Dear Members,
As we come to the end of this half term, we wanted to provide you with an update. We appreciate how hard you have worked this half term and we thank you for everything you have done and continue to do.
COVID-19 advice and guidance
As case rates in our community are still high, this is having an impact on our schools. We are continually raising this with employers including the Local Authority and it is important that schools continue to review their risk assessments including individual risk assessments (i.e. VERAs) on a regular basis in light of the local data. Schools should also consider safety mitigations that may be required and/or safety protocols that may need to be reviewed.
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, subsequent advice from the DfE and an update to the Operational Guidance on the 19th January 2022, that face masks in classrooms were no longer be required from 20th January 2022 and in communal areas from 27th January 2022, schools and colleges may have continued to recommend the wearing of face masks on the advice of local Public Health and as part of local Outbreak Management Plans and risk assessments. Our advice stands that staff should still be permitted to wear face coverings in communal areas and classrooms, and schools can request pupils wear face coverings in classrooms.
As staffing pressures continue in schools, we have put together some updated advice on your rights on cover.
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.
The NASUWT will continue to work with employers at local, regional, and national level to represent and protect the interests of our members. If you have any concerns, please raise them with the school leadership or contact the NASUWT for further support at advice@mail.nasuwt.org.uk.
Teacher Wellbeing
The NASUWT Wellbeing at Work Survey 2021 ran from mid-December 2021 to early January 2022, and it confirmed that workload and the impact of the pandemic are driving up stress and poor mental health among teachers and headteachers to unprecedented levels.
Read more
#HeartUnions Week
We’re highlighting the benefits and value of being in a union as we mark #HeartUnions Week this week. Schools and colleges where teachers organise with our support are more likely to be healthier, happier places to work.
Read how we were there for two of our members when they suffered life changing injuries following an assault by a pupil and a classroom fall.
Find out how to get involved
Teachers’ Pay 2021/22 and the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS)
We previously shared with you and with employers the issues around the pay freeze and the indexation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. We are aware that employers are awaiting guidance from the DfE, and the following has been received which is not unhelpful:
‘It is up to individual employers to determine whether there are specific circumstances that justify a change in pay for a teacher or school leader, for e.g., where a school may reasonably think a teacher could be affected by the indexation rules and current pay restraint, and it could result in the member leaving teaching. Where employers believe there is a genuine risk to retention of individual teachers, they will need to consider what remedial action may be appropriate in line with the STPCD.
That said, you will be aware that headteachers, deputy headteachers and assistant headteachers are not eligible for a recruitment and retention allowance. However, if justifiable and appropriate, schools may wish to consider alternatives provisions allowable within the STPCD provisions e.g., making a small notional change in the value of their pay point/annual pay. To be clear though, schools will need to consider the issues, including the provisions set out in the STPCD, on a case-by-case basis and assure themselves that the requirements around increasing leaders’ salaries, as set out in the Implementing Your School’s Approach to Pay guidance, are met.’
If our reps, contacts and members could provide any help in sharing this with their Senior Leaders that would be appreciated.
We have shared this guidance and correspondence with employers including the Local Authority in Coventry and are requesting confirmation that employers will be making recruitment and retention payments to ensure that this detrimental impact on teachers’ pension benefits is avoided.
Queen’s Jubilee Bank Holiday
We have previously shared with you and with employers guidance on the additional bank holiday planned for this June to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We now share further guidance on what it means for contractual rights on working days for both full and part-time teachers.
Read the advice
Local Association Meeting
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be taking place on Tuesday 8th March 2022 starting at 5pm. It will be a virtual meeting hosted on Zoom. We will be covering a range of issues including Pay and Workload. Please see the email for the registration link and agenda.
Click here for dates and details of our local meetings taking place this academic year.
Local Association Elections
Nominations for our Local Association Elections for positions to be taken up in 2022/23 closed on 8th February 2022. Not all positions received nominations and we are now seeking further nominations. The deadline for nominations to be submitted is Tuesday 3rd May 2022. For further details and the nomination form please see the email.
If you have any queries regarding Local Association meetings, elections, or if there are any other issues you wish to discuss, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Support for supply teachers
We’re offering supply teacher members free tailored CPD and the opportunity to get the latest updates and advice at our virtual Supply Teachers’ Consultation Conference on Saturday 12th March.
Booking now open.
Training and CPD
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.
24th March 2022 – Training and Accreditation – 9.30am – 3.30pm
Student Teachers
During the spring term we are running free webinars for our student teacher members, offering tips, guidance and support on applying and interviewing for your first teaching post.
Visit our student hub now to book your place
Equalities
West Midlands Black Teachers’ Network Meeting – Saturday 5th March 2022
09.30-13.30 at NASUWT, Hillscourt Education Centre, Rednal, B45 8RS
You will have received an email inviting members who identify as Black* to take part in the first West Midlands Black Teachers’ Network meeting which is taking place on Saturday 5th March 2022 – please save the date to your diary. Further details and the agenda are available in the email.
*The NASUWT, along with the TUC and other unions, use 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.
We will be away from the office over the half term break, 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, we would ask that look at the website in the first instance. If a general query relating to schools is not answered on the website, then please contact the Member Support Advice 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 (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.
We wish you a safe and restful half term break.
Stay safe.
NASUWT Coventry 