UNISON has received many messages from early years workers expressing their fear and anger at the way they are being treated as somehow less important than other education workers. 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. Yesterday, Education Minister Kirsty Williams, said schools will move to online learning until 18 January but UNISON says there is no way the essential preparatory work to ensure schools are safe to re-open to all pupils could be undertaken by then. Schools must be allowed the flexibility to establish which vulnerable learners could be offered time in schools. 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 … Cleaning chemicals should conform to the Chemical Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and be provided by the employer. UNISON at a national level is continuously monitoring the situation. Download further information on Schools and colleges’ health and safety responsibilities. The government have advised clinically extremely vulnerable people to shield during this lockdown. Nine unions, UNISON, AEP, GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, NSEAD, PROSPECT & UNITE have publicised a strongly worded statement saying that government ministers should step back from the 1st June target and put safety first. Lessons to be learned by government after limited schools’ reopening, says UNISON Survey highlights safety failings with some schools ignoring ‘safe’ class size guidance coronavirus schools risk assessments safe class sizes schools reopening social distancing GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, UNISON, Unite. The government’s advice on cleaning in a non-health care setting covers educational settings. For example, a child/young person with an EHC Plan may present with underlying health problems that would put them at risk should they be exposed to Covid-19 unnecessarily. In addition, many schools have already committed to continue full pay for agency staff, in line with directly employed staff, during the entire health emergency. UNISON is clear that HLTAs should not be expected to lead classes on an indefinite basis, although we are also aware of the importance of protecting the integrity of any classes/bubbles as much as possible in current circumstances. Teachers and parents need "greater clarity" on the reopening of schools amid a … Introduction. UNISON Head of Education says beginning of June reopening is unrealistic as safety tests not met. 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. Please also see the FAQs in the section below called ‘Special schools/colleges and alternative provision’. This includes ensuring that safe ratios are met, and/or specific training undertaken, for any interventions or care for pupils with complex needs where specific training or specific ratios are required.”. Educational provision is maintained for children during this time away from the classroom e.g. All schools should keep supplies of transparent face coverings. The DfE guidance also states that any members of staff who have helped someone with symptoms, or pupils who have been in close contact with them, do not need to self-isolate unless: they develop symptoms themselves; if the symptomatic person subsequently tests positive; or if they have been requested to do so by NHS Test and Trace. That's in no one's interest. Rushed government reopening plans have led to guidelines on ‘safe’ class sizes being ignored by some schools in the East of England, according to a survey published by UNISON today. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The government's own advice from SAGE makes it clear that opening schools to all pupils now risks increasing the infection rate. This decision will help to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control and ensure the safety of staff, pupils and our communities. These models will help schools provide parents with student schedules for in person learning. By continuing to use our website you are consenting to their use. Some schools are operating an adjusted timetable to maintain smaller bubbles and facilitate PPA time. Schools should ensure regular cleaning throughout the school day and support cleaning staff including via additional paid hours and hiring additional cleaning staff where necessary. The risks are too high. Reopening schools while social distancing children will be ‘painstaking’, admits medical chief. UNISON believes that the safety of staff and pupils working in special schools is paramount. Contact your local UNISON branch immediately if you are required to work without a risk assessment being carried out. School Reopening Plan School Schedule Model. Districts also don’t need to wait for the county to get out and stay out of the purple tier for two weeks before reopening. However, Sir David King, former chief scientific adviser to the government, told Sky News on Monday that ministers should "look very carefully" at the situation surrounding education. 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 Unions with members in the education sector are today (Wednesday) publishing a joint statement on the safe reopening of schools. UNISON is concerned that DfE advice for September states that bubbles can potentially be as large as entire year groups and that staff can move between classes and year groups. All evidence to date suggests that ventilation is hugely important in helping reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading (risk decreases outdoors). In this situation there is no expectation that active teaching takes place. The health and safety responsibilities owed by school and college employers. We are concerned that the widening of the definition of vulnerable category is being driven by the government’s complete failure to roll out IT equipment to all children in need, despite having 9 months to sort this. We continue to push hard on all these issues. Where HLTAs are deployed to lead classes, they should be provided with enough time, within their contracted hours, in which to plan and prepare, including opportunities to liaise with class teachers. In schools where there have been a high number of cases of children needing to isolate, there may have been a downturn in demand for school meals due to fewer children buying them. There are some grey areas however over what is seen as PPE and what isn’t, for example: Uniforms are not generally seen as PPE but a protective apron to prevent the spread of infection would be. In addition, individuals shouldn’t have to work where they reasonably believe that they (or others) face serious and imminent danger. Six unions are urging the government to "pause" the return of pupils to classrooms until the they can guarantee their safety. The joint unions have produced a helpful checklist to help with carrying out risk assessments in a school setting, which you can send to your school to aid them in their planning. Schools with a confirmed case of coronavirus can contact DfE’s dedicated schools coronavirus helpline on 0800 046 8687 to seek advice on what action is needed. UK wide and England-specific updates will be placed on this page. 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.". Read full article. 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. Department for Education guidance does not mention schools carrying out individual risk assessments for vulnerable school staff – despite the fact that government advice for businesses reopening advises them to consider vulnerable groups. You can also contact Education Support, which offers a free 24/7 helpline with fully trained counsellors on hand to listen. A full list of FAQs for school support staff and early years staff in England is provided below. Also see the government advice on COVID-19: cleaning in non-healthcare settings. 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. The section called ‘Ensuring good respiratory hygiene’ sets out the measures your school should be taking in this regard. Primary school pupils in Thanet, Canterbury, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe were expected to return on Monday while students in the county's other districts will learn remotely for two weeks. Some have also called for school staff to be prioritised for vaccines. UNISON is concerned that the very limited measures in the DfE guidance mean social distancing in schools will realistically be very difficult and very little PPE will be provided. He states that any mixing is a risk and that there is no basis for treating early years differently from schools. In many schools September re-opening should see a return to previous practice. “We don’t believe there will be enough cleaning staff to fulfil the mammoth task of keeping schools clean. 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. These practices should be adhered to at all times. 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. The DfE has failed to provide any scientific advice for the different treatment of early years settings. This means that if you are employed under Green Book terms and conditions and are required to self-isolate you will continue to receive your normal pay. capability etc. 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 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. 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. Any redeployments should not be at the expense of supporting pupils with SEND. They will be able to advise you of your rights at work under Health and Safety legislation. 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). One of the main issues across all schools that are still open is the government’s new and wider definition of ‘vulnerable children’ which means in some schools we are seeing larger numbers of pupils attending school than in the first lockdown in March. If your school is not following these measures, please contact your local rep or UNISON branch. A key sentence in the DfE guidance is: ‘…discuss and agree any proposed changes in role or responsibility with the member of staff.’ Schools should not impose new roles or duties on staff. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. In addition Boris Johnson said during Prime Minister’s Questions on 11 May that he expects employers to be reasonable and take account of employees’ childcare difficulties: “We will count on employers to be reasonable if people can’t go to work because they can’t get the childcare that they need…plainly they are impeded from going to work and they must be defended and protected on that basis”. Schools must comply with Government requirements, by ensuring that staff and pupils in Year 7 or above wear face coverings in communal parts of the premises and on dedicated school transport and taking other measures to reduce mixing and maintain social distancing. Employers must set out how they will manage and reduce any resulting increased risk. 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