be permitted to wear face coverings in classrooms as well, and there is nothing to stop a school requesting pupils to also wear face coverings in classrooms.
Contact tracing and isolation
With immediate effect, all close contacts of confirmed or suspected Omicron variant cases must self-isolate for a minimum of ten days, regardless of age or vaccine status. Contract tracing teams will contact affected people.
For non-Omicron cases, the current arrangements continue: Under-18s and fully vaccinated adults are advised to take a PCR test, but there is no need to isolate.
Educational trips
Schools are advised to reconsider educational trips abroad as all international arrivals, other than those from the Common Travel Area (the Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man), must self-isolate on arrival and take a PCR test. NASUWT guidance remains that members should think extremely carefully before agreeing to take an educational trip abroad due to the difficulties that could be encountered.
All other guidance remains as before.
In addition to the changes to school guidance, local Directors of Public Health have been given more powers to introduce additional mitigations in schools, which could include the wearing of face coverings in all classrooms. The NASUWT has written to all local Directors of Public Health urging them to use their powers to maximise safety in schools. Locally, we are also raising this with employers including the Local Authority.
All schools should also be reviewing and revising their risk assessments, safety protocols and individual risk assessments (i.e. VERAs) in the light of the Omicron variant.
The NASUWT is in regular contact with the Government over the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to press for more comprehensive mitigations in schools and additional resources to allow schools to be as safe as possible. The NASUWT also continues to engage nationally, regionally and locally and we are committed to doing all we can to support the safe running of schools for you and for your pupils. Protecting your health, safety and welfare is our priority.
If members have concerns around their school’s response to the new guidance, these should be raised with management in the first instance. If concerns persist, members should contact the NASUWT for further advice at advice@mail.nasuwt.org.uk.
NASUWT released this press release after this advice was published: click here
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 will also continue to keep our members up-to-date via the COVID-19 section of our website.
COVID-19 and vaccinations
New advice has been issued by NASUWT on Covid-19 vaccinations for teachers and pupils in England
Annual Conference 2021
You will have received an email from our General Secretary, Dr. Patrick Roach on 13th September 2021 and a reminder email on Wednesday 1st December 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 and submit your form by Friday 14th January 2022 if you would like to attend.
Local Association Elections
You will have received notification via email or by post from the West Midlands Regional Centre about our Local Association Elections for 2022/23. We are seeking nominations for the positions of Vice-President, President, Negotiating Secretary, Treasurer and eight Executive Committee members. Nominations close on Tuesday 8th February 2022. For further details please see the email.
Next Local Association Meeting
The NASUWT Coventry Local Association Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Tuesday 8th March 2022 at 5pm with the venue to be confirmed. Please add this date to your diary – we hope that you can attend. All Coventry Local Association NASUWT members are welcome. We will share the final agenda and details on how to register for the meeting next term.
Click here for dates and details of our local meetings taking place this academic year.
Teachers’ Pay 2021/22 and Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS)
Following our previous communications on Teachers’ pay for 2021/22, employers should now be finalising their pay policies following consultation, pay progression decisions following appraisal and any recruitment and retention benefits to be paid for this academic year.
It has recently become clear that periods of pay freezes have a potentially detrimental impact on the way that the ‘best consecutive three years in ten’ average salary is calculated in the final salary Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS). This could, therefore, potentially have a detrimental impact on teachers’ pension benefits and the NASUWT has embarked on a joint strategy with other unions to address this by ensuring that no teachers or school leaders have a frozen salary in 2021/22.
The Joint Unions have sent a letter to all employers with eligible members in the TPS pressing for recruitment and retention payments of at least £1 to be made this academic year for all teachers. If it appears that there are any circumstances where school and academy trust pay policies preclude the use of recruitment and retention payments, changes to the pay policy have been requested to be made. If our reps, contacts and members could provide any help in sharing this with their Senior Leaders that would be appreciated.
We are requesting confirmation that employers will be making recruitment and retention payments to ensure that this detrimental impact on teachers’ pension benefits is avoided.
Workload
We share the Teacher Wellbeing Index 2021, which has just been published by the charity Education Support Network, which shows that there are record levels of stress, burnout and anxiety among teachers. We would like to encourage all schools to adopt the Coventry Workload Charter to help support schools in tackling workload and reducing stress, burnout and anxiety. We would welcome our reps, contacts and members raising the Workload Charter with Senior Leaders and to get in touch with us for further information.
Activist of the year awards
Do you know a workplace rep, young member, health and safety rep or activist who has made a difference in recruiting NASUWT members and promoting the work of the union?
Nominate them for our awards
Training and Events
Young teachers and the future of work
Our online Young Teachers’ Consultation Conference on Saturday 4th December 2021 will focus on the future of work and what this means for young teachers, today and in the future.
Get your place
Equalities
Understanding and supporting disability
We are marking Disability History Month with an online event on Tuesday 14th December 2021 exploring neurodiversity and disability history. Open to all teachers to expand their understanding.
Book now
Highlights of our Women Teachers’ Consultation Conference
The virtual event brought women members together for CPD, discussion and support on the challenges facing women and girls in education and beyond.
The Union will continue to 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.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for help, advice, and support by emailing advice@mail.nasuwt.org.uk.
Stay safe.
NASUWT Coventry 