Notes for Division Meeting: September 26th 2002

Previous Meeting's notes (June 2002)

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Suffolk Division NUT
Executive Committee (17:30 - 18:45)
and DIVISION COUNCIL MEETING (18:45 - 21:00)

September 26th 2002 Venue: King Edward VI US, Bury St Edmunds

Apologies already recorded: For EC / Both: Peter Byatt, Roger Mackay, Graham White.For Council: Garry Deeks.

NOTE: This meeting will revert to the previous format where items requiring decision will be dealt with as they arise, rather than postponed to the end of the meeting.

*=Items for Executive Committee

dot=Items for Division Council

Section A: National with National Executive Report

  1. dot Reportfrom Glenys Shepherd.
  2. dotSchoolteachers' Pay and Conditions Document 2002 and Guidance from the DfES. Guidance puts back the "annual salary review" to "on or after September 1st" each year, meaning that UPS2 can only be decided by the receiving school, in the case of a transfer on September 1st! Secretary has written to the DfES (acknowledged) and Estelle Morris (not acknowledged) on this point and asked Glenys Shepherd to follow up with HQ.
  3. Executive News 91
  4. NUT News 10: Tackling teachers' workload: the NUT's goals : Eleven points for progress.
  5. NUT News 11: The Lords Protect us: the Baroness Blatch amendment which highlights workload in all government initiatives.
  6. NUT News 12: We'll Just Say "No"! Lists the tasks which Government says should be transferred to support or ICT staff. To be included in the next Divisional briefing.
  7. NUT News 13: End Payment by Results.
  8. NUT News 14: Take a Deep Breath! (It appears that HQ is no longer sending out electronic versions of NUT News so Secretary will no longer be posting them on our website.)
  9. Soulbury News July 2002
  10. Joint TO advice to members re. the Local Government workers strike action (.pdf document) on 17th July by GMB, G&T, and UNISON members.
  11. dot Guidance on HQ website on Threshold 3.
  12. dot 2002 Teachers' Salaries: Joint submission to the School Teachers' Review Body.
  13. End of Key Stage Tests Survey: sample materials. Our Division area apparently not included.
  14. * NUT CPD Programme: Improving Pupil Behaviour and Teacher 2 Teacher: Autumn and Spring training programme.
  15. Criminal Records Bureau problems: advice from HQ
  16. Up-date, 17/6/2: Commenting on the implications of the Chancellor's education funding settlement, Doug McAvoy said: "There is much that is positive in the Government¹s settlement for education. Sixteen year olds need financial encouragement to stay on in education. Extra funding for repairing schools is welcome. The further funding for nursery education fulfils a long-standing commitment for which we have all worked. The Secretary of State's rule of thumb must be match funding to meet need, both pupils' and teachers'. I am deeply concerned about that part of yesterday¹' announcement which might exacerbate division between secondary schools. The Secretary of State's vision of superheads and advanced specialist schools is hardly likely to engage the hearts and minds of those teachers contemplating leaving the profession. I urge her to keep to her promise of making the removal of teacher¹s excessive workload her number one priority and not to embark on another round of imposed reforms. Come September, teachers will want to see the first practical results of the Government¹s workload review, not more centrally driven target setting and prescription."
  17. Up-date: Commenting on Estelle Morris's statement on the Comprehensive Spending Review, Doug McAvoy said: "While I welcome Estelle Morris¹s celebration of the work of teachers and, of course, the settlement her announcement is a curate's egg. I fear that her proposals for advanced specialist schools will lead to multi-tiered secondary education. Along with proposals for super heads and super schools the balance could be shifted away from collaboration between schools: the very principle she champions. All schools benefit from good leadership from headteachers who are often faced with impossible demands. The new leadership grant is a positive step particularly for challenging schools. However, I look to training not punishment to support headteachers' needs. I welcome the fact that the Secretary of State has not lost sight of the excessive workload teachers face but she must agree early changes to teachers' contracts alongside the additional funding she has provided schools. Contractual protection for all teachers must be in place before any school workforce reforms. I find it incomprehensible that she and her Government have seen fit to crank up the number of targets set for schools. All the evidence is that excessive target setting narrows the curriculum and undermines the confidence and creativity of teachers and pupils."
  18. Up-date 4/9/2: Teacher vetting ­ the farce must be ended. Commenting on the continuing problems caused by the Criminal Records Bureau's failure to complete the vetting of newly appointed teachers before the start of the autumn term, Doug McAvoy, NUT General Secretary, said: "The task of vetting teachers by the Criminal Records Bureau has now turned into farce. Assurances that all checks would be completed by the beginning of term have turned out to be hollow. Headteachers are now in an impossible situation. It is clearly absurd that as a result of the agency's incompetence children should be left to roam the streets. The current position is clear evidence of the failure of the Government¹s fixation with the use of private companies in public services. "The Government cannot simply maintain its advice as if the situation were normal. The Government must issue new advice to education authorities and schools. That advice must recognise that schools are safe places. It must respect headteachers' use of their professional judgement in deciding whether or not to allow a teacher whose vetting is not complete to teach. The NUT will not countenance teachers facing additional workloads as a result of the agency's bungling. I have advised our members that the joint union/employer cover agreement applies in this case as it does in all situations where there are teacher absences or vacancies."
  19. Joint submission to the STRB: 1.2 The timing and nature of the Government¹s remit letter to the STRB has made it impossible to address all the issues set out therein. A further joint submission covering the more fundamental and longer term issues is therefore under consideration. 1.4 Once again, we have identified serious problems with regard to the recruitment and retention of teachers. These problems have existed for a considerable period of time and have been a central feature of previous submissions to the STRB. 1.5 A key cause of the problems of recruiting and retaining teachers is the poor position of teachers in terms of salary relative to other graduate professions. This submission will demonstrate that teachers remain in a disadvantaged position in terms of salary levels, including starting salaries and salary progression. It will highlight the link between this and the problem of teacher supply. 1.6 The operation of the salary structure for teachers has also been a key problem and has contributed to the inability of the profession to recruit and retain teachers. This submission will set out our views on the current salary structure. 1.7 The STRB and the Government have sought previously to minimise the existence of recruitment and retention problems and to resist the link we have made between these problems and the poor position of teachers in respect of salary. This joint submission demonstrates on the basis of objective evidence both the seriousness of the recruitment and retention problems and the need to tackle them through improved salary levels and a better salary structure for teachers.
  20. Up-date 12/9/2: Extract from National NUT Press Release on Pay: "The NUT believes the increase for all teachers should be £2,000 or 10 per cent, whichever is the greater. NQTs, who must be graduates and professionally trained, currently have a starting salary of £17,595. This compares with the median graduate starting salary of £20,300 ­ a gap of £2,705 or 15 per cent (figures from the Association of Graduate Recruiters). The starting salary for Scottish teachers is due to rise to £18,000 which goes some way to explaining the dramatic 133 per cent increase in applications for training. Despite a plethora of incentives south of the border, applications rose in England by just 12.5 per cent and in Wales by 15 per cent. But ... of every 100 final year students only 42 are still in teaching three years after starting their careers. Starting salary is part of the cause of this massive drop out rate: salary progression compounds it. After three years the graduate employed elsewhere in the economy will be earning £28,585 and after five years £33,514. This is £6,493 and £7,801 respectively more than a teacher. With nearly two-thirds of teachers over the age of 40, the profession will lose more than half its members over the next 20 years. It is clear from the current rate of recruitment and retention that urgent action is needed. Since 1992, teachers' pay has declined by 10 points against average earnings".
  21. Commenting on the Government Evidence to STRB, Doug McAvoy, said: "The Government shows no understanding of the causes of the shortfall in the numbers of young people entering and staying in the teaching profession. The Government's proposal to trade off workload reform against pay demonstrates this failure. Robbing Peter to pay Paul will cut no ice with teachers. A cost of living pay increase does nothing to attract new teachers to the profession. Teaching has to compete with other occupations to recruit and retain graduates. It cannot do that while salary levels in the profession compare so poorly. A 10 per cent rise is crucial if we are to have enough teachers to meet the needs of our schools. Apparently the Government prefers to put unqualified teachers in front of the class rather than paying sufficient to have properly trained teachers. Teachers will see through the Government' attempts to reassure them that the introduction of performance related pay in their first years of teaching will not affect their pay. The opportunity for local pay deals has existed since 1991. Schools and local authorities have shown no appetite for such an arrangement. Indeed a move in that direction would merely shift teacher shortages around with teachers moving to where they could get the most. This would leave schools in poorer areas inadequately supplied with teaching staff. "A three year pay settlement would not work. In Scotland such a deal followed an enquiry into teachers' pay and negotiations. In England and Wales it would be imposed on the profession against a background in which recruitment of an adequate supply of teachers for all our children had been abandoned by the Government. Every child where-ever they live and what-ever background they come from has a right to be properly educated. The Government seems to have lost sight of this fact. It seems to have an agenda which sees children being educated by less expensive classroom assistants unless additional funding can be raised by parents locally to pay the salaries of properly trained teachers. The Government's proposals will appall parents and teachers alike."
    And items of correspondence from HQ for Divisions only.
  22. 02-103-H&S - dotStress, Further Union Guidance: important guidance re. a) Court of Appeal Decision of 5th February 2002 (Hatton v Sutherland et al) and its implications for negotiations and casework on teacher stress and (b) European Health & Safety Week 2002 for which the theme is work-related stress. The Courts have decided that "an employer who offers a confidential advice service, with referral to appropriate counselling or treatment services is unlikely to be found in breach of duty". However, the Union advises that such services are not the sole or main strategy adopted by LEAs towards the avoidance of teacher stress. Headteachers are already quoting having signed up to Well-Being as proof against inducing stress. The Union is pursuing via the House of Lords re. the obligations of employers to carry out a risk assessment to anticipate stress-related health problems.
  23. 02-104-O&A - ARCHIVE OF CIRCULARS ON CD.
  24. 02-105-L&PS - CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU DISCLOSURE SERVICE
  25. 02-106-M&C - NUT LEARNING TRAINING COURSES JULY 2002 - APRIL 2003
  26. 02-107-E&EO - OFSTED Report on Sex and Relationships. Summary.
  27. PENSION BENEFITS FOR UNMARRIED PARTNERS: Early Day Motion.
  28. 02-109-CCU - SCHOOLS FORUM - DfES CONSULTATION AND THE EDUCATION BILL: NUT response.
  29. 02-110-CCU - "REDUCE WORKLOAD, RAISE STANDARDS" - TUC TEACHER AFFILIATES LOBBY OF PARLIAMENT: WEDNESDAY, 3 JULY 2002
  30. 02-111-E&EO - 'INCLUSION NOW' SUMMER SCHOOL - 15-18 JULY 2002
  31. 02-112-CCU - "REDUCE STANDARDS, RAISE STANDARDS" - TUC TEACHER AFFILIATES LOBBY OF PARLIAMENT: WEDNESDAY, 3 JULY 2002
  32. 02-113-CCU - THE EDUCATION BILL: SCHOOLS FORUMS
  33. 02-114-CCU- LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY CAMPAIGN: GMB, T&G AND UNISON BALLOT FOR STRIKE ACTION
  34. * 02-115-E&EO - NUT 'PRIDE IN EDUCATION' CONFERENCE - 7 DECEMBER 2002 at the GMB National College in Manchester. £30 or £60.
  35. *02-116-E&EO - MIND THE GAP? NUT SEMINAR ON GIRLS' AND BOYS' ACHIEVEMENTS - Friday 8 NOVEMBER 2002 at Hamilton House, London. £30 or £60.
  36. 02-117-CCU - PARLIAMENTARY RECESS DATES
  37. 02-118-CCU - ACTSA/TUC CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS
  38. 02-119-CCU - CUBA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN - 'CONTAINER FOR CUBA APPEAL 2002'
  39. 02-120-M&C - NATIONAL TRAINING FOR LOCAL OFFICERS: SEPTEMBER 2002 - JULY 2003
  40. 02-121-M&C - UNION DIARIES 2002-2003. Let the Secretary know if you want one.
  41. 02-122-H&S - STRESS: FURTHER UNION GUIDANCE: Legal up-date following various cases and appeals.
  42. 02-123-E&EO - 'RESPECT' - AN ANTI-RACIST AND MULTI-CULTURAL FESTIVAL
  43. * 02-124-E&EO - CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR LEARNING AND SKILLS COUNCIL: CONSIDERATION OF PROVIDER REORGANISATIONS
  44. 02-125-E&EO - 'EDUCATION REVIEW' - FOR ACTION AND INFORMATION
  45. 02-126-H&S - NUT HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVISERS' BULLETIN NO.65 . Published on our website.
  46. 02-127-COS - UPDATE ON PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVE/PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP(PFI/PPP)
  47. * 02-128-O&A - ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2003 - HARROGATE: Accommodation booking arrangements. Division could book earlier than we have done in the past.
  48. 02-129-E&EO - GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT ADVISORY GROUP ON TEENAGE PREGNANCY
  49. 02-130-M&C - YOUR GROWING UNION
  50. 02-131-E&EO - BEHAVIOUR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMES: Full details. Applies to 34 LEAs and 10 police force areas which account for 80% of crime, with high rates of truancy.
  51. 02-132-H&S - ELECTRONIC DESPATCH OF CIRCULARS TO HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVISERS. Forwarded to John Osborne.
  52. dot02-133-E&EO - NUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2002/2003
  53. 02-134-E&EO - TEACHER INDUCTION 2002/2003. Research report: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Statutory Arrangements for the Induction of Newly Qualified Teachers
  54. *02-135-O&A - UNIFORM E-MAIL ADDRESSES FOR DIVISIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE: Secretary has contacted HQ re,. problems with the new web-based system. It is slow and accumulative: it does not simply send out circulars as e-mails, as they used to do. It is therefore much more difficult to save onto disk or to "cut & paste" headings for this report. Glenys has taken this up, too.
  55. 02-136-MC: LONDON ALLOWANCE CAMPAIGN FILE
  56. * 02-138-EEO-ATT1 : WHOSE FUTURE IS IT ANYWAY? TEACHING POLITICAL LITERACY. Conference at HH on Mon 25th November, targeted at all teachers interested in teaching political literacy.
  57. 02-138-EEO : NUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - ONE DAY CONFERENCES - AUTUMN TERM 2002 FILE
  58. dot 02-139-EEO: DfES-FUNDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BURSARIES. Possible newsletter item.
  59. 02-145-O&A: ELECTIONS FOR NATIONAL DISCIPLINARY PANEL AND NATIONAL APPEALS COMMITTEE 2003-2007 (for Association Action)
  60. 02-146-0&A: ELECTIONS FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEES (for Association action)
  61. 02-152-O&OA: Conference 2003: timetable and original motions invitation.
  62. Joint NUS/NUT Charter for Initial Teacher Training.
  63. * From CASE: Subscription Renewal, £20. Forwarded to Treasurer to pay. Council to endorse action.
  64. From CASE: Parents & Schools No 120: Different Ways to Tackle Disruption. July 2002.
  65. dot From the Teachers' Association of Western Ukraine VIRA. They wish to come to our November 7th meeting to share in experiences on "unemployed teachers, priorities, directions, new methodology in pegagogical work, discuss educational problems."
  66. From Ealing Teachers' Association: Education Workers Unite! Conference Oct 12th.
  67. From BBC NEWS on-line: when Secretary was researching a query from a Headteacher:Schools are waking up to the fact that a lump sum they thought they were getting, apparently announced in the Budget, does not exist..... When the Chancellor said a typical Primary School would get £39,300 it will get £24,700 to spend as it wants (the recurrent School Standards Grant); the rest is £14,622 capital allocation, of which £12,185 was already in schools' budgets for this year. The new money is only £2,437, which can only be spent on capital projects. The Secondary head's £114,000 is actually £72,000 of recurrent funding and £42,732 capital, of which only £7,122 is new money.
    Section B: Regional: John Dixon/Hilary Bucky to Report
    Section C: Division / County:Division Secretary, Martin Goold, to report, including items from the preceding Executive Committee meeting.
  68. "Progress" on outstanding issues:
    Review of operation of the General Complaints Procedure Lodged with JNC July: Response awaited in JNC. Still many unacceptable factors in LEA operation
    Industrial Injury: determination that an absence is due to industrial injury (non-physical) LEA; JNC; Occupational Health Physician. LEA have just received a reply from the Employers' Org.
    Assaults on staff: Joint LEA and Police guidance (draft) JNC October meeting seeking up-date. See 71 below.
    UPS2 issues. Draft unattached UPS2 policy sent out late August. Secretary has responded. JNC October meeting seeking up-date.
    Grievance, Disciplinary, Capability Procedures - updates. The final version was circulated in August and appear to have been published to schools. JNC has asked for copies of the new Personnel Manual
    LEA Guidance to schools on Absence Policies October JNC for up-date
    Allegations of Abuse: County Policy needs up-dating LEA; JNC No progress to report
    SEN allowances for PRUs No progress. No response from LEA on question of regulations
  69. dotSuffolk LEA's Guidance on "Cover to Contract": final version was presented at the July JNC. The advice is now in keeping with the National Guidelines and should avoid any unacceptable local variations.
  70. dot6-term year: SCC Executive Committee supported "in principle" the 6 term year (SCC Paper E02/66), but acknowledged the objections and snags, including those raised in our Press Release. Taken up by SGR and Anglia Television. EADT printed letters from Secretary and from Peter Dunnett.
  71. LEA Policy on Restraint: At JNC in July it was confirmed that the policy contained in the Schoolsafe training was not LEA policy, just some first thoughts from the training team. The teachers' panel could not accept that advice as practical in many circumstances. Frances James presented JNC with a policy from Birmingham LEA on Restraint. Suffolk LEA is thinking of adapting and adopting. Secretary has sent in detailed comments on the Birmingham Scheme with suggestions on how it could be improved and adapted for use in Suffolk. We have expressed the urgency of adopting a policy and putting it in real practice at school level.
  72. dot The inclusion and exclusion of pupils with a history of violence: Secretary drafted in June a document for discussion and trialling where heads and staff felt pressurised into retaining or admitting a child with a proven history of violence against other pupils and/or adults. It reminds headteachers of their responsibilities under the Health & Safety at Work, etc. Act 1976. It includes a checklist for risk assessments in such circumstances. The document has now been finalised and will be copied to Secondary and Middle Schools in the next few weeks. It will be publicised in the next Briefing, with the website address for downloading a copy.
  73. dotViolence by parents, etc. against staff: DfES Guidance: The DfES has published some useful guidance which is in many ways stronger than the LEA's advice to schools so far. A pack includes a poster (warning visitors of the consequences of violent, threatening or abusive behaviour), a model school policy for dealing with incidents, advice on risk assessment, and model incident forms. etc. Annex H gives a range of remedies, including legal remedies. These are very similar to the reply the Secretary received from the Home Office last year, in response to his queries re. the LEA's legal opinion that the County Council could not proceed legally against an assailant. It is clear that they can, should, and must! We now have useful official guidance to quote back at the LEA. Chief Education Officers have also received a copy of the "toolkit". The Secretary has contacted the LEA seeking a review of policy and practice in the light of this Government Guidance. There is also a "Quick Guide to dealing with abusive behaviour on school premises" on the same DfES website, which gives links to many other helpful areas of advice for schools and LEAs.
  74. Ex Gratia Payments, including damage to members' cars when at work: LEA policy statement now finalised and has apparently been circulated to schools. Will be published on our website, too.
  75. Soulbury Members: Following John Dixon's intervention, the LEA has agreed to including NUT Representatives in Soulbury negotiation and consultation meetings. This is effectively acknowledging recognition, without specifically saying so. Division is now seeking a Soulbury Rep.
  76. Educational Visits and Exchanges: The Secretary has responded to the draft revision of the Suffolk LEA's regulations and advice, concentrating on the need to identify in advance children whose behaviour could be a hazard to the group. We suggested that the document should be published in sections, depending on the type of visit planned: at present it is too bulky with too many sub-sections and cross-referencing. We suggest a separate procedure for each type of visit, eg. residential visit, foreign exchange, theatre visit, etc. so that organisers can be sure that they have identified all the sections which apply to their particular activity. There is a great danger with the current document of missing important information or procedures. We also underlined the need for the risk assessment to take into account the behaviour of the children on the visit and insist that the group leader must have the final say re. refusing to take children if basic discipline cannot be guaranteed.
  77. dotAdministration of Medicines: There is evidence that schools are not implementing (or do not have) a school policy on the administration of medicines in school. They should be following the policy framework circulated by the LEA in the Autumn of 2001 entitled "Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs and Administering Medicines in School." Secretary has published urgent advice to members on the website, particularly referring to epi-pens. The LEA advice is clear that no teacher can be required to take responsibility for the administering of medicines, and Union advice is clear that members should not volunteer to take such responsibility. The guidelines specifically warn against untrained staff administering injections.
  78. dotWell-being Scheme: This is beginning to feature in casework, but in a somewhat negative way: eg. There are several cases of schools "joining" the scheme, but where staff are not aware. One head "appointed" the facilitator on a management point without staff knowing. In another case, the Head used the existence of the scheme as a defence against a grievance alleging undue stress (even thought the member had no knowledge of the scheme!). The Division is represented on the Well-being Steering Group by Andrew Guite. Division Council may wish to spend some time considering how to support and monitor this important initiative from the Teacher Support Network.
  79. Outstanding matters re. Advisory Teachers' Pay and Conditions. Secretary met Alan Aldred and 2 other officers to seek to finalise pay & conditions issues from Sept 2000.
    1 All Advisory Headteachers to be on L7 - L13 with back-pay to April 2001 where applicable, including the increment due September 2001.
    2 None of the advisory teacher posts will be transferred to Soulbury pay scales.
    3 Some advisory teacher posts had "significant extra responsibilities" and would go to AST10-14, backdated to April 2001.
    4 Another postholder has come onto the AST range 8-12, from Main scale +2 and will come under the AT umbrella.
    5 There remains concern that those ATs who had a differential before assimilation to AST scale will not, as things stand at present, retain that differential when reaching the maximum (point 12). The Union is seeking further negotiation to maintain the differentials.
    6 Any AT appointed on Soulbury can remain on Soulbury but will have the option of transferring into the AST pay range if it becomes advantageous so to do.
    7 Alan has agreed to recommend that those who are seconded onto salary ranges (as opposed to spot salaries) should receive the increments as and when they become due. Apparently, these increments have not been automatic and most have not been paid.
    8 The LEA has still to make a recommendation on one "project" post.
    We are still awaiting the model letter of appointment, with the model clause about holiday entitlement, and the list of conditions which will apply from (a) the teachers pay and conditions document and (b) local government conditions (e.g. performance management). I will let everyone know when these materialise. However, a great deal of progress has been made and the wisdom of sticking out against wholesale transfer to Soulbury has been confirmed.
  80. Threshold Appeal: A threshold appeal alleging unlawful discrimination, in accordance with the procedure hastily added to the STP&C document following the Union's legal challenge of the threshold procedure, has been turned down. The LEA were several months out of time in responding. The threshold procedure remains unfair and basically unchallengeable from beginning to end, because all the decisions are taken behind closed doors, with no oral hearings or oral appeals. This process must go!
  81. dotPremature Retirement in the Interests of Efficiency: Secretary has written to LEA seeking a review of the PRIEF procedure adopted over the last few years, to make a priority of those who cannot work for health reasons (stress, anxiety, or awaiting operation, treatment, etc.,) but who do not qualify for ill-health retirement. There has been some suggestion that the LEA would not do a letter to schools inviting applications for early retirement this year: in any case, we need to seek fairer procedures based on clearer criteria. LEA has placed this matter on the October JNC agenda.
  82. dotBehaviour Support Plan (1): SCC Progress Report (L02/26). Includes: "Number of pupils with EBD in schools not maintained by SCC remains stable. The Inclusive Resource at Beacon Hill is reducing pressure on requests for such placements for pupils with an autistic spectrum disorder. Also: "County Council Policy Statement on Educational Inclusion agreed in consultation with key partners" (??!!).
  83. dotBehaviour Support Plan (2): Same plan reports: Kingsfield Centre (PRU for KS2 and 3 pupils) opened in Sept 2001. First Base, Ipswich to open in Sept 2002. Site identified for KS23 PRY in Sudbury. Team to be in place by April 2003. Possible sites being investigated for KS2/3 PRUs in Ipswich and Lowestoft and also a First Base in the West of the County. The implementation of the plan is slightly behind schedule due to the difficulties associated with identifying appropriate accommodation. A project manager to be appointed from October 2002 to take this work forward. No mention of on-site "Progress Centres".
  84. Independent employees in LEA Schools: Secretary has asked the LEA whether there is any protocol or code of practice governing the management of non-LEA/non-school employees working in the classrooms. Examples are NTAS and LOVAAS method workers. These claim not to be "under the direction of the headteacher" even when in school. We are asking for the rules of accountability, and clarification of the position of the Headteacher and class teachers in such situations.
  85. Draft School Organisation Plan 2002-2007 received. No response made.
  86. By 30th July, the Division had allocated 173.5 days of facility time.
  87. New SEN Code of Practice: Draft Suffolk documentation received. No response made.
  88. A meeting was arranged for the TOs to meet with representatives of the Learning and Skills Council on 27th September. Penny was attending for JNC and Graham for the Division. This meeting was cancelled for lack of numbers attending, but is to be re-arranged later in the year.
  89. Burston Rally: Secretary attended and supported the Cambridgeshire NUT banner. No time to organise the usual Suffolk NUT stall this year.
  90. dotMembership Meeting 2002: (Unconfirmed) minutes circulated for this meeting. Division Council to endorse recommendations concerning Common Local Association Fee, Division Subscription Rate, and recommendations re. format and pattern of meetings.
  91. dotRevised Plan of Work: The Secretary and Assistant Secretary met as requested to propose revised dates for meetings, following the decisions of the June Division Council. The meetings of September 26th, January 30th and June 26th 2003 will stand. The others will be changed so that there is only one meeting each half term. Proposed dates are:
    Division Executive and Council Meetings 2002-2003
    September 26th 2002 Bury St Edmunds
    November 7th 2002 Rm F1 Stowmarket Centre
    January 30th 2003 Rm F1 Stowmarket Centre
    March 27th 2003 (AGM) Sudbury Area
    May 15th 2003 Bury St Edmunds
    June 26th 2003 Rm G3 Stowmarket Centre
    It is also proposed to move the Membership meeting to Thursday 3rd July (Ipswich). The SSPDC is not available for any of the above dates. Secretary has made a provisional booking at the Stowmarket Centre where shown above. F1 is a computer room and not quite as suitable as the room we have had in the past. Following a fire at the W Suffolk College, the Centre wishes us to use the vending machine for coffee, etc., and not use kettles in teaching rooms.
  92. Secretary up-dated the Division's NQT leaflet for distribution (printed by Ray Frowd).
  93. Secretary has signed up to the "uniform" system of e-mail address and has the additional e-mail address which is: secretary@suffolk.nut.org.uk . HQ has stopped sending circulars by e-mail to the former address. But the new system sends an e-mail to the above web-based address to alert you to additions to the circulars stored on the special website. To receive the actual circular you have to stay on line, search the list of circulars for those you have not yet received, download each one, save to disk and print out, then back to the circular list for the next. Secretary has requested all circulars to be received in the post, once again, and has written to HQ and Glenys Shepherd to complain that HQ has abandoned a perfectly good e-mail distribution system and substituted a slow, inefficient, costly, inefficient system which will cost the Division in time, effort and resources.
  94. Letter from Mr J Clark of Ipswich re. the dangers of Aspartame in children's diet. Secretary has done some research and responded.
  95. dotRace Equality Scheme 2002 - 2005: Attached to SCC Paper 02/87. Will require the Education Directorate to publish an impact statement annually. Secretary is writing to the LEA to point out that, despite constant urging from Division, the Education Service has no statistics on which to gauge the impact of equal opportunity policies, because it has refused to provide the resources to monitor applications to teaching posts. The matter is on the JNC agenda for October.
  96. Children's Futures: Paper E02/86 is setting up a Young People's Strategic Partnership to provide leadership and direction for the on-going development of integrated services for children, young people and families. Division will need to keep an eye on these developments, because of the implications, not least for workload, to school staff..
  97. dot REPORT FROM THE TEACHER REPRESENTATIVES, via Alan Draper: May 2002: and September 2002. These are also to be posted on the SCC website.
    Section D: Other reports
  98. dotCourses and Conferences Report from Andrew Guite re. Symposium on Men in Primary Teaching.
  99. dotStudent Recruitment: Christine Lloyd to report. Secretary obtained NQT materials from RO in August and distributed to LA Secretaries a list of GT Scheme Students in September. A new SCITT centre was opened in Lowestoft. Both SCITTs are in partnership with Norfolk.
  100. dot Health & Safety: John Osborne to report.
  101. H&S Bulletin 65 received and posted on website.
  102. Minutes of SCC H&S Committee, 3rd July. A Working Party is to produce "Corporate Guidance" on incident investigation. Education Service is to run a series of half-day training sessions for heads during the Autumn Term, to up-date schools on H&S Policy and practice. There is concern that schools do not have up-to-date guidance re. follow-up of reporting of incident. Schools do not always filling in incident forms correctly and "alleged" under-reporting of incidents.
  103. Next County Safety Meeting: 9th October.
    Section E: Local Associations
  104. Congratulations to Peter Byatt and Maxine on the birth of Oscar on Sept 5th, who weighed in at around 9½ lbs!

Date of next meeting: November 7th, Stowmarket

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