4 minute read
Bigger picture
KATIE from Castleford Park Junior Academy in West Yorkshire is one of the many pupils who have been taking part in Life Lessons (paulbatesonis.co.uk/lifelessons), a collection of portrait photos with poems.
The project, funded by Creative Wakefield and Wakefield Council, gave children and school workers the opportunity to express their feelings during the Covid-19 lockdown by taking part in creative workshops with the Phoetry collaboration of teachers Paul Bateson and Mark Ratcliffe. While Paul helped those involved put their thoughts into poetry, Mark took portrait photos aimed at putting the poems into the context of the unusually empty places where they were writing, a long way from the normally busy life of school. Katie’s poem describes her feelings about missing her Nan during lockdown.
Time
A lonely time A time of missing Time without family – especially Nan Wanting to go places wanting to see people Giving hugs and kisses is missed A time of being locked in A time of rest.
Nursery funding is just a ‘sticking plaster’
CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed an extension of supplementary funding from the Government for maintained nursery schools (MNS) – but insist a long-term settlement is needed to provide certainty in the sector.
The Department for Education announced up to £23 million extra on 24 August, to fund the 2021 summer term.
NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said: “While this is hugely valued and will allow for settings to continue to provide an excellent education for their pupils, long-term funding arrangements for the sector need to be secured as a matter of urgency.”
Beatrice Merrick, chief executive of the Early Education charity, said the announcement brought welcome reassurance to MNS for the year ahead, but added: “Nursery schools should not have to wait until the eleventh hour for such an announcement. It is vital the [children’s] minister now follows through on promises to put in place long-term funding arrangements as part of the spending review which will provide year-on-year certainty and financial security for future years.”
Rachel Gillett, executive head teacher of two nurseries in Warwickshire, has been fighting to keep them afloat and described the extra funding as welcome but “a sticking plaster that does not cover the wound”.
She said: “It will mean we remain in significant deficit, without a resolution in sight, putting nursery schools at risk at local levels.”
The NEU and campaign partners wrote to the Government in June demanding supplementary funding to increase in line with inflation for 2021/22. n Complete our survey (late submissions welcome) at bit.ly/3hfVNEU
LGBT+ members of the union have been keeping the spirit of Pride alive during lockdown, by organising the first LGBT+ Educators Pride Festival in Europe in early August. The union would ordinarily be at Pride events across the country but through a series of digital, regional and national events, LGBT+ members have organised more than 20 activities in just four months. LGBT+ organising forum reps took the lead and organised Virtual Pride events in London, East Midlands, Northern, South East and West Midlands regions. This surge in activity saw a fortnightly meeting of the Trans and Non-Binary Network as well as a timely and successful collaboration between the Black LGBT+ and Black Educators’ networks. To get involved or find out more, email LGBT@neu.org.uk
NATIONAL professional development manager Jacqui O’Neill sets out the union’s new national CPD programme.
To coincide with the wider reopening of schools this month, the national CPD programme will be focusing on re-establishing routines and relationships.
The majority of the country’s students have remained at home with widely varying experiences of lockdown. While there is understandable concern about what the impact of this will be in relation to learning, the NEU believes that the key focus on return should be the emotional health and wellbeing of pupils. Positive relationships with students and attempting reasonable routines in the light of risk assessments and safety advice are more important than linear progress.
CPD courses and Webinar Wednesdays will continue online, where they proved so successful during lockdown. From Dealing with anxiety to Supporting learners with additional needs, the webinars will also cover parental relationships, particularly in relation to statutory RSE, and team relationships as colleagues come together after a period of being managed and led remotely.
Details of all the webinars and other CPD opportunities can be found at neu.org.uk/national-cpd
Open University courses
The NEU has partnered with the Open University to provide a variety of courses specifically for all NEU members.
Subjects covered include maths and problem solving, education and development, IT skills, as well as staff wellbeing, and leadership and followship.
We have selected several courses that will be accessible for a pilot period (ending December). The courses are informal and accredited: you can study them at your own pace, and some carry a printable certificate of participation.
The courses are free to access online at neu.org.uk/event/open-universityonline-courses
