When schools were suddenly shut in England last week after the government faced mounting pressure to take action to stop the spread of Covid-19, millions of parents were abruptly thrust back into…Read more…
Schools committee raises issues over English testing plans
UNISON meets Department for Education and NHS test and trace officials to discuss the end-of-term announcement about mass testing in English schools in January
The article Schools committee raises…Read more…
UNISON responds to COVID testing plans for English schools
National schools committee describes UK government’s announcement, made on the last day of term, that some secondaries will be expected to start next term online, as “jaw-dropping”
The article…Read more…
Unite backs Greenwich council in schools decision
Unite the union continues to back the original decision made by Greenwich council to move classes online from today (December 15). Unite accused the education secretary Gavin Williamson, who has…Read more…
UNISON backs councils’ attempt to close schools amid COVID spike
‘The surge in cases in our schools is extremely concerning … Enough is enough’
The article UNISON backs councils’ attempt to close schools amid COVID spike first appeared on the UNISON National…Read more…
Teaching assistants balloted for strike action
Plans to axe more than half the teaching support staff at two east London primary schools has prompted Unite the union to ballot its members for strike action. Unite has 10 members at the Colvestone…Read more…
Petition: Fully fund schools for Covid-19 costs and provide relief for loss of income
Please share and support this campaign by a local Newham head teacher. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/555718/signatures/new
Hat tip my Labour Councillor & trade union comrade Sasha Das Gupta. Read more…
Government must let schools go online to rescue Christmas
Switch two weeks before Christmas would make all the difference
The article Government must let schools go online to rescue Christmas first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
School support staff and nurses’ safety paramount
As a new national lockdown comes into force from Thursday (November 5), much of the economy will close down as it did in March. But unlike the first national lockdown, schools will remain open – and…Read more…
Teaching assistants covering twice as many lessons in the pandemic
UNISON survey reveals huge rise in numbers doing higher-grade work as teachers fall ill or fail to get tests
The article Teaching assistants covering twice as many lessons in the pandemic first…Read more…
Councils forced to pick up the pieces from failing test and trace
UNISON calls for urgent improvements to a ‘chaotic’ system in England
The article Councils forced to pick up the pieces from failing test and trace first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
Pupil funding still leaves schools worse off than 10 years ago
Government announcement on pupil funding still below pre-austerity levels in real terms
The article Pupil funding still leaves schools worse off than 10 years ago first appeared on the UNISON…Read more…
UNISON urges co-operation over reopening schools
‘Headline-catching announcements’ are not dealing with the practicalities needed to ensure pupils can return to school safely, says union
The article UNISON urges co-operation over reopening schools…Read more…
UNISON gives cautious welcome to COVID-related schools funding
School support staff will have a vital role in bringing pupils ‘back up to speed’
The article UNISON gives cautious welcome to COVID-related schools funding first appeared on the UNISON National…Read more…
Support staff have little confidence in government school safety plans, says UNISON
An overwhelming majority of school support staff don’t feel reassured by government claims that English schools are safe to open to more pupils from the beginning of June, according to a UNISON…Read more…
Government must explain how school staff and pupils will be kept safe
Ministers need to work with unions to create safe schools
The article Government must explain how school staff and pupils will be kept safe first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
Blog: Worth more than a clap
How you can support the campaign for a decent, fair pay rise for all our key workers in councils and schools
The article Blog: Worth more than a clap first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
Local government pay – UNISON statement
Union will continue to campaign for more funding for the pay of key workers in local government and schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
The article Local government pay – UNISON statement…Read more…
UNISON calls for government to prioritise staff safety before re-opening schools
Suggestions that the government in England is considering reopening schools has caused huge anxiety amongst school staff and parents
The article UNISON calls for government to prioritise staff…Read more…
Surviving lockdown with kids and work
When the government announced that schools would be closing on Friday March 20 I remember breathing a sigh of relief while dread and horror also crept over me. As much as I knew school closures were…Read more…