Update

NEU calls for urgent action and funds to address effects of Covid-19

FORMER teachers should be encouraged to return to the profession to provide the numbers of sta needed now there will be smaller class sizes, the NEU has told the Prime Minister.  at is one of ten proposals set out in the union’s national education recovery plan, which was sent to Boris Johnson two days after the Government was forced to abandon its ambition for all primary school children to return to school before the summer break.

Urgent action – backed by signi cant investment – is now needed to plan for the uncertain future created by Covid-19, the union has told Mr Johnson.  e letter, sent by NEU joint general secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, says the Government must now invest heavily in education.

“While we all hope that there will not be a second spike, or local spikes, we must plan for this possibility,” they wrote. “ e plan will require major investment in education, akin to the investment made in the job recovery plan. We think this is absolutely necessary in order to prevent children and young people becoming casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic.”  e wide-ranging plan covers the extension of free school meals, the use of public buildings to provide extra teaching spaces, blended learning and ideas for exams and assessment.  e union has also told the Government that it will need to make plans for blended learning because children are likely to be

BASELINE DELAY WELCOME, BUT TEST SHOULD BE DROPPED

JOINT general secretary of the NEU Mary Bousted has said the decision not to implement the Reception Baseline Assessment in September is the right thing to do but the test should be scrapped altogether.

The Department for Education

ang

The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP Prime Minister 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA

10 June 2020

National Education Union National Education Union

NUT Section Hamilton House Hamilton House Mabledon Place Mabledon Place London WC1H 9BD T 0345 811 8111

neu.org.uk

Joint General Secretaries

Dr Mary Bousted BA (Hons) MA PhD Kevin Courtney

Dear Prime Minister

The effects of COVID 19 on England’s education system are likely to be prolonged and profound. The majority of pupils will not be returning to school until September at the earliest, but we do not know how much time they will be in school because we cannot predict what measures will need to be taken, then, to ensure that schools do not become vectors for COVID.

Whilst we all hope that there will not be a second spike, or local spikes, we must plan for this possibility.

It is with these considerations in mind that the National Education Union has developed a 10 point plan for education renewal. The plan is focused on the needs of all children and young people, and in particular those who suffer from disadvantage and deprivation. The plan seeks to address the sense of isolation which is being felt by many children through a summer holiday local offer. It focuses, also, on poor children and young people who need significant additional support so that they can fulfil their potential now, and in their adult lives.

The plan will require major investment in education, akin to the investment made in the job recovery plan. We think this is absolutely necessary in order to prevent children and young people becoming casualties of the COVID pandemic.

A ten-point plan for children and young people

1 Disadvantaged children and young people and their families must be a key priority. They must not become casualties of COVID.

The letter urges Government to take action

receiving their education at home and in school, particularly if the R rate spikes again in the autumn, as predicted by scientists.

Disadvantaged children are at the heart of the plan, with an urgent focus on a summer holiday o er and supporting children from disadvantaged backgrounds.  e union has said that children living in poverty and low-income households must be given the resources they need to learn at home – 700,000 children live in homes without internet access. Laptops must be provided for children who do not have them and they must be provided with access to the

“The plan will require major investment in education, akin to the investment made in the job recovery plan.”

internet and online learning.

Commenting on the letter, Mary and Kevin said: “We need a clear national plan.  e Government must demonstrate leadership and the capacity to work with local authorities and education unions so that plans are implemented in all the regions.  e NEU’s ten-point plan addresses signi cant issues that have to be considered.  ese issues will need funding and planning.

“We look forward to speaking to Government, alongside other education unions and education professionals, about how we get this right, and in good time.”

Read the letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson setting out the ten-point plan at neu.org.uk/media/10906/view

(DfE) announced at the end of June that Baseline will be postponed until autumn 2021 because of the challenges created by Covid-19.

The DfE said schools had the option to become early adopters of the test to familiarise themselves with it before it becomes statutory.

The 20-minute test, which assesses language, communication, literacy and maths, was planned to take place in the fi rst six weeks of school.

Mary said: “Schools need to be focused on supporting children’s learning when they return to school, and Baseline testing would have been a distraction.”

She added that while the Government has called off the tests, it is still encouraging schools to become early adopters, despite the fact the test is of no value. “Baseline remains a pointless exercise in accountability,” said Mary. “The union will continue to campaign for its complete withdrawal.”

Union criticises DfE’s guidelines for September reopening

THE rushed Government plan for full reopening of schools in September risks failing children, parents and staff alike, the NEU warned Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

Responding to the publication of Department for Education guidelines, released three weeks before the summer holidays, the union said school leaders needed measures based on scientific evidence in order to open fully in September.

Instead they have been handed a poor plan that fails to put to bed concerns over safety, said NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney.

“We all want to see a full return for all pupils from September, but this must be safe, well-planned and in pupils’ short-term and long-term interests,” he said. “The litmus test for school leaders, teachers, support staff and parents will be a thought-through strategy that puts to bed any concerns over safety. This Government guidance is unlikely to address these concerns.”

Kevin went on to say that measures including keeping whole secondary year groups in bubbles, which are kept apart by staggering arrival times, breaks and lunchtimes, presented immense practical difficulties.

He added that the guidelines put an emphasis on test and trace, which the NEU has been calling for since March, but the Government has still HUNDREDS of leaders have joined the NEU since the beginning of lockdown, with a spike in numbers on 11 May – the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced wider reopening of schools in June.

Head teacher of Southend High School for Boys and incoming NEU president Robin Bevan said the union had provided vital support for leaders

not delivered anything like an adequate programme.

Without track and trace, we will see patterns of school closures like the one in Leicester.

“We are concerned that the Government does not have a plan B if these guidelines do not work or if cases are higher by the time we get to September,” said Kevin. “We need much clearer science, as well as guidance that is grounded in reality, for the full return of all pupils to work. As ever, the NEU is ready to talk with Government to find a way forward.” • Mr Williamson was forced to drop plans for all primary year groups to return for a month before the summer holidays. NEU joint general secretary

Mary Bousted said that it had taken the Government some time to recognise that social distancing made it impossible for primary schools to

NEU Leadership membership rises during lockdown

admit all children before the holidays. who had found themselves in an impossibly tough situation.

“A lot of leaders have felt isolated and under pressure,” he said. “The union has guided them through the Government announcements, providing advice, a voice and collective action.”

See the interview with Robin on page 11.

PRIMARY HEADS SPEAK OUT PUBLICLY ON WIDER OPENING

THREE members of NEU Leadership spoke out in The Sunday Mirror newspaper about the problems with wider reopening.

Catherine Armistead, John Hayes and Chris Dyson highlighted their concerns around safety, after the Government said it wanted nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6 pupils to return on 1 June.

They pointed to a lack of scientific evidence showing it was safe to have more children in school and the impossibility of social distancing, especially among the youngest children.

John Hayes, head teacher of Gospel Oak Primary in London, told the newspaper: “It’s scary. We just don’t have enough information.”

Three heads were interviewed by The Sunday Mirror

School leaders prioritise students’ emotional wellbeing after lockdown

SETTLING children back into school must take priority over catching up on learning, education professionals said ahead of the wider opening of schools.

Head teacher and NEU Leadership member Chris Dyson said: “We must make it clear to the Department for Education that when children come back they will not be cramming. We really have to look after these children.”

Chris, leader at Parklands Primary School in Leeds, added that it was important to remember that children’s experiences of being at home during lockdown will have been mixed.

Some will have had the best ten weeks of their lives, while others will have struggled, he said.

“Everything at our school is going to be about circle time and adapting to a new situation,” he said. “It’s not going to be about catching up on reading and writing. I’m not worried whatsoever about the children catching up.”

Yasemin Cevik, a year 3 teacher and NEU member from Bradford, said: “It would be very easy to try and dive back into all the academic stu , but even if the children are just in for one week before the holidays, I’m going to spend all that week just showing them how much I love them

Leader Chris Dyson says he’s not worried about “catching up”

“When children come back they won’t be cramming.”

GUIDANCE

THE NEU has drawn up a fi ve Cs strategy for leaders to support learning. The union advises that learning should focus on being caring, setting a context for learning, having a creative curriculum, connecting and building and celebrating your community. For more details go to

neu.org.uk/ supporting-learningduring-coronavirus

and how much they have been missed.”

Yasemin, who sent each of her 32 pupils a personalised letter during lockdown, added that there may be children who remain unsettled for some months.

“It’s going to take a lot of time,” she said, adding that routines will be important in helping children. “My PSHE and circle time will be the most key things when I get back.”

See Masterclass on dealing with the mental health impact of Covid-19 on

page 19

CPD moves online

SOCIAL distancing rules have forced the NEU to rethink how it o ers the CPD programme.  e union is o ering a mix of pre-recorded webinars, bespoke live webinars and third-party delivery of online professional development.

All have proved successful, with more than 6,000 engagements with our webinars alone in the  rst two months of lockdown. In a sad sign of the times, over 1,000 members signed up for our Dealing with bereavement and loss training.

Webinars on Rethinking behaviour and Understanding the e ects of trauma have also attracted several hundred members.  e union also trialled a leadership course earlier this month, How to decide your next steps. It allowed members to critically re ect on their leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic and decide what the priorities should be going forward.

Until we can ensure it is safe for our members to meet, the CPD programme will continue to be o ered online.

CPD opportunities are being continually added so keep checking our website for details at:

neu.org.uk/national-cpd

Webinars and other training events are being offered safely online

Sports coaches ran the hub, supervising activities such as hula hooping

Sports hub gives children a boost and staff a break

TWO primary head teachers set up a sports hub for vulnerable children and those of key workers over the Easter and half-term holidays to give their staff a break.

NEU Leadership members Allison Hickson and Catherine Armistead, whose schools are 15 minutes apart in Lancashire, came up with the idea after becoming concerned that staff were exhausted.

Catherine, head at Skerton St Luke’s CE Primary School in Lancaster, said: “Allison and I were conscious that staff were tired, and they were scared. I was off ill, and I was worried for Lisa, my deputy, because she had put herself on the rota for the first week of the Easter holidays and then I was meant to be in the second week, but I was still really poorly. I was aware that she was getting very tired, and that’s when people get ill.”

Instead of opening the schools during the holidays, the pair decided to hire sports coaches to run a hub from a former children’s centre. Children from five primaries attended, taking part in socially distanced games including hula hooping.

Allison, who has been head teacher for 17 years at Morecambe and Heysham Sandylands Community Primary School, said: “I worked at the hub every day the first week of the Easter holiday and we had 18 children in. We had lots of phone calls from parents, but we had to keep to that number.”

The five head teachers who contributed to the hub hope to reclaim the cost of running holiday provision from the Department for Education.

All are members of a primary school cluster of 42 head teachers, who meet termly and organise CPD for staff groups including deputies and pastoral support workers.

“We work really closely as a cluster of head teachers, looking all the time at different ways we can support each other in our schools,” said Catherine. “Without the cluster I think I would have gone completely bonkers during the coronavirus. It just makes you feel not quite so isolated.”

To read Catherine’s opinion piece see page 15

DFE IGNORES CALL TO DELAY T-LEVELS

FIFTY providers have signed up to deliver the first three T-level courses from September, and the Government is pressing ahead with its plans for implementation despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

T-levels are a new twoyear vocational equivalent to A-levels, combining placements with classroom learning.

The first three courses will be in digital, construction and education.

Work experience is a key part of T-levels and awarding organisations have expressed concerns to the Department for Education about the challenges facing employers during the pandemic and whether it is realistic to expect them to be able to offer highquality industry placements.

A 2019 study by the National Foundation for Educational Research, for which half of the 50 providers were interviewed, found they believed the timescales were “extremely tight” and that a lack of placements and limited public transport would threaten successful rollout.

Construction will be one of the first T-levels