Your questions answered
National Education Union subscription rates for working members are based on a member’s role and the hours they work. A National Education Union member’s role determines their membership type, which can be Leadership, Standard (for teachers or lecturers), or Support.
The NEU reviews its membership subscription rates on an annual basis. The NEU Executive Committee agrees on the rates.
All working members pay a national subscription and a local subscription set by their local district.
It’s completely free for students and trainees on Initial Teacher Training courses (ITT) to join the NEU, whether you’re at university or doing a school-based course such as School Direct or Teach First*. Your course must lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to qualify for the free offer. Simply complete the short online join form to become a member today.
NEU membership will cost you only £1* in your first year after qualifying. Whether you’re an existing student member or you’re new to the union, you’ll need to complete the same form in order to access the £1* offer.
*The free student membership and the £1 do not apply to those undertaking an Assessment Only Route (AOR) to QTS.
Yes. The NEU represents members in both the maintained early years sector and in the private and voluntary sector. As well as offering representation, advice, support, and benefits such as CPD, the NEU also provides an early years forum to support members with networking, organising, and peer support. Find out how to get more involved at neu.org.uk/EYWhatsApp
Which membership type you are depends on your role and where you work.
The majority of members working in Early Years fall into the NEU support membership category. This will be the right membership type for you if you are an early years practitioner, a nursery nurse, a room lead/manager, a midday supervisor, or a play supervisor. If you’re a teacher in an early years setting in the PVI sector, you will also be considered eligible for the support membership type.
If you work as a qualified teacher in a maintained nursery, children’s centre, or a reception class in a school, NEU standard membership will be the appropriate membership type for you.
If you are the head teacher of a nursery school, you would be in the NEU leader membership category.
If you’re uncertain of which membership type is appropriate for you or if you are having any difficulty completing the online form, please contact the membership team on 0345 811 8111 or at membership@neu.org.uk.
Yes. The NEU is committed to supporting members on supply and agency contracts.
When you join, we will ask you how many hours you work or anticipate working to identify the correct subscription rate for you.
The NEU is unable to offer membership to anyone working in Scotland. It is important to be a member of a trade union. If you work in Scotland you may wish to join the EIS or the appropriate support staff union.
If you live in Scotland but work in a school or college in England, you may join the NEU.
A portion of your NEU membership subscription is set by your local district to be spent on campaigns and activities which matter most to NEU members where you work and live.
Each local district will set and collect a local subscription of between 5% and 20% of your national subscription rate As an NEU member you elect your district officers, and you are encouraged to attend the meetings of your district where decisions such as the setting and spending of your local subscription are made.
The local subscription will not be collected in your first year of membership if you are a new member or if you have been out of union membership for 36 months or longer.
If you want to get more involved in your local union and help decide on local priorities, or to find out how much your local fee is, please get in touch with your local district officers.
Yes. The NEU and the Musicians’ Union are committed to joint working to support music education. Members of each union can join the other at a reduced rate.
If you are a National Education Union member, the majority of your work is classroom based, but some of your work is as a musician performing, writing or teaching, you can join the Musicians Union at half the annual subscription rate. Email membership@theMU.org to join at the reduced rate.
If you’re already a member of the Musicians’ Union, the majority of your work is as a musician, performing, writing and teaching, but some of your work is classroom based, you can join the National Education Union at a flat rate of 15% of our standard membership rate (regardless of job role and working hours).
If you require further information, please email membership@neu.org.uk or call 0345 811 8111.
Unfortunately, the NEU cannot offer representation or assistance, including legal advice, in relation to problems that existed prior to joining the NEU. For this reason, it’s important not to wait until you have a problem at work to join a union. It is also important to maintain continuity of membership to retain access to advice or support from the union.
