Unions call for move to online learning
NEU calls for all primary schools in England to move learning
online The National Education Union is calling upon Government to
move learning online in all primary schools including primary
special schools in England for at least 2 weeks and issuing advice
to all members informing them of their legal rights not to have to
work in an unsafe environment. Kevin Courtney, Joint General
Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The National
Education Union knows that...Request free trial
NEU calls for all primary schools in England to move
learning online
The National Education Union is calling upon Government to move learning online in all primary schools including primary special schools in England for at least 2 weeks and issuing advice to all members informing them of their legal rights not to have to work in an unsafe environment. Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The National Education Union knows that the science suggests that to get infection rates down schools should not be open in the first two weeks of January. 'The reports from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine from the 23rd of December, the Sage papers dated 22nd of December but released on 31st of December or the report from Imperial College on the 31st of December - all have the same message - that it will not be possible with the new variant to get R below one without at least a period of school closure. 'Cases were rising rapidly amongst school age children at the end of last term and they were the highest rates of any demographics. These children live as part of families and in communities and they can spread the infection into their families and into the wider community. 'There is scientific concern that the new variant might be more prevalent amongst younger people than the previous variants. 'We are calling on Gavin Williamson to actually do what he professes he does – to follow the science and announce, now, that primary schools in England should move learning online - apart from key worker and vulnerable children for at least the first two weeks of January. 'It is not good enough to always be behind the curve, playing catch up with new strains of COVID, seeing hospital admissions rise and cases numbers spiral out of control. 'Whilst we are calling on the Government to take the right steps as a responsible Union we cannot simply agree that the Government’s wrong steps should be implemented. 'That is why we are doing our job as a union by informing our members that they have a legal right to refuse to work in unsafe conditions which are a danger to their health and to the health of their school communities and more generally. We are informing our members of their legal right to protection to be guided by the science. In order for viral levels in children and in the community to decrease to below R1 primary schools should not open in the first weeks of January. We will be informing our members that they have the right to work in safe conditions which do not endanger their health. This means that they can be available to work from home and to work with key worker and vulnerable children but not available to take full classes from Monday, the 4th of January. 'We realise that this late notice is a huge inconvenience for parents and for head teachers. The fault, however, is of the Government’s own making and is a result of their inability to understand data, their indecisiveness and their reckless approach to their central duty – to safeguard public health. 'Education is really, really important but you’re not going to get that education if this virus gets out of control in the community as schools will have to close then for a longer period of time. 'We do want schools to be open safely as soon as possible. We want to work with Government to achieve that central aim". The NASUWT–The Teachers’ Union has called on the Secretary of State for Education to introduce an immediate nationwide move to remote education for all pupils in primary, secondary and special schools and colleges. In a letter to Gavin Williamson, NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach states that this is “is the only sensible and credible option at this time to minimise the risks to those working in schools and to safeguard public health”. Dr Roach points out that, as the Government has confirmed, the country finds itself in the grip of an escalation of virus transmission which, the NASUWT believes strongly, requires additional urgent measures beyond those set out to date. Dr Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said: “The NASUWT is completely committed to ensuring that children can return to school as quickly as possible. “However, it is now abundantly clear that the pandemic is seriously impacting on the ability of all schools and colleges to continue to operate normally. “There is genuine concern that schools and colleges are not able to reopen fully and safely at this time. “The NASUWT remains of the view that schools, colleges and other settings should only remain open to all pupils where it is safe for them to do so. “The NASUWT will not hesitate to take appropriate action in order to protect members whose safety is put at risk as a result of the failure of employers or the Government to ensure safe working conditions in schools and colleges.”
The NASUWT has also written to employers to remind them that with
the impending reopening of schools and colleges, it is essential
that their previous covid-security plans are revised and
updated. “It is obvious to everybody that the government has made an utter shambles of the arrangements for the start of the spring term with late and confused communications, and the lack of a clear scientific rationale. We have convened an emergency meeting of our Executive committee today to discuss our position in light of this chaotic situation. It has been our clear view throughout this crisis that children are best off in school but that this has to be balanced with public health considerations. We are not convinced, however, that the government is following the science, and we are concerned about the safety implications for families, staff and the wider community.”
GMB calls on government to apply 'common sense' and
postpone all schools re-opening in England GMB, the union for school support staff, has called on Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to postpone the re-opening of all schools in England until appropriate safeguards can be put in place. The Education Secretary U-turned yesterday on the Government’s initial plan to force London primary schools to re-open, confirming primaries in the capital will remain closed for the start of the new term after being added to the “contingency areas” list. GMB said continued differing arrangements across higher tiers was a “dangerous recipe for chaos” and was causing additional stress for parents, pupils and school staff. An estimated 78.4% of the population is now under tier 4 restrictions and a further 21.7% are under tier 3 restrictions as the UK yesterday hit record Covid-19 case levels for the third time in a week. [1] Analysis of international data suggests that closing schools and universities can reduce the overall reinfection rate - ‘R number’ = by 38%. [2] GMB represents school support staff including teaching assistants, higher level teaching assistants (HLTAs), cover supervisors, nursery nurses, lunchtime supervisors, premises staff, and administrative and finance staff. More than half of those working in schools are not teachers. The union said it had worked hard with local authorities, multi-academy trusts, and individual schools to ensure rigorous risk assessments and support for children throughout the pandemic, but unless the Education Secretary takes action to reverse his position it would be left with no option other than to take action to defend its members’ safety at work. Stuart Fegan, GMB National Officer said: “Gavin Williamson is at sixes and sevens over the re-opening of schools. His shambolic approach is a recipe for chaos and danger. It’s causing huge stress. “As infection rates rise, we need a consistent approach, not a postcode lottery. The Education Secretary now needs to apply some common sense, make a full U-turn, and delay re-opening all schools in England until proper safeguards are in place. “No one wants to disrupt any child’s learning but action is needed to protect people and make schools safe. This must include ensuring priority vaccination of all support staff in schools - key workers who are all-too-often forgotten.” |