The list of duties below used to form part of the STPCD guidance but was removed in 2014. The NEU believes that it is reasonable for a teacher to be directed to undertake these duties as part of their directed time if classes are absent:
- Develop/revise departmental/subject curriculum materials, schemes of work lesson plans and policies in preparation for the new academic year. This may include identifying appropriate materials for use by supply staff and/or cover supervisors.
- Assist colleagues in appropriate, planned team teaching activities.
- Take groups of pupils to provide additional learning support.
- Support selected pupils with coursework.
- Undertake planned activities with pupils transferring between year groups or from primary schools.
- Where the school has a policy for all staff to release them for continuing professional development (CPD) during school sessions, gained time may be used for such activities.
It is only where such activities are being undertaken with pupils whose teacher is absent that they will necessarily be considered to be ‘cover’, in which case the ‘rarely cover’ provision will apply.
Rarely cover refers to the provision in the STPCD that states that teachers should be asked to undertake cover only in exceptional circumstances, such as emergency situations.
