Our model policies and policy checklists are designed to assist NEU reps in negotiating the best employment policies on behalf of our members.
Reps should strive to ensure policies are compliant with the NEU models.
Reps should consult members before agreeing new policies or changes to existing policies and should not agree policies that do not meet member expectations, any statutory requirements and NEU minimums.
Reps should always seek to work collaboratively with other unions.
Policy checklists should be used in conjunction with our model policies and can be used as a guide for reps when communicating with members over whether a proposed policy is acceptable.
If a policy is unacceptable, members should consider a collective response that may include taking industrial action. For further advice contact your branch.
Checklist
Policy Commitment
☐ Guidance and recommendations from the DfE’s workload reduction toolkit will be used to tackle excessive and unnecessary workload burdens, particularly in areas such as lesson planning, marking and other accountability-related tasks.
☐ All educators, including teachers, head teachers and support staff are entitled to a reasonable work/life balance.
Working Hours
☐ Teachers will not be expected work beyond their 1,265 hours (or part time equivalent) of directed time, as per the STPCD/STPC(W)D.
☐ Additional working time for the effective discharge of duties is capped at 10 hours per week, those in leadership roles may be required to work one extra hour per day.
☐ Support staff will not be expected to work beyond their contracted hours. However, should additional hours be mutually agreed, the policy should confirm that support staff will be compensated with overtime pay or time off in lieu (TOIL), as per school/trust policy.
Directed Time Calendars
☐ Directed time calendars will be shared with all teaching staff at the start of each academic year.
☐ Teaching staff will be consulted on any changes to the directed time calendar which could affect their work/life balance.
Meetings
☐ All staff will be consulted on the frequency and timing of meetings they are required to attend to ensure they do not interfere with any caring/childcare commitments and responsibilities.
☐ After-school staff meetings should last no longer than 60 minutes and will be scheduled for an average of one evening per week during a term.
☐ Part-time teachers will not be expected to attend meetings or inset days on a day they don’t work, unless mutually agreed.
☐ Hybrid meetings will be arranged wherever possible.
Communication outside of school hours
☐ Staff will not be expected to be constantly available outside of their regular working hours. This extends to reading/responding to emails, text messages etc.
☐ No pressure should be placed on staff to be available in evenings or weekends.
Planning, preparation and assessment (PPA time)
☐ Teachers and support staff with PPA responsibilities should receive a minimum of 20% of their timetabled teaching time as PPA.
NB: The STPCD minimum entitlement of 10% is insufficient; the NEU’s position is that at least 20% PPA time is required to reduce workload pressures effectively.
☐ PPA time can be taken off-site if preferred.
New Initiatives
☐ Any new initiatives will be subject to a workload impact assessment.
☐ Recognised trade unions will be consulted before implementation of any new initiatives.
☐ Any increase in workload will be offset by agreed workload reductions elsewhere.