UNISON, UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY. Mass testing is being rolled out at schools that are still closed to prepare for students' return. The call to delay the reopening of schools was supported by Unison, as the union's head of education Jon Richards said: "The Government must end its … Government guidance outlines the key workers who must remain active to deliver this education provision in England, which includes childcare, support and teaching staff, social workers and specialist education professio… UNISON has received the attached letter from the Minister for Education, Peter Weir MLA, explaining the approach the Department of Education intends to take in relation to the reopening of schools. It’s back to school, but far from ‘back to normal’ for UNISON members and the wider community Posted in #BeOnTheSafeSide #OneTeam2K activist education Covid-19 economy health and safety member learning nhs pay regional secretary's blog schools reopening se education If your mental health has been affected, or if you just want to talk to someone, there are lots of options. Statement passed at Tower Hamlets Unison Schools Meeting on 15 April All education workers are understandably angered and shocked by the government’s plans for a reckless wider reopening of schools on June 1. Unison, GMB and NASUWT have also all called for the reopening of all schools to be postponed. Even if you are not covered by Green Book terms and conditions, your employer should observe this agreement during this emergency. Also see the government advice on COVID-19: cleaning in non-healthcare settings. Notify all staff and keep them updated on any development. You can also contact your local UNISON health and safety rep or local branch for further information and support. Schools should recognise that cleaning is a skilled role and should not expect staff who are not employed as cleaners to undertake cleaning roles apart from any spraying and general wiping down intended to help keep everyone as safe as possible. image caption Schools in England began reopening to some year groups in June. PPE such as disposable gloves, aprons and medical grade face masks must be made available following a risk assessment and where it is not possible to implement government guidance on social distancing. On the other hand for some children the routine of coming to school may be necessary to meet their needs or they may need access to therapies and resources that are only available at school. It uses Bluetooth technology to track contact between app users, alerting individuals when they have come into ‘close contact’ with someone who has subsequently tested positive for coronavirus. If you have issues with your employer, please urgently raise them with your rep or local branch for advice and assistance. As a result, schools will have fewer protective measures in place to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 than most other workplaces. They too should be supported by a teaching assistant. We will continue to place pressure on the Government and employers to ensure this. UNISON continues to urge employers to take real action to support staff with their mental health. Ensure only those fully trained and equipped with the relevant protective equipment are involved in any deep clean. Joint union statement: Unions representing workers in education have raised concerns about government plans for schools to reopen from 1 st June. whole year bubbles, staff working across bubbles) and places too many burdens on schools, without providing them with necessary additional resources to reduce risks, for example increased cleaning. UNISON and the joint unions have produced a checklist which sets out what employers should demonstrate they have considered in establishing their arrangements for social distancing or minimising contacts and mixing. If there are no school-based reps then schools should contact the local UNISON branch. For example, closing classrooms to pupils for an afternoon a week and using this time for staff to take PPA and for the school to be deep cleaned. See section 8, ‘keeping occupied spaces well ventilated’ of the Dfe guidance for more information. Unison head of education Jon Richards said: "The Government must end its bitty, piecemeal approach and act decisively by delaying the start of term for all schools … Your school has a legal requirement to update its risk assessment to include additional/revised control measures needed for the school to remain open safely and to consult with trade unions. Rosie Lewis, UNISON schools lead, added: “We’ve assessed the guidance and UNISON is absolutely clear that we cannot support the reopening of schools at the end of June. UNISON believes that early years settings must be treated in the same way as primary schools and should be closed except to vulnerable and key workers’ children. The Local Government Association (LGA) has advised employers to follow the same guidance they circulated during the March lockdown for clinically vulnerable staff. Please see UNISON’s Cymru/Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland websites at the links above for further information on restrictions in these countries. The Department for Education have published new guidance for schools on restricting attendance during the national lockdown. If you are concerned about safety issues in your school or think that agreements are not being followed, please get in touch with your local UNISON branch. But echoing his health secretary Matt Hancock, Boris Johnson insisted "schools are safe" and that the "risk to teachers is no greater than it is to people in any other line of work". More than one in five (23%) support staff say primary schools have operated class sizes bigger than the 15 pupils per group maximum recommended to Brighton and Hove City Council has said primary school students should not return until 18 January, except for vulnerable children and those whose parents are key workers. Today’s statement follows a longer statement to the Secretary of State on Friday (8 May), which set out in full detail the principles and tests necessary for the safe reopening of schools. If you are clinically extremely vulnerable you should work from home or stay at home on full pay where you cannot work from home. UNISON fears on schools reopening hit Echo UNISON hits at schools reopening plans: UNISON’s concerns about government plans to reopen schools too early and without the adequate safety precautions hit Thursday’s Echo. Rather, pupils should carry out a pre-prepared exercise under supervision. Speaking at a London hospital rolling out the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for the first time today, Boris Johnson said the government is "doing everything we can to protect teachers". Unions with members in the education sector are today (Wednesday) publishing a joint statement on the safe reopening of schools. This decision will help to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control and ensure the safety of staff, pupils and our communities. If you have any concerns about your working environment please contact your branch for further advice. Referring to primary schools being closed in London, which is in the same tier as Birmingham, one said: "People were not understanding the difference between the two cities.". The point of a bubble is to minimise the risk of infection by minimising contact and mixing and to allow easier identification of contacts. Businesses must follow state guidelines and are required to fill out a Safe Reopening Plan before resuming operations. It is signed by AEP, GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, NSEAD, Prospect, UNISON and Unite. That is why we are calling on schools to carry out role-based risk assessments. Please also see the FAQs in the section below called ‘Special schools/colleges and alternative provision’. In conjunction with the above, schools should: In this situation the employer should do the following: See our detailed advice. Staggered start times and transport schedules could cause problems for parents with children of different ages at the same or other schools. Devolution means that guidance may be different across the four UK countries and updates may be announced at different times. Contents Covid-19 second wave – we need fully funded Local Government, NHS, and public services Unison General Secretary election Fire Service Schools Private Care Sector exploits workforce Representation Facility Time Covid-19 second wave We need fully funded Local Government, NHS, and public services The Tories record on combatting Covid-19 has been disastrous and as we […] Unison members in schools and nurseries throughout Dundee are to meet this week to discuss the implications of schools reopening. It follows a longer statement addressed to the secretary of state for education on Friday (8 May), which fully detailed the principles and tests necessary for the safe reopening of schools. "Bringing all pupils back into classrooms while the rate of infection is so high is exposing education sector workers to serious risk of ill-health and could fuel the pandemic," they said in a statement. Meanwhile parents in several Tier 4 areas were confused today as to why their children are being made to return to primary school - when those in London and the South East are shut until later this month due to high case rates. Schools should also follow alerts from the app to self-isolate when directed. Many UNISON members will be entitled to paid dependant leave due to agreements negotiated with their employer, so please seek a copy of any related policy. UNISON’s advice is that employers should instead seek to maintain smaller groups – preferably no larger than a normal class in primary and KS3 and half a year group in KS4. The risks are too high. In addition, individuals shouldn‘t have to work where they reasonably believe that they (or others)  face serious and imminent danger. The DfE guidance is confusing and provides too many caveats (i.e. Statement on government announcement that schools and nurseries in England will remain open during the forthcoming lockdown, Letter from Jon Richards, UNISON head of education, about important issues that need addressing for schools and colleges to operate safely, School Food Plan Alliance checklist for COVID-19, UNISON head of education writes to Gavin Williamson asking why support staff have been ignored in government guidance and praise. UNISON has concerns  that in schools with staff shortages or where school layout or social distancing means that there is a need for additional classes or bubbles, teaching assistants will be asked to lead full classes and cover full teaching duties. UNISON believes that all early years settings will need to review their risk assessments as a result of the increased transmissibility of the new variant of COVID-19 and the increased risk to staff. If you have issues with your employer, please raise them with your UNISON rep or local branch for advice and assistance. There is also a model letter for you to send to your employer should you need it. The DfE has provided guidance on using the app in schools. UNISON believes that schools should undertake an individual risk assessment for any staff member who requests one, for example if they or someone they live with is in a vulnerable group (please see separate FAQ on vulnerable and higher risk groups). It This applies if the setting either closes, or remains open but at reduced capacity. UNISON's head of education Jon Richards continues to get your points across about wider reopening of schools in England. In the current climate it is extremely unlikely that any special school/college can operate as usual. The period of absence on this account shall not be reckoned against the employee’s entitlements under this scheme”. We are taking these messages to the DfE and continue to urge them to change their position on keeping early years settings open. In addition, schools should look to do all they can to keep staff within one bubble and minimise staff movement between bubbles. It is important that face coverings are used in addition to other protective measures and that wearing them does not lead to the relaxation of social distancing and regular hand washing, etc. UK wide and England-specific updates will be placed on this page. Early years staff must have the same rights and protections as other education staff. are still being paid by the school, so contracted staff should be fully paid. In their view such cases only include: where a pupil becomes ill with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms while at school, and if 2 metres cannot be maintained; or where a pupil already has routine intimate care needs that involve the use of PPE. Some schools did not give a definite plan for having their staff regularly tested. Eleanor Busby, PA Education Correspondent. You can view the schools’ approved waiver applications and reopening plans on … Rushed government reopening plans have led to guidelines on ‘safe’ class sizes being ignored by some schools, according to a survey published by UNISON today (Friday). The Department for Education (DfE) wants children back in primary schools in a phased reopening starting next month, ... and the public service union Unison… This guidance says that PPE is only needed if the staff members looking after the child can’t keep two metres away. By continuing to use our website you are consenting to their use. If PPE is required for you to be able to do your job safely, then your employer is required, by law, to provide it for you. (AP) - Rural Modoc County in far northeastern Northern California plans to allow the reopening of schools, hair salons, churches, restaurants and the county’s only movie theater on Friday. The DfE latest advice states that all children and young people with an EHC Plan are vulnerable. Sufficient transport provision must be made available to avoid any overcrowding and allow safer travelling for staff and pupils. For more information contact them on 020 7121 5620, email thereforyou@unison.co.uk or contact your branch welfare officer. 3) Testing, testing, testing! This will include Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves and appropriate cleaning solutions along with instructions. During this time many staff have stretched the boundaries of their job roles to help schools out while vulnerable colleagues were forced to stay away from work or while other colleagues were re-assigned to other areas. Note you may also be able to access financial support from the charity if you need it. The government is showing a lack of understanding about the dangers of the spread of coronavirus within schools, and outwards from schools to parents, siblings and relatives, and to the wider community”. “We don’t believe there will be enough cleaning staff to fulfil the mammoth task of keeping schools clean. Just now on talkRADIO he stressed that school support staff want to see their school communities back together – but only in a safe way and with a proper plan. On 5 Jan, both England and Scotland went into lockdown. Pupils sitting GCSE and A-Level exams this year are due to go back on 11 January, with the rest of secondary school year groups returning on 18 January. UNISON remains clear that members who work in schools have a right to a safe working environment. The Department for Education (DfE) wants children back in primary schools in a phased reopening starting next month, ... and the public service union Unison, representing school … Introduction. This joint statement sets out a number of key principles and tests that the school workforce unions believe are essential to have in place before any plans are taken forward to reopen schools in England more widely in the coming period. The call to delay the reopening of schools was supported by Unison, as the union's head of education Jon Richards said: "The Government must end … Risk assessments should decide whether PPE is necessary. This is why settings need to plan for their most vulnerable pupils/learners now rather than slavishly follow DfE guidance in the hope that everything can carry on as normal. UNISON and other schools staff unions believe that schools should also: Employers must protect people from harm in the workplace. Where schools have the option of closing school based nurseries we would strongly recommend that they do so. Some have also called for school staff to be prioritised for vaccines. In addition, this period should not be recorded as sickness absence and should not therefore be counted against your sickness absence entitlement or used as part of any other procedure i.e. The NAHT school leaders' union, NEU, NASUWT, GMB, Unison and Unite want to sit down with the prime minister to "discuss a joint approach" on how learning should continue while the new COVID-19 variant spreads rapidly throughout the country. If staff meet the qualifying criteria then they can still be placed on furlough. The section called ‘Ensuring good respiratory hygiene’ sets out the measures your school should be taking in this regard. This sets out our specific advice for each group so it is important that you read this carefully. However, on advice from PHE, the DfE have updated their guidance for schools to state that all children aged 11 and over should wear face coverings on dedicated transport. The DfE has failed to provide any scientific advice for the different treatment of early years settings. In this situation there is no expectation that active teaching takes place. In order to maintain PPA time, many schools operated an adjusted timetable, for example closing classrooms to pupils for a day or afternoon a week, using that time for staff to take PPA and for the school to be deep cleaned. Please read the detailed advice we have produced for vulnerable employees. UNISON has been engaging throughout the Covid-19 pandemic with the Department to ensure that the concerns of our members are heard and acted upon. Responding to a joint statement by UK chief medical officers about school reopening, UNISON head of education Jon Richards said today (Sunday): “This acknowledgement of the transmission risk between staff in schools underlines why it’s … In many schools September re-opening should see a return to previous practice. Download UNISON guidance for special schools/colleges and alternative provision. Unions with members in the education sector today (Wednesday) published a joint statement on the safe reopening of schools. Find out more about cookies and how we use them. The DfE has not issued specific advice to schools about employees whose children are unable to return to school. Instructions should also be given on the use of any specialist equipment such as steamers for sanitising equipment, fixtures and fittings within the school. UNISON believes the DfE guidance for schools on carrying out risk assessments is inadequate. A face covering is not considered PPE, as although it may help in reducing the rate of transmission, it does not provide the level of protection necessary to minimise the risk of infection. This is different to the advice that the DfE issued in previous lockdowns. 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