From: Martin Goold, Division Secretary
Suffolk Division of the National Union of Teachers
To: Newsdesk
Date: 01/12/00
Note: this press release is also available as an HTML page on www.suffolknut.org.uk/press12-00.htm
Text:
The November meeting of the Suffolk Division of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) is calling for Suffolk to pay its EBD (Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties) teachers the special payments such teachers get in other areas of the country.
The NUT was welcoming the County Council's decision to expand the number of Pupil Referral Units for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, including units for Middle School-age pupils, for the first time. However, the NUT is worried that the County will not attract suitably qualified and experienced staff to these Units in Suffolk, because Suffolk pays its PRU teachers less than our neighbouring Authorities. "Good teachers with a proven record in helping these children effectively will not be prepared to come to Suffolk to be paid much the same as a classroom teacher in a mainstream school, with no recognition of their special skills", said Division Secretary, Martin Goold. "The Referral Units in Suffolk are already suffering from acute staffing difficulties and this can only get worse as competition for such places grows. Mainstream schools are also looking for teachers with expertise in dealing with the most disruptive pupils to try to keep them in ordinary schools for as long as possible. Suffolk must pay the going rate for such teachers who are in very short supply, or else the county's strategy for inclusion will fail."
The Union is concerned that failure to cope properly with disruptive pupils in mainstream classes will lead to further stress on hard-pressed classroom teachers and complaints from the parents of other pupils whose education can suffer from disruption.
Despite constant pressure from the NUT, Suffolk LEA refuse to pay EBD staff what is known as a "Special Allowance": this is paid to teachers in all Special Schools or Special Units, except those working in PRUs. Ian Tatchell, former headteacher and Teacher Representative for Special Education on the old Education Committee, said "It is ridiculous that Suffolk will not recognise the special skills and expertise required in teachers of EBD by paying the Special Needs Allowance. These teachers will get that recognition elsewhere, so it is no wonder they do not want to come to Suffolk."
Full text of motion passed at the Suffolk NUT Divisional Council meeting at Northgate High School on Thursday evening (30/11/00):
| This Division Council regrets the premature closure of Oakwood School and notes that the County is currently seriously underprovided with places for pupils with the greatest Emotional or Behavioural Difficulties (EBD). We also note that some of Oakwood's erstwhile pupils are still without full-time provision matching their statemented needs, a year on. |
The Division welcomes, however:
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The Union believes, however, that all specialist teachers of EBD employed in PRUs, the "Centre of Excellence" or Units attached to mainstream schools, should be recognised as teachers of Special Educational Needs and paid at least the first SEN point. We believe that if the County is to attract sufficiently experienced and qualified staff to deal effectively with the most behaviourally difficult and emotionally delicate pupils, then Suffolk must pay at least the same as other Authorities, and recruit from amongst those who have a proven record of success with such pupils. That effectiveness should be recognised and there should be no disctinction between such work undertaken in a Special School, Hostel, Unit or mainstream situation." |
ENDS
Contacts: Division Secretary: Martin Goold 01284 763980
Assistant Secretary: Penny Cook, Hadleigh High School, 01473 823496
President: Peter Dunnett, 01842 726440