MEMO TO NUT Representatives
MEMO TO NUT Representatives
From: Martin Goold, Division Secretary
Date: 10/09/01
The Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document 2001 was finally published last week. It makes an important change to the discretionary award of the first SEN allowance (para. 24.4). Please ensure that relevant members are aware.
Special Needs Allowance. If SEN teachers (even the SENCO) do not at present receive the first SEN allowance (currently £1,572), they could possibly qualify now. The statutory wording for the award of this allowance (point) has been changed to allow employers to pay it "where the relevant body consider that the classroom teacher makes a particular contribution to the teaching of pupils with special educational needs in the school which is significantly greater than that which would normally be expected of a classroom teacher."
Although still imprecise, this wording removes any previous interpretation that a discretionary (i.e. not mandatory) SEN point would go only to a teacher engaged in teaching pupils with statements. Any perceived need to demonstrate involvement with statemented pupils is no longer part of the consideration.
So, any teacher of SEN, and especially any SENCO, who is not in receipt of the first SEN allowance, can now request, via the headteacher, that the Governing Body consider their case. Members in this situation should be ready to prepare a statement which shows how their work does make "a particular contribution" to the teaching of pupils with SEN and that this is "significantly greater" than what is expected of other classroom teachers in the school.
For further information, or if members experience any reluctance or outright refusal from Headteacher/Governors, please to contact the Local Association Secretary or myself.
With best wishes for the new school year,
