NSEAD will continue to bring regular updates about Covid-19 and what it means to you as the situation develops - helping you to keep up to date with the rapidly changing advice.
Coronavirus
In response to COVID-19: our offices are temporarily closed. All NSEAD staff are working remotely so that our service to you remains uninterrupted. Please contact us on [javascript protected email address]
Stay safe and healthy
Please visit our Examination section for information on Summer examinations and assessments.
Update 7 January 2021
Safe working in education settings
Throughout the pandemic NSEAD has encouraged employers to listen to their staff and to take their health and safety concerns seriously. Our advise to members has been to discuss their concerns about on-site Covid security with their employers and insist on up to date risk assessments that provide satisfactory mitigation measures for all staff, with individual risk assessments carried out for all those in vulnerable categories.
Under their duty of care, employers cannot require staff to report on site where adequate measures are not in place to meet identified risks to their health.Employees have the right not to be subjected to detriment where they take measures to secure their own health and safety, or the health and safety of others. Where those measures are in place, regularly reviewed and in full consultation with staff, employers are legally entitled to direct an employee to attend work.
Our advise to NSEAD members remains, that they should satisify themselves that their employer has taken all steps to provide a Covid secure, safe workplace in compliance with Government guidelines and that the systems of control in place are being correctly observed.
Those that have serious concerns should seek to answer the following questions to satisfy themselves of the severity of risk.
Are you able to demonstrate that you have a ‘reasonable belief of serious or imminent danger’ as a result of the arrangements, conditions or environment in which you are being asked to work?
Has your school or colleges convinced you of the suitability and robustness of their risk assessment concerning the working arrangements , with a suitable reduction of risk to your health?
Does this also apply to those situations where this involves you or other employees working across multiple sites and in venues run by other organisations, such as prison or youth services? If so, have these other organisations also carried out a suitable risk-assessment, from which you still have reasonable belief of serious or imminent danger from these arrangements?
What are the steps that would need to be taken by your employer to mitigate these risks and protect you from imminent danger?
Before reporting on-site, you should ask to see the following:
A copy of theCovid secure operational plan, and a reviewed and updated risk assessment.
Ask for confirmation that:
both the plan and the risk assessment have been reviewed and updated in consultation with all staff (this may be via a named health and safety rep).
appropriate arrangements are in place for cleaning your classroom or studio to include shared equipment and all communal areas within your school or college, and that a cleaning record will be provided.
you have appropriate access to handwashing facilities and/or hand sanitising.
that a minimum 2 metre social distancing will be guaranteed at all times in all areas.
arrangments are in place to ensure higher performance face coverings and masks are worn by both staff and students in secondary schools and colleges and for staff in primary and early years settings.
you will not be required to work in areas that are poorly ventilated, or with excessive drafts. Your employer must ensure that work areas are sufficiently ventilated to allow necessary airflow, and in particular that classrooms and other areas are ventilated properly between classes and uses, including at breaks and at lunchtime.
there are sufficient numbers of teaching and support staff in place at all times throughout the school day to ensure safe levels of provision.
you will not be required to attend on site face to face meetings or parental consultations.
PPE will be provided for essential close contact activities.
requirements for covid-safe working have been fully explained to pupils and their carers and that appropriate procedures are in place to ensure full compliance.
The TUC have published a statement setting out their expectation that a safe plan for schools must include:
reviewing risk assessments and Covid-Secure plans in schools
prioritising school staff who keep working to allow vulnerable children and children of key workers to attend school
providing digital equipment and support to pupils who need it to ensure they can access high quality remote education.
Minutes from the meeting of the SAGE group on 22 December can be seen here:
Vulnerable staff in higher risk groups and those who are shielding
Since 5 January everyone should follow national lockdown rules.
People at high risk should not go to work, school, college or university. They should work from home where possible. If this is not possible, employers should not conduct an individual risk assessment and not require them to report on-site, but ask them to stay at home, without detriment under the terms of their contract.
Members who suffer from certain health conditions are at higher risk of serious illness or death if they contract Covid-19. Employers should not require employees to place themselves at risk by travelling to and reporting for work on-site and should not refuse to pay them, record non attendance as sickness, or threaten dismissal. This could amount automatically to unfair dismissal or detriment.
Yesterday, 4 January 2021, the devolved Governments all announced extensions of the delayed re-opening of all schools and colleges.
Scotland announced a national lockdown with all schools and colleges required to move to online learning until the end of January, Wales announced the move to online learning until 18 January, Northern Ireland will set out details of the extended period of remote learning today (Tuesday). At 8pm (4 January) the UK Government announced that all schools and colleges in England will remain closed to all but keyworker and vulnerable children for seven weeks, until February half term. Nursery schools will remain fully open.
On the 22nd December, SAGE advised the UK Government that the R rate might be kept below 1 if schools stay closed in January. The UK Government continues to ignore recommendations of SAGE, the emerging concerns of increased susceptibility to infection in children being investigated by NERVTAG, and the calls for an immediate nationwide move to remote education for all pupils in education settings that is coming from across all sectors and stakeholders.
In December we asked for a delay in the opening of all schools and colleges to allow adequate time to set up mass testing, and to act as a ‘circuit breaker’. The decision was made regardless that the default position should be maintained – that schools and colleges remain open to all pupils except in exceptional circumstances. Today, Ofsted have supported the Government position. However, we believe that these are exceptional circumstances, that affect us all, throughout the UK. Once again we call for a unified response across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
On behalf of our Trade Union members NSEAD demands that this Government recognise their duty of care to all those working in education settings, children and young people, and their families. We call for honesty, clarity and timely communications of decisions that are based on intelligence - not ideology or economic trade-offs.
We are in full agreement with our fellow Trade Unions and TUC affiliates that the Government should follow SAGE recommendations. We join other Trade Unions in calling for a delay for the re-opening of all schools and colleges to provide a vital ‘circuit breaker’ for transmission, and the opportunity to review, revise and update Covid-security plans. We believe that it is unacceptable that the Government has placed headteachers and their governing bodies in an invidious postion, with inadequate guidance to help fhem support their staff, students and communities.
Given the gravity of the threat to life, we have no choice but to advise members of our Trade Union working in early years, primary, secondary and college settings not to put themselves in danger if they are not satisfied that adequate, up to date mitigation measures are in place. NSEAD advises our members to ensure that their employers have completed revised risk assessments, in full consultation with staff and unions, taking full account of the additional risks associated with the Coronavirus. If a satisfactory revised Covid-security plan, with full staff consultation is not in place, our members should not be forced to return to work.
We expect employers to fully discharge their responsibility for health and safety at work, and to recognise this acceleration in transmission to be a circumstance of danger which our members have reasonable belief to be serious and imminent as defined under Section 44 and 100 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. Our members should not be subjected to detriment and/or dismissal if they exercise their right to refuse to return to a place of work that they reasonably believe to be dangerous. We expect teachers’ contractual rights with regard to pay and other conditions of service must be adhered to at all times, including when planning for onsite or remote education provision.
NSEAD will continue to work alongside our TUC affiliate unions to support all those working and studying in education settings to be safe and protected in these exceptional times.
Update 3rd November
National Lockdown, NSEAD Statement
When the UK first went into national lockdown NSEAD called for a national plan for education that made health and well-being of pupils, staff and communities a priority. As well as minimising the transmission of Coronavirus, the UK Government has a duty to ensure that pupils and staff are safe and that all pupils can access their educational entitlement through a coherent national plan ensuring effective resources for remote education, the protection of vulnerable children and fair arrangements for assessment are in place.
It was always clear that schools and colleges would struggle to maintain adequate systems of controls to reduce the risk of Coronavirus transmission. Social distancing is not being maintained in many education settings, NSEAD believes that the UK Government has been reckless in its failure to provide the same protections for pupils and staff in schools and colleges as in other public spaces. The UK Government has failed to protect vulnerable and at-risk groups, putting teachers and staff at risk in their place of work.
We call for an urgent national plan for education:
A coherent plan for remote and onsite learning that ensures fair and equal access to learning regardless of local restrictions.
Fulfil the commitment to provide broadband, equipment and learning materials for all pupils unable to access them at home.
For all staff in vulnerable and at-risk groups to be allowed to work remotely and not forced to work onsite against their will.
Adequate resources and funding for cleaning, PPE and staff to cover for absent teachers.
Require any school that is unable to maintain the systems of control set out in the UK Government guidance to operate a rota system to ensure that social distancing can be maintained at the levels required in other workplace settings.
Update 21st September
Following today’s briefing from the Chief Medical Officers warning of the dangers of a 'second wave' of Coronavirus infections, NSEAD calls on the UK Government UK Government to review schools guidance documents and fully address the current situation and transmission risks to staff and students in vulnerable health categories, pregnant workers and those who may otherwise be at increased risk from coronavirus
It should be noted that this is a fast changing situation, and there are two key points in the UK Government guidance document that are now out of date.
NSEAD is concerned that guidance for clinically vulnerable and extremely clinically vulnerable is based on the rates of community transmission during July, when the decision was made to lift shielding requirements from August 1st. That decision was on the basis that ‘Rates of community transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) are now reduced to levels below those seen when shielding was introduced.’ Today, those rates of transmission are increasing rapidly, with the stark warning that the epidemic is doubling every seven days, and without greater control measures, could reach 50,000 cases per day by mid-October.
The guidance is based on the premise that ‘the risk of transmission between young children and adults is likely to be low’. Both SAGE and Independent SAGE have clearly stated in the last fortnight that young people aged 14-19 are as efficient at transmitting the virus as adults and recent UK and international data suggests that children are in fact as likely as adults to become infected and carry the virus.
Whatever temporary ‘circuit breaking’ local and national restrictions are put in place, this is clearly a dynamic situation, where the rates of community transmission will fluctuate for the foreseeable future. For those who have particular health concerns this creates an ongoing, shifting risk. When that is coupled with a testing and tracing system that is still not providing the necessary response to infection on-site, NSEAD believe that the systems of controls set out by the Government do not reduce risk to vulnerable employees to an acceptable level.
We continue to call for all employers to prioritise their duty of care to their employees and take all steps to support those who do not feel able to work on-site. We ask employers to work with teachers to embrace the opportunities for remote teaching and learning. We believe that Covid-19 is a serious and imminent risk for many, and ask employers to make arrangements that reflect that risk. Cost should not be a factor in any decisions that are being made.
Update 26th August
Today the UK Government have announced new advice for the use of face coverings by staff and pupils in some schools, and to learners in further education.
Pupils in secondary schools will be required to wear face coverings in corridors and other communal areas if they are in a local lockdown area. In all other areas, this will be at the discretion of the Headteacher or Principal. Pupils will not be required to wear face coverings in classrooms, and the UK Government still advises against this.
This follows the announcement by the Scottish Government earlier this week. Wales and Northern Ireland have also made announcements today. Information for Wales here and Northern Ireland here.NSEAD note that the use of face coverings is now recommended in areas where social distancing cannot be maintained. This does not include classrooms, on the basis that the Government believes that face coverings can have a negative impact on learning and teaching.
“face coverings will not generally be necessary in the classroom even where social distancing is not possible. There is greater use of the system of controls for minimising risk, including through keeping in small and consistent groups or bubbles, and greater scope for physical distancing by staff within classrooms.”
NSEAD is concerned that the reality in many secondary classrooms is that pupils will not be confined to ‘small and consistent bubbles’ where there are class sizes of 30 students. Government guidance says:
“It is strong public health advice that staff in secondary schools maintain distance from their pupils, staying at the front of the class, and away from their colleagues where possible. Ideally, adults should maintain 2 metre distance from each other, and from children.”
However, this is guidance, and schools are not bound to ensure this – the words ‘where possible’ and ‘ideally’ allow the flexibility to accommodate all pupils – regardless of whether this compromises staff safety. NSEAD have consistently challenged this and believe it is not acceptable.
The scope for physical distancing will not be tested until the plan becomes a live reality. Reports from Scottish members suggest that in practice, physical distancing from and amongst teenagers in some classrooms and when moving around premises is not possible.
We have called on the UK Government to provide clear direction again and again. Anyone who works in schools and colleges knows that young people respond to straightforward clearly communicated directions that make sense. These eleventh hour reversals and prevarications create distrust and ultimately disengagement. This will only serve to make the job of keeping school and college communites safe even harder as term begins.
NSEAD calls on the UK Government to:
require face coverings to be worn in all situations where 2 metre social distancing is not possible, in all areas, not just those with local restrictions.
Provide the necessary resources to schools and colleges to ensure that all staff and students can work in safety and confidence.
We repeat our expectation that our members be given the support and resources that they need, with leadership, informed decisions and clarity of communication from our Government.
This year’s examination process has shown a fractured nation-wide landscape – where neither teachers’ expertise nor children’s interests have steered policy makers. Instead, the quest to uphold notional ‘national standards’ has revealed an examination system with gaping gaps in equity and fairness. Read more here
Update 11th August
As schools in Scotland begin a phased return for pupils today, and schools in England, Wales, northern Ireland prepare for the full return of pupils in September, uncertainty about Government guidance continues to cause anxiety for teachers, pupils and families. Interviews with key government figures this weekend have focused on the importance of getting all pupils back into school full time. Key questions remain unresolved.
Face-coverings
There is growing evidence that children between 10-19 are almost as efficient at transmitting Coronavirus as adults. In Northern Ireland, All students at post-primary level, apart from specific exemptions, will be required to wear face coverings in the classroom. In Scotland, face masks will only have to be worn by staff who cannot effectively social distance - ie teachers in close contact with children for more than 15 minutes will be required to adopt a face covering, in line with directions for other public places. In addition, any staff member who wishes to should be allowed.Pupils, unless clinically required to, will not be required to wear a face covering. If a child desires to wear a face covering, they are allowed to.
UK Government guidance, for schools in England remains that the wearing of face coverings by both staff and pupils is uneccessary, will potentially increase transmission and that 'the science' does not advise it. The Welsh Government have taken a similar position.
Minister Nick Gibb said on Sunday thatthere is no need for mask-wearing within the schools but that it is down to Heads to decide whether staff are permitted to wear face coverings. NSEAD believes that it is not the place of any headteacher, or employer to prohibit their staff from taking the measures that they decide are necessary for their personal safety. we are asking the Government to make a clear statement to that effect.
Testing for Coronovirus
This morning Minister Nick Gibb confirmed that there will be no routine testing in schools. "The advice we have is that it's better to test when people actually show symptoms. Anybody that shows symptoms, of course, at schools will be sent home to self-isolate, and then they'll be tested." Asked if it would be safer to do routine testing, Mr Gibb said: "Everything we do is led by the science – it's led by advice from Public Health England, by the chief medical officer. The priority for the new 90-minute tests, of course, has to be the hospitals, the care homes, the laboratories."
NSEAD challenges the position of the UK Government that a hierarchy of hygiene controls and social distancing are sufficient mitigation. These controls are based on the premise that pupils and staff are mixing in consistent groups. The viability of 'bubble' arrangements has yet to be tested. The arrangements for school transport are a major weak point in this hierarchy of controls, as is the level of compliance amongst pupils beyond those areas managed by the school (i.e public transport, social groupings off site). We are concerned that the lack of effective track and trace systems and financial considerations lie behind the reluctance to provide routine testing. We call on the UK Government to support schools, pupils and families take all possible measures to increase their safety. We ask the UK Government to take responsibility for:
Leadership and direction
Decisions based on robust evidence
Clear communications
Adequate resources
NSEAD advises our members to work closely with their school management teams and to ask that the risk assessment for their setting takes full account of their needs, and their right to take necessary measures to manage personal risk whilst working on site. This includes the right to wear a face covering if they wish.
If any member is concerned that an adequate hierarchy of control has not been established in your setting, we advise you to contact us directly.
Update 7th August
Ofqual have published further information for students and their families in the following guide: ‘What to do if you have concerns or questions about your grades: student guide to appeals and malpractice or maladministration complaints’. The guide sets out the grounds for appeal this year and explains that a student may be able to make a complaint about malpractice of maladministration, including concerns of bias or discrimination. NSEAD have been asked to share this guide, with our networks as Ofqual would like as many students and their families to have access to this information as possible.
Update 3rd August 2.45pm
Ofqual have today published arrangements for the 2021 summer series examinations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Further information about vocational qualifications will follow.
A decision about the exam schedule has yet to be made. Ofqual will continue to work with DFE, Wales and NI before making a decision. Ofqual are not able to say when this will be.
As schools prepare for full re-opening in the Autumn term, many of our members are understandably anxious and uncertain about how to arrange practical learning activities.
Government guidance varies across the four nations. Whilst all schools are subject to overarching health and safety legislation and obliged to do a full risk assessment, decisions are largely being made at local level. Government guidance is here:
NSEAD continues to signpost our members to CLEAPSS guidance, and we are liasing with CLEAPSS on updates for Art and Design. We are not aware of any planned subject specific guidance from the Scottish Schools Education Reserch Centre, but generic guidance can be found here, also STEM subjects advice that may be useful here. We have also worked with our sister education trade unions to produce a health and safety checklist to support members as they review arrangements in their schools.
NSEAD members may want to reflect on whether they wish to use this checklist as a means to check the actions their school is taking, or identify any specific questions they can use to seek confirmation on specific actions, particularly from the school Health and Safety Lead Officer or ultimately from the Headteacher or Principal.
We appreciate that NSEAD members need to be confident about their plans to make their art and design classrooms Covid secure. With so much local variation and remaining uncertainties, we are not able to provide definitive directives that can be universally applied. We have today set out some principles and subject specific advice that we hope will support the different approaches in member's settings.
These should be considered alongside the relevant Government guidance, CLEAPSS advice and the Trade union checklist.
NSEAD continues to call for local authorities, headteachers and governing bodies to work with sensitivity and flexibility to reassure their staff and make alternative arrangements without sanction or detriment for individuals. However, this is in the context of Guidance regarding the personal safety of staff, including those with underlying health conditions as set out by Government. NSEAD and those Trade Unions representing workers in educational settings continue to press the Government for clearer guidance. We are directing members to the HSE guidance: Protecting Vulnerable Workers. We advise members who are concerned about their personal health and safety to provide evidence of their vulnerability on any of the criteria to their employer and bring this HSE guidance and the TU checklist to the attention of their employer.
Update 9th June @ 9am
NSEAD welcomes the announcement that the Government has dropped plans for all primary school pupils to spend four weeks in school before the summer break. Along with the other trade unions representing staff working in schools, we have maintained that this was never a practical possibility.
As we consider emerging issues around the opening of schools, NSEAD considers the following to be priorities:
Vulnerable children are still least likely to be in school – in some communities, there is increased anxiety about the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 and the potential for increased community transmission. These children should be prioritised for return, rather than year groups. Additional targeted support and information for families.
It is clear that schools will not have adequate space or staffing to be able to welcome all pupils back into school within normal school hours. Creative thinking around rotas, staffing and alternative community spaces should be explored. A principle of ‘shielding our schools’ to prevent education services being overwhelmed should be adopted. Lessons learned from the experience of the NHS - mobilisation of volunteers, redeployment of personnel and resources.
The full re-opening of schools should not be about a rapid return to normal service. This should be planned and delivered as part of a 12 month emergency response.
Many staff are highly and reasonably anxious about the potential for transmission of Covid-19 to themselves, their families and their communities. Many local authorities, headteachers and governing bodies are working with sensitivity and flexibility to reassure their staff and make alternative arrangements without sanction or detriment for individuals. In some cases however, staff are being subjected to unacceptable levels of pressure and coercion that are impacting on well being. We have found this to be particularly true in the independent sector, where management are under additional pressure to resume full timetables.
From our perspective, as the professional body representing art education:
Limitations on practical activity – after months of screen and desk based learning, pupils need to engage with haptic experiences – essential for their well being and development at all stages. For many these will have been limited. Sharing equipment and resources, moving around spaces all create challenges. However, the additional space available to children working in smaller groups could allow for immersive, absorbing work on a larger scale – at both primary and secondary, some schools are organising whole day activities that minimise the movement between spaces and allow for cleaning and disinfecting equipment between sessions.
Many pupils are experiencing trauma and loss and will take time to adjust both to the return to school and the changed environment. Models for ‘recovery curriculum’ that focus on opportunity to process and reflect on experiences rather than pressure to ‘catch up’ should be explored. Expressive, practical activity prioritising health and well- being over core curriculum attainment should be at the centre of this.
NSEAD would like to see government’s guidance for schools updated. Within the planning framework, considerations for staff should be clear communication of the school policy to ensure that those staff who are identified as needing alternative arrangements will not be subject to sanction or detriment.
As the trade union representing art and design educators, we would like the guidance to require school management teams to consult with staff and give full weight to their professional judgements relative to their specialist areas of teaching when drawing up risk assessments.
Update Wednesday 3rd June @ 1pm
The NSEAD Examinations Special Interest Group responsed on behalf of members to Ofqual’s consultation on an additional GCSE, AS and A level exam series in autumn 2020 - proposals for an additional exam series in autumn 2020 in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
We are very encouraged by the full and thorough consideration given by Ofqual to the unique position of art and design as the only NEA subject at GCSE, AS and A’ level and by its ambition to ensure that art and design students have equality of opportunity with other subjects by making provision for assessment in an autumn series of exams when it is proposed that in general, NEA components will not form part of the assessment process.
We fully support Ofqual’s ambition to promote equality and fairness so that disadvantaged students are not disproportionately affected by the assessment arrangements during this exceptional year. Read the full response here
Update Thursday 28th May @8pm
NSEAD has been working with the DFE’s formal stakeholder forum throughout this week, as final decisions were made about the relaxing of school closures. We provided a detailed response to the SAGE evidence that has informed the decisions and guidance coming from the DFE.
Significantly, we have engaged in constructive conversations with the Secretary of State for Education today, as one of the 9 trade unions with members working in school settings. A joint statement – signed by the NEU, NASUWT, NAHT, GMB, UNISON, Unite, AEP, Prospect, NSEAD and TUC – has been issued.
The DFE said today:
‘We know that the next few weeks are vital, and we want to continue to work with you all to make sure that schools have the support they need to start to safely open to more pupils from Monday.’
Members will have heard the Prime Minister’s announcement this evening, in which he set out his assessment that each of the five tests are being met and confirming that from Monday (June 1) schools can begin to open more widely to children in reception, year 1 and year 6 along with nurseries and other early years settings. And from 15 June, secondary schools can also begin to provide some face-to-face contact time for years 10 and 12.
In the daily briefing from Downing Street on the 24th May, the Prime Minister repeated the intention that schools should expand their provision to include all early years, year 1 and year 6 pupils from 1st June.
He also presented a target date of the 15th of June for the provision of some face to face support for up to a quarter of all year 10 and 12 pupils, repeating the guidance issued last week that it is not expected that these pupils will return on a full time basis.
Whilst this delay will help secondary schools to prepare, NSEAD is not convinced that June 1st is a realistic date for primary schools to expand their provision. Pupils and staff must return only when they can do so safely.
Given that a large number of local authorities are not advising their schools to open more widely, and that the tests set by the Government have not yet been met, it is unclear how many primary schools will expand their provision on the 1st of June. It is not clear whether the 15th June has been presented as the earliest date that secondary schools should expand provision and whether decisions will be made at local level.
Following the shameful attack on the integrity of our teachers in some sections of the press, and from some Government sources last weekend, we welcome Johnson’s recognition that teachers throughout the UK have ‘stepped up the challenge and kept schools open throughout this crisis’.
The Government promises that the final decision on how and when to expand provision will be taken on Thursday, after they have engaged with teaching unions, Councils and school leaders. NSEAD looks forward to joining our fellow trade unions representing workers in education settings for a meeting with Secretary of State, Gavin Williamson later this week.
Update Friday 22nd May @8pm
Ofqual have launched a consultation on an additional GCSE, AS and A level exam series in autumn 2020 autumn series consultation today and the closing date will be
8 June 2020 at 11.45pm. NSEAD will make a response on behalf of members, and would encourage all those with an interest in these assessment arrangements to do so too. There are particular issues surrounding non examined assessment that are unique to our subject. It is currently proposed that the NEA should only be available for Art and Design qualifications, but in a new format to reflect the difficulties that will surround the autumn series.
Arrangements for the summer series have been confirmed following consultation. Details have been published today:
This morning the proposed date of June 1st for schools to begin partial reopening looks in doubt. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have already rejected this timetable, now joined by 11 local authorities and a growing number of schools.
The Government now says that they are in 'listening mode'. June 1st is now an aspirational date, and they wish to listen to employers and staff. Government now say that they will not force schools to open. NSEAD welcomes this stepping back from a fixed date for return. However, this new the onus is on the employer to make decisions based on local circumstances means that it is more important that the concerns of staff are heard and taken into account, in every school.
NSEAD will continue to support our members assert their right to be safe, confident and consulted as plans are made to open their schools to more pupils.
Our letter to headteachers sets out our support for our members and I would urge all NSEAD Trade Union members to download it and send it to your headteacher.
NSEAD is fully committed to getting pupils back to their art rooms – but for the sake of our children, our members and our communities this can only happen when it is safe to do so. See the principles and tests for safe return, agreed by the alliance of unions by following the link below.
Update Thursday 14th May @8pm
NSEAD members want to return to their art classrooms as soon as possible. Pupils need the art, craft and design equipment and materials and teaching that they can only get in a classroom environment. But this can only happen when we are fully confident that allowing our children to return to school is safe.
NSEAD has joined an alliance of Education Trade Unions, calling for the safety and welfare of pupils and staff as the paramount principle. We call on the government to step back from the 1st June as the date for relaxing school closures, and work with us to create the conditions for a safe return to schools based on the principles and tests we have set out. The best way to do this is through a national taskforce for safe schools, with government, unions and education stakeholders.
NSEAD is fully committed to getting pupils back to their art rooms – but for the sake of our children, our members and our communities this can only happen when it is safe to do so.
See our promise to our professional community here
Today, the TUC affiliated Education unions have issued this joint message on the safe reopening of schools:
Today’s statement follows a longer statement to the Secretary of State on Friday (8 May), which set out in full detail the principles and tests necessary for the safe reopening of schools. It is signed by AEP, GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, NSEAD, Prospect, UNISON and Unite.
Full text of today’s statement:
“We all want schools to re-open, but that should only happen when it is safe to do so. The government is showing a lack of understanding about the dangers of the spread of coronavirus within schools, and outwards from schools to parents, sibling and relatives, and to the wider community.
“Uniquely, it appears, school staff will not be protected by social distancing rules. 15 children in a class, combined with their very young age, means that classrooms of 4 and 5-year olds could become sources of Covid-19 transmission and spread. While we know that children generally have mild symptoms, we do not know enough about whether they can transmit the disease to adults. We do not think that the government should be posing this level of risk to our society.
“We call on the government to step back from the 1st June and work with us to create the conditions for a safe return to schools based on the principles and tests we have set out.”
The principles and tests include (see full statement from Friday 8 May, ):
Safety and welfare of pupils and staff as the paramount principle
No increase in pupil numbers until full rollout of a national test and trace scheme
A national Covid-19 education taskforce with government, unions and education stakeholders to agree statutory guidance for safe reopening of schools
Consideration of the specific needs of vulnerable students and families facing economic disadvantage
Additional resources for enhanced school cleaning, PPE and risk assessments
Local autonomy to close schools where testing indicates clusters of new covid-19 cases
Update Monday 11th May @6pm
Since Boris Johnson indicated Government plans to relax Covid-19 restrictions during Prime Minister’s Question time on Wednesday 6th May members have been contacting NSEAD with concerns about what this will mean for schools. Further announcements and media leaks have contributed to the unease and anxiety of those working in education. NSEAD continues to focus our energies on responding to individual members with support and advice, working with the education sector trade unions to challenge the Government.
The ongoing failure by the Governement to provide clarity and transparency continues to cause anxiety and fear amongst our members. We believe that this could and would be avoided if there was a greater commitment to intelligent, honest communications with the education sector.
The devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been clear that they will not be relaxing arrangments for the closure of shcools on June 1st.
The Details on phased wider opening of schools, colleges and nurseries issued by Gavin Williamson earlier today raise many questions, and do not meet the measures needed for the safe reopening of schools, that NSEAD has supported. These are outlined in a letter sent on behalf of unions with members in the education sector joint statement from the school workforce unions, by the TUC.
NSEAD shares this position, and assures our members that we stand in solidarity with the school workforce unions, ensuring that your interests are fully represented.
Update Friday 24th April @6pm
School Closures
This week NSEAD wrote to Minister for Education Gavin Williamson on behalf of our members to ask for reassurance that the safety of school staff, their pupils and the wider community will be an absolute priority as and when the Government decide to relax the current arrangements for closure.
Many of our members are school-teachers, working to ensure that children and their families are supported during the Covid-19 emergency. My members were concerned about the potential dangers of exposure to the virus and cross contagion long before schools were ordered to close. They have continued to work in schools supporting the families of key workers, despite fears that by doing so they may endanger their lives, and those of their families.
These are frightening times for all of us, and children and young people are amongst the most vulnerable in our society. Teachers are on the front line, doing everything that they can to protect them, to reduce their anxiety and to give them hope where there is only uncertainty. NSEAD joins fellow TUC affiliated unions the NASUWT and the NEU in calling for full recognition and mitigation of the risks to life and well being of teachers, staff and pupils in schools throughout the UK.
Ofqual consultation on the assessment and grading of vocational, technical and other general qualifications
Ofqual have today published a detailed consultation on the proposed changes to our rules and revised approaches necessary to deliver the fairest results for students in the current exceptional circumstances. The consultation is available on their website here and will be open until 11:45pm on 8th May 2020.
Update Sunday 19th April @12pm
The DFE has updated information and support for remote learning, with particular emphasis on support for vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils. Laptops and 4G routers are promised to ensure that remote education is accessible these students. There is additional guidance and help for teachers and parents to use technology, and also more detailed safeguarding support.
NSEAD is disappointed to note that the list of resources published by the DFE is still limited to core subjects and physical education. A new enterprise 'Oak National Academy' will be launched on the 20th April, providing 180 video lessons each week. It is promised that 'art' is included, though it is not clear which subject specialists will be providing that content.
The DFE have published further guidance regarding financial support for Education. The postion of teachers on supply contracts is further explained. This clarification will be welcome to our many members who are affected by the closure of schools and uncertainty about their income.
in particular:
Where schools are the direct employer the following applies:
'we expect schools to ensure any employees funded by public money continue to be paid in the usual fashion from their existing staff budgets, and correspondingly not furloughed, in line with the HM Revenue and Customs guidance for public sector organisations.
Where schools have live assignments with contingent workers, and where the school is the workers’ employer, schools should continue to pay these workers from their existing school budgets and not furlough them.
Where schools have terminated contracts with contingent workers due to coronavirus (COVID-19) earlier than the original terms set out, and where the school was the workers’ employer under that contract, schools should reinstate these contracts on the terms previously agreed, as long as the contractor is not already accessing alternative support through another government support scheme.'
Where a teacher is contracted by an agency:
'Where agency workers are not on live assignments with schools, or where a previously agreed assignment is due to end, schools and agencies should discuss any further demand for the worker. If there is no further demand, the employer can apply to furlough the worker via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.'
Ofqual have announced an extraordinary consultation regarding arrangments for examinations. The deadline for responses is 23:45 on Wednesday 29th March. NSEAD will be responding on behalf of our members, presenting the specific considerations of Art and design and encourage all teachers to respond, Find the survey here:
OCR have helpfully summarised Ofqual’s consultation proposals below.
On awarding grades, it proposes that students entered for exams in year 10 or below this summer should receive a calculated grade, along with those in year 11 and above. It also proposes that private candidates should receive grades where there can be confidence in the grades being awarded. For example, it says they can be issued where a Head of Centre can confidently submit a centre assessment grade and include them in their centre’s rank order, or where a candidate has studied with an established provider, such as a distance learning provider that is also an approved exam centre. At OCR, we are continuing to explore if it might be possible for us to award grades to other private candidates this summer where there is no existing relationship like these. We’ll provide further advice as soon as we can.
On the process of standardising centre assessment grades, it proposes how statistical evidence should be used to identify and adjust grades submitted by schools and colleges.
On the grounds for appealing final grades, it proposes specific and limited circumstances where schools, colleges and students should have this opportunity.
Ofqual are continuning to work with examination boards on guidance forvocational Qualifications. VQ subject adviser Raj Sood discusses support coming from OCR here:
They have also update the guidance here for teachers, parents and students on the awarding of GCSE, AS and A levels this year. There is further information on:
SEN
Bias vs protected groups
Y10/Y12 disruption to study (for those taking exams next year)
EAL
Students who’ve improved since mocks
Standardisation model
Teachers, parents and students may also find the Ofqual blog useful
here , which describes the arrangements and includes two short videos – one for teachers and one for students.
Update 3rd April 8pm
Full guidance has now been issued for how qualifications will be awarded in summer 2020 in England, Wales and Scotland. Centres will be asked to make assessments based on a holistic review of candidates’ performance to date, and a professional judgement made of their likely performance had they completed their courses and examinations.
Whilst details for administration differ in each of the nations, (we await confirmation of arrangements in Northern Ireland) the principle of teachers making a ‘best assessment’ using their professional judgement applies for all students wherever they are in the UK . This is as it should be.
NSEAD has made strong representations on behalf of our members to all of the regulatory authorities since school closures were announced. Our priority has been to speak for our members, to ensure that decisions would be informed by the needs of students and their teachers.Our recommendations have been acknowledged, and are reflected in the arrangements for centre assessment.
No system put in place in times of emergency will be perfect, or completely fair to all students, but we are pleased that the regulatory authorities have put the responsibility in the hands of teachers to do everything that we can to ensure that students are fairly rewarded.
There is a great deal of work ahead of us, but we know that our members will rise to that challenge, for the sake of all of our students.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING SHARING OF WORK PREPARED FOR ASSESSMENT
As the Easter break begins for many, schools await the detail of how grade calculations and teacher estimations are to be managed. We await detailed guidance from Ofqual and the SQA.
NSEAD has continued to press for subject specific guidance, which is now urgently required. We have written again to Ofqual this morning, following news reports of teachers setting up online exhibitions of work that students had prepared for submission as part of ESA units.This is something that NSEAD have been cautioning our members against doing, as it is unclear whether that work will now form part of their students’ grade calculations.
We are concerned that Art and Design teachers may be unwittingly compromising their students by posting work that may be required for inclusion in grade esitmation data required by exam boards. NSEAD has called for assessment of ESA units to be excluded from the grade calculations for Art and Design qualifications, due to the inevitable disadvantage to students unable to submit work directly before or after school closures.
We have advised Ofqual that in the absence of guidance, many teachers are naturally wishing to recognise the extraordinary work of their students and we have been fielding many questions from our members about whether they should do this. NSEAD has always been very clear in our instruction to members and those using our social media platforms – do not share work that is part of formal assessment or you will be in breach of regulations.
This morning, we have asked Ofqual directly:
Are you in a position to confirm now that this work will NOT form part of grade calculations?
We urge members to refrain from sharing work that has been prepared as part of formal assessment until there is a clear position on arrangements for grade calculations from the regulatory authorities and exam boards.
Update 26th March at 6pm
Initial Teacher Education
As a result of school closures, Trainee teachers are unlikely to have completed the necessary number of school based hours to qualify for QTS. Whilst different the UK Government has issued a statement to initial teacher education partnerhsips advising that the result, the DfE will enable providers to make judgements on trainees “based on assessments already completed and each trainee’s current trajectory of progress towards meeting the teachers’ standards”.
Key points in the statement are:
ITE requirements in respect of time spent in school and number and location of placements are suspended.
ITE programmes can continue through on-line learning , the setting of assignments to be completed at home and in other ways that providers think appropriate.
Where at the end of the programme students are judged by the provider to be on a trajectory towards meeting the teacher standards they can, on normal timescales, be recommended for the award of QTS.
Arrangments for students who could clearly not be judged to be on a trajectory towards QTS at the end of their programmes will be announced in due course, along with details of any financial provision.
Additional support for next year’s NQTs who are awarded QTS will also be announced in due course.
ITE providers can continue to recruit students for 2020/21, using Skype or other on- line mechanisms for the conducting of interviews, and the checking of documents.
Normal timescales for Rejection by Default and Declined by Default have been suspended
Detailed Q&A from DfE will follow, as will updated ITE criteria
NSEAD will be working to support our student and NQT members with a programme of activity and resources will be developed over the comi
Update 23rd March 9am
School Closures
As schools open this morning, operating a skeleton service for key workers, staff who are deployed to work onsite are understandably concerned about their ongoing risk of exposure to the Coronavirus. Over the weekend, headteachers warned that the level of requests they have received to admit pupils may not be tenable.
NSEAD urges schools to do all that they can to ensure the safety and well being of those staff who are manning Key worker support rotas, and those pupils still attending school.
We are particularly concerned about reports from our members working in the independent sector of more than 50% of their pupils expected to be in school this morning. Independent schools are caught between advice to close that is not currently being enforced by Government, and the contradictory demands of parents requiring childcare to enable them to continue to work We call for Government to provide much more robust directives to parents and carers. Those children who can be at home should be at home – whether in public or privately funded settings.
Our advice to members who find that they are delivering skeleton services to unacceptably high numbers of children, is to ask your school management and governors to confirm the arrangements to safeguard the health of all those required to be onsite. Specifically, how will they:
enforce social distancing actions within the school, including 2m distance between individuals provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for all staff working onsite providing surgical quality face masks for pupils maintain the most stringent standards of hygiene - extent and frequency of cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, availability of hand sanitizer, etc
NSEAD recognises that headteachers and Governing bodies are under immense strain at this time, and that their intentions will surely be to protect their staff and students. Ultimately it is up to the Government to support them.
Impact on examinations and assessment
We await further information from Ofqual, the SQA and the examining bodies about arrangements for summer series assessments and awarding of grades. We fully expect additional detail to cover the full range of courses that are affected, including BTECs and other vocational courses.
In Higher Education, institutions are responding individually, with different arrangements to allow students to progress to the next year of their courses and for final year students to be awarded with qualifications. Whilst we appreciate that these decisions must be made at local level, we are concerned the very specific needs of practice- based courses are leading to delays in measures to ensure that staff and students are able to follow social distance guidelines. Whilst studios and workshops remain open, and assessment arrangements still require full submissions, inevitably anxious students are continuing to work onsite, putting themselves and others at risk of contagion. NSEAD calls on all HE providers to ensure that students and staff are not being put at unnecessary risk.
Update 20th March
Update 20th March 8pm
Impact on Examinations
The government announced today further details on exams and grades. The stated intention is to ensure GCSE, A and AS level students are awarded a grade which fairly reflects the work that they have put in.
There are two options:
For those who need an exam grade this summer, the exam boards will be asking teachers, who know their students well, to submit their judgement about the grade that they believe the student would have received if exams had gone ahead.
There will also be an option to sit an exam early in the next academic year for students who wish to. NSEAD have written to Ofqual asking for more information about the arrangements for Art and Design candidates who wish to follow this option. It is not clear whether this will mean all externally moderated components, and we have asked for details of how submission, assessment and moderation will be managed. We will provide more detailed information when we have it.
SQA have not provided any further update. We have written expressing our concern that teachers have been asked to continue to work with young people to ensure that any units and coursework are completed and estimated grades are provided, to SQA’s existing deadlines, or earlier if that is possible.
Sick pay and support for business
The Chancellor announced today measures to further support employers to continue to pay employees during periods of closure. These measures - a new coronavirus job retention scheme are specifically aimed at employers (including charitable and non profit) with grants to cover most of the wages of people who are not working but are furloughed and kept on payroll rather than being laid off .
Teachers working on a supply basis who are on contract with an agency or school may be eligible, depending on the terms of the terms of their contracts.
Teachers employed in schools subject to closure under the Government directive will continue to be paid as normal and should not see a reduction in pay as a result of school closure. They may be deployed according to local plans, or directed to work at home.
The job retention scheme and payments do not apply to self employed or freelance workers. In measures announced today, they will be allowed to defer self-assessment payments until January 2021 and can claim universal credit at a rate equivalent to statutory sick pay. However, as SSP is set at £94.25 per week, many will find that their income is significantly reduced.
NSEAD will continue to call for fair treatment of all of our members as they work together to suppport learners at this time of national emergency.
Update 20th March 2020 8am
This morning the Government has published detailed guidance for schools, colleges and local authorities on maintaining educational provision. A list of key workers has been defined, which includes nursery and teaching staff and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID 19 response.
This means that all members who work in an educational setting should remain available for work, and be prepared to be deployed at local level, according to local plans. If you have school age children, they will be prioritised for school education along with those of other key workers and vulnerable children.
NSEAD advises members to check local plans (at local authority, Trust or school level) and be ready to be deployed to support the delivery of education services either at home, or onsite. We repeat our previous statement that we do not believe it approprate for staff who don’t have the necessary training or personal protective equipment to be required to undertake deep clean duties.
Update 18th March 2020 at 18.30
School closures
The prime minster, Boris Johnson, has today announced that it will be mandatory for schools to close from Friday 20 March in the afternoon. All schools and colleges are also expected to remain open in order to look after children and young people of key workers and vulnerable children. This is across all phases from early years to further education colleges.
Examples of key worker include NHS staff, police and supermarket delivery drivers who need to be able to go to work to support the country’s fight to tackle coronavirus.
Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education also announced that schools will need to make provision for the children and young people of key workers and vulnerable children in the Easter vacation.
To make this possible local authorities, academy chains, schools and colleges will be expected to give guidance and to make arrangements with teachers and other staff teams.
Examinations
Examinations will not take place in May or June this year. The prime minister has also said that progress will not be impeded as a result of their cancellation. No indication was given as to when or if they will still take place.
NSEAD has written to Ofqual (17 March) and will be writing to SQA, in order to seek clarification and assurances that our subject-specific examination needs are given due consideration. We will be following up any responses to ensure are teachers and students remain fully informed with informed.
We will be seeking further advice from the DfE, Ofqual and SQA to confirm the consequences and implications of these announcements on our members and their students. As soon as we have more details we will share this with you.
Update 17th March at 19:30
Disability and increased vulnerability
Pregnant women have been included in the vulnerable category. The DfE are looking to issue guidance covering HR issues in respect of high-risk members of staff. We expect this guidance to be issued very shortly.
NSEAD reminds employers that under HSE requirements for pregnant workers they are entitled to a risk assessment and steps to mitigate any identified risk. In the case of potential Coronavirus infection NSEAD call for pregnant workers to be allowed to work from home, with immediate effect. This should not trigger the start of maternity leave, or be treated as sick leave, but reasonable adjustment.
Employees Self-isolating
If staff have to be isolated/quarantined, then they should not be expected to take annual leave or be recorded as sick leave to cover this period – it should be special leave. If staff are self-isolating, then for those that have the appropriate technology available and their jobs enable working from home, managers can reasonably expect them to work from home (assuming they are well enough) rather than be on leave. However, for those who do not have that flexibility, managers should be able to approve the absence as special leave. However, if they are unwell and not able to work then this is likely to be recorded as sickness absence.
Detriment to members
We repeat our call for employers to ensure that staff who need to self-isolate do not suffer detriment in pay, or triggers on absence policy procedures. This should apply whether as a result of infection, or household quarantine, or in extended isolation due to serious underlying health or pregnancy, or age category. This is the position being taken by many local authorities, though definitive Government guidance has not yet been issued.
Impact on examinations
NSEAD has today written to Ofqual asking for urgent clarification of the arrangements for Art and Design courses on the following points: assessment, moderation arrangements and teacher assessment
As the professional body for art, craft and design education we strongly advise that subject-specific guidance is given to schools, colleges and centres as soon as possible. At this time of national emergency, our members are extremely concerned that they cannot give the reassurances needed to their students. We ask that you take into account the unique assessment and moderation needs of art and design qualifications, and can provide the reassurances that we seek without delay. Read the full letter here.
School closures
We recognise that there remains a contradiction between government guidance to avoid gatherings of people, and the requirement of children, young people and staff in educational settings to continue to attend. This is understandably causing anxiety. The Government has said that school closures may be necessary, and they will make a decision at the appropriate time. Until then, there is no national closure of schools. Headteachers warn that increasing staff absence due to necessary self-isolation may make it difficult to keep their schools open. We advise our members to share any concerns that they have due to increased class sizes, changes to accommodation or any other factor that compromises health and safety with their school management. Follow all guidance issued by Government and health authorities. NSEAD continues to press for clear information to support schools planning and measures to safeguard staff.
Following the briefing today by the UK Government and advice from the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer, members should be aware that new measures to curb the coronavirus are being put in place. The key new measures that may affect our members in the workplace are:
Everyone should make every effort to avoid gatherings and crowded places.
Everyone should work from home if possible
If anyone person in any household has a persistent cough or fever, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days.
By next weekend those with the most serious health conditions must be “largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks”
Schools should stay open, although closures may become necessary at some point during the outbreak.
What does this mean for our members?
Schools and colleges are crowded places. The need to keep them open in order to support key workers must be balanced with the health and well being of employees. NSEAD asks schools to ensure that unreasonable demands are not made on teachers in order to cover for colleagues who are now absent. This includes increasing class sizes beyond the agreed maxima for that key stage. It is our opinion that parent’s evenings with in person interviews, should not take place for the duration of the outbreak, and whilst schools are still open.
If you are asked to work from home, in the event of prolonged self-isolation, or school closure, your employer should have a risk assessment in place for home working. This should cover health and safety and safeguarding issues such as the use of online platforms to support pupil learning. NSEAD reminds employers that there should not be an automatic assumption that staff have the resources or skills to support online learning. Anything over and above normal duties, e.g. preparing home packs, is voluntary in nature and teachers cannot be instructed to prepare these without agreement and without time being identified to do so.
If you have symptoms of Covid 19, you should self-isolate for 14 days. If someone in your household has symptoms, you should self-isolate for 14 days. NSEAD expects employers to recognise that self-isolation for Covid 19 in case of infection, or precaution should not trigger any aspect of absence policy procedures, nor be part of any employee’ sickness record. Employees should not suffer any detriment in terms of pay or any other conditions of employment as a result of following measures to curb Coronovirus.
If you have a serious underlying health condition, a chronic disease or are a pregnant woman, you will be expected to self-isolate for your own protection and to reduce pressure on the NHS. You should expect this to last for around 12 weeks and will not be able to go to work until public health advice is issued. This will come into effect this weekend. NSEAD calls upon all employers to support vulnerable employees to self-isolate with immediate effect and without detriment.
A number of schools in England, Wales and Scotland have announced short term closures. Special schools in Nothern Ireland will close from Monday. Long term closure of all UK schools remains a possibility but has not been announced. Meantime, it is the expectation of NSEAD that where pupils, students, or staff have been identified as carrying the Covid 19 virus, the school, or college or University, should be closed and a deep clean enacted. In our view the closure should not be simply to accommodate the deep clean but should factor in the necessary period for self-isolation to happen e.g. a minimum of seven days.
Our members are concerned about the impact of staff and pupil absence and potential school closure on the summer examinations. Ofqual have issued guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The SQA last updated on the 12th March. NSEAD advises members to discuss with your exam secretary the contingency plan that your centre has in place, and review in the context of potential long term closures of centres during the summer exam series. Specifically, consider how, if the contingency plan is invoked, you will comply with the awarding organisation’s requirements.
NSEAD will continue to respond to member concerns and give updates. I know that members will understand that if it is impossible to resolve a query it is because of the uncertainty of the situation, not through any lack of effort on the part of staff.
As Government responses to the coronavirus pandemic develops, NSEAD will update members with the relevant advice and guidance. At this point, school closures have not been announced, but a growing number of HE institutions have suspended teaching or moved lectures and tutorials online. Many schools are preparing for potential closure and asking staff to make plans to support home learning.
The UK Government has issued advice for educational settings about Covid 19.
The official guidance in these links does not address the position regarding duty of care for employees who have underlying health conditions, or fall into the vulnerable age bracket and so are particularly vulnerable if they contract Covid 19. NSEAD calls upon employers to honour their duty of care, and not expect employees with underlying health conditions to be on site whilst there is a danger of exposure to the coronavirus. We advise members to take advice from their GP and to make any decision to self-isolate accordingly. If you are advised to remain off work, you should get this in writing if possible.
Under equalities legislation, if you have a disability that makes you more susceptible to infection, your employer has a duty to carry out a risk assessment and any reasonable adjustments should be applied, including a temporary change of work location or duties.
Detriment to members
Where staff are absent from work due to self-isolation, NSEAD shares the position of the other teaching unions, and the TUC. Appropriate arrangements should be made to ensure that the absence does not lead to any detriment to members’ pay, by ensuring that relevant procedures are used to ensure that staff receive full pay during their absence through relevant and appropriate policies such as authorised leave sick leave provisions or medical suspension. During self-isolation the staff member may not develop coronavirus and therefore authorised leave would be more appropriate than sick leave or medical suspension.
Employers should not currently be requiring Fit notes, as they are unlikely to be obtainable. The Government is developing an alternative form of evidence to the fit note. These will shortly be available through NHS online.
Until then, we advise our members to ensure that they provide details of the reasons for the self-isolation and the advice they have taken.
NSEAD expect that any absence due to self-isolation will be disregarded and not form part of any absence management procedures.
We recognise that the current situation and an extended response may be increasing individuals’ anxiety levels, impacting on mental health, or exacerbating existing mental health conditions. If this leads to a period of absence it should be considered as normal sick leave.
If you are teaching on supply, agency workers who have three months continuous service may be entitled to statutory sick pay (subject to earning a minimum of £118 per week).
As part of emergency measures to control infection, and encourage workers to self-isolate, the Government has removed the 4-day qualifying period so this can be claimed from the first day of absence due to self-isolation. Further information here:
At the moment there are some short-term closures of schools, mostly for deep cleaning where a case has been recorded. These closures should be under the same terms as other enforced temporary closures (for example, in case of a health and safety risk or inclement weather). No employee should lose pay or be required to make up time missed due to closure.
Setting work for remote learning support
It is not unreasonable for teachers, if they are asked, to provide where there are facilities to do so work for pupils to do during the closure or provide remote/or online learning support. However, schools should not be imposing increased workload burdens on teachers for them to produce this work. Teachers of practical subjects may find it particularly difficult to set work as it may well require the production of a whole new set of resources for independent study, with limited materials and equipment in a home setting. Preparing these materials is workload intensive, particularly for practical subjects where there are fewer resources readily available in textbooks and online. We advise members to highlight this in planning discussions with their school management. Where preparations are being made for this time should be given during the working day for teachers to produce these resources.
Where schools are instructed to close long term, they must have contingency plans to support remote learning. Whilst technology such as video conferencing may be part of proposals, not all pupils or teachers will have the facilities to at home to work in this way. There is no requirement for members to be set up or have the expertise to offer remote tuition.
Where teachers can work in this way, we would ask members to be aware of the potential for online sessions to be recorded and edited, which could lead to inappropriate postings on social media. One to one tutorial via video conference should be avoided. We advise members to highlight this concern in planning meetings and seek reassurance that safeguards have been built in by your school management.
Our members are concerned about the impact on practical learning if schools are closed for a prolonged period. It is not possible to maintain the same level of teaching and learning for all pupils when they are working remotely without access to the materials, equipment and supervision provided in art rooms. There should be no monitoring of teachers’ performance during this time, and teachers should not be held accountable for the inevitable impact on pupil progress.
Impact on examinations
If the outbreak causes disruption through the examination season, awarding bodies are expected to issue appropriate guidance to schools.
Ofqual has produced guidance for schools and colleges on how to deal with significant disruption to examinations.
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) has a well-established examination disruption contingency plan. Although this information does not address issues related to COVID-19 directly, it is likely that it will form the basis of specific advice for examination centres if the outbreak impacts on their ability to manage candidates’ access to assessments or prevents candidates from travelling to centres.
On 2nd March, Ofqual wrote to heads of examination centres (pdf) advising that preparations for the summer examination series should continue as normal and that Ofqual will issue further advice and guidance if necessary.
NSEAD is in contact with the examining bodies to ascertain the measures they will take in specific regard to practical coursework and arrangements for moderation. We will update members when we have more information.
This is an anxious time for everyone. NSEAD calls upon schools to prioritise the safety and well being of pupils and staff. The art education community is rallying to provide support, advice and resources for teachers and their pupils. NSEAD would like to assure you of our continued support.