Redundancies?

By the time you are reading this you will know if your school has entered the “overstaffing – reduction re-allocation process” for August 31^st 2010. You may be used to hearing in the press from time to time of how we are short of teachers in the UK and all of the various initiatives to recruit more. Sadly in our area we have a situation where poor Government funding and quite severely falling pupil numbers combine in some of our schools to cause them to have to reduce the number of teachers. Whilst it may be highly desirable to keep these teachers in the schools to improve teacher pupil ratios the unpalatable truth is that funding for salaries etc is entirely dictated by pupil numbers.

We have in East Yorkshire a fair, transparent, process by which schools can reduce their staff. This takes a relatively long time to allow due process and the first stage, a staff meeting to inform colleagues of the need to reduce staffing will have already happened or may be happening today. If such a staff meeting has not happened by the start of February half term your school is not planning any reduction for August this year. As a Union we are absolutely committed to ensuring that we will stand by our members, representing them as a group or individually through every stage of this process. Because it takes from now until August 31^st for the process to complete there is plenty of time for many of these issues to be resolved, as they often are, by colleagues leaving school for promotion, retirement etc. This frequently removes the need for compulsory redundancy in any particular school. If you need advice about any overstaffing issue and you are not already in contact; please call Brian Swinton, 01482 448653 urgently.

Come to the AGM

This newsletter was mailed into school at the same time as a poster advertising our next meeting. It’s the 2010 Annual General Meeting and it will be on Saturday Feb 27^th in Beverley from 10am in the Tiger Inn on Lairgate. A lunch will be available after the meeting with an opportunity for an informal chat. It would be a real joy if we could get at least one member from every school there! Talk to colleagues, get a group together but please if you would like a meal it helps if you let us know so we have an idea of numbers to tell the chef. The AGM agenda includes announcement of officers for the coming year, payment of honoraria and other administrative items.

Annual Conference

The Union’s annual conference is at Easter each year, Liverpool this year, and involves several days away from home, an awful lot of sitting but some fascinating debate on all the issues that affect teachers but meeting people from all over the country and sharing experience makes it very exciting. It’s when the Union decides its policy on all the major issues via a democratic process. Our association would really like to enhance that process by encouraging and involving new delegates. If you would like to know more come to the AGM or contact the secretary – see below.

End SATs

The indicative ballot of primary members has taken place. You will have read elsewhere of the substantial majority of members voting who said yes to a refusal to administer SATs. Watch out for simultaneous action with the Heads Union, the NAHT, starting with a formal ballot on this issue nearer the time for SATs.

Early Years Provision

There are currently a number of national initiatives changing Early Years provision. Our LA is well advanced in looking at these issues and our local Secretary is involved with negotiations and working parties introducing these changes. Independent research has found early years settings which employ qualified teachers to be the best way of improving the life chances of young children. Settings which have more substantial numbers of trained teachers provide the highest quality of care and education.

The Early Years Professional (EYP) status was introduced in September 2006. It is envisaged by Government that those who undertake EYP training will include teachers, community nurses, social workers and others with early years, childhood development and play qualifications. Typically, on-the-job EYP training would take three months. According to the Government, the EYP will take “a professional leading role” in Children’s Centres, a role which is currently undertaken by teachers. A target of one EYP in every Children’s Centre by 2010 has been set to encourage settings to employ them. In addition, the statutory staffing ratios contained within the Early Years Foundation Stage equate EYPs to qualified teachers for private, voluntary and independent sector provision. Although the EYP would be equivalent to a qualified teacher in terms of staffing ratios, they would not necessarily be a qualified teacher. They would also not be subject to the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD). This means that pay and conditions of service, such as working hours and holiday entitlements, would be determined by individual settings. It is unlikely that these would be equivalent or as good as the STPCD provisions.

If you have concerns about changes in your school/setting that could result in losing teachers please get in touch quickly. The other major issue is likely to be a move to increase working hours due to the increase in provision. Again staff should be consulted about such changes and if it is raised in your setting please get in touch urgently for advice.

Rarely Cover & “mock” exams

How is it going in your school? You shouldn’t now be doing any cover. If you are asked to cover and there is any doubt at all in your mind about it being an absolute, unavoidable, unpredictable emergency please call our County Secretary, Brian Swinton on 01482 448653.

By now secondary schools have probably done mock GCSE exams for years 10 & 11 and will be planning for the main summer exam season. As more schools are entering candidates early for GCSE modules e.g. in year 9, there may be an increasing number of “trial” tests etc. Remember teachers can’t supervise any exam that is not a normal part of a normal lesson in that subject.

APP and Workload

More and more schools are introducing APP as a positive initiative. It is clear and agreed that it can be very beneficial however it must replace existing systems not be in addition to them!

Elections

You may have already heard that Martin failed to be elected as Deputy General Secretary. A London activist was successful. We will be welcoming Martin back as joint Secretary with Brian for the coming year. Full details of the election results will be in the next edition of The Teacher, our Union magazine.

You will probably already be tiring of the run up to our next General election but it is important. If politicians come canvassing you ask them about their party’s plans for teachers’ salaries and education spending. Don’t forget to ask them if they plan to save money on public sector pensions as well – it’s our future income they may be aiming for!

Reps’ Forum

We are still planning a reps/interested parties forum for the eastern side of the Riding – Hedon to the coast – if you could suggest a venue able to provide us with a room and a meal please contact the secretary (see below).