NEU help and advice pages comprise FAQs and other guidance which address common employment workplace issues and are entirely problem focused.
They are not intended as a substitute for telephone or face-to-face advice, but are additional to the support provided by school and college reps, districts, regional offices and our offices in Wales and Northern Ireland.
If you require more detailed advice, or are unable to find the answers you are looking for, contact Adviceline.
Parental leave
As well as statutory maternity rights, most teachers are also covered by the maternity rights scheme for teachers, set out in the Burgundy Book national agreement on conditions of service.
- Your entitlements and responsibilities under UK legislation on paternity leave and pay.
Pay
- This is the NEU’s advice for school and academy reps on securing pay increases in line with the Government’s decisions on school teacher pay from September 2018.
How to negotiate on pay and other forms of remuneration in the independent sector, with some relevance to Further Education workplaces or academies where there is collective bargaining.
- Ten bullet points on independent sector collective bagaining.
- The campaign for equal pay has a long history; one which is still ongoing.
- The latest NEU evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body, which is reviewing teacher pay in England, sets out our case for a fully-funded pay increase for all teacher points and allowances of 5% in September 2019, for further pay increases to restore the cuts in teacher pay since 2010 and for an urgent review to establish appropriate pay for teachers for the long term.
This guidance sets out the obligations of employers and employees in relation to notice periods and notice pay.
- Guidance on the pay and conditions implications of teachers’ participation in out-of-school-hours learning activities
- An introduction to the pay and conditions arrangements of part time teachers
- Advice on identifying the grounds for a pay appeal and on how members might run a successful pay appeal
The most common queries NEU members have on pay for leadership teachers in schools and academies.
- As private businesses outside the national collective bargaining structure in the maintained sector, independent schools have greater freedom to set their own terms and conditions of employment.
- This guide gives advice to leaders on how their pay progression system works.
- Details of the recommended NEU pay scales for teachers and leaders, which we wish to see all schools adopt.
- The joint union pay scales show the impact of the uplift to the teachers’ pay ranges for 2018-19, when applied to the individual pay points on those ranges recommended in our joint advice for 2017-18.
- Details of how academies and trusts set pay scales and what pay and conditions arrangements are in place in these workplaces.
- Advice explaining the payments and entitlements you may receive if your post becomes redundant. In any case where redundancy is threatened, specific advice and assistance is available and should be sought from your school/college rep or division/association/branch secretary.
- Pay and conditions for teachers in residential establishments are aligned with those in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) and Burgundy Book, other than the following allowances and pay scales for pay scales for allowances.
- This guidance provides advice on finding out more about pay policies and their most important features.
- Frequently asked questions on school teacher pay increase and how to make sure you receive it.
- This is a guide on steering a course through your appraisal and the pay decision process to ensure that you can secure pay progression.
- Pay scales and updates on pay negotiations for sixth form colleges.
- This guidance is aimed at new teachers and those returning to teaching service after a break. It explains the basics of the pay structure and gives advice on ensuring you are fairly paid and able to seek the most favourable use of pay discretions.
What should I expect to be paid as an agency supply teacher? What should I be paid for supply work of less than a day in duration? What happens if a school wants to offer me a permanent job? These and many other key questions are covered in this introductory guide to supply teaching.
- There are no national pay scales for support staff employed in the state sector. But most LA schools use the local government pay scales to pay their support staff in conjunction with National Joint Council (NJC) terms and conditions.
Guidance on pay and conditions when working in the independent sector.
An overview of the Local Government Pension Scheme, introduced in 2014
A comprehensive overview to the teachers’ pay structure and classroom teachers’ pay scales for 2018 – 19
Advice on Teaching & Learning Responsibility Payments (TLRs) and other allowances such as Special Educational Needs allowances and Recruitment and Retention payments.
- This guidance summarises the position in respect of pay and conditions for unattached teachers employed by local authorities.
Pay progression
- This guidance provides advice on finding out more about pay policies and their most important features.
- This is a guide on steering a course through your appraisal and the pay decision process to ensure that you can secure pay progression.
Pay toolkit
- This guide gives advice on how the pay progression system for classroom teachers works.
- This guide explains how to challenge unfair pay policies and secure a fair pay policy in your school.
Pensions
- Advice on your eligibility for and access to workplace pension schemes as an agency supply teacher.
The Teachers’ Pension Scheme will provide much of your retirement income so it is vital that you understand it. This guidance covers the career average section of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) in which most members are accruing pension.
- In whatever capacity you work in education, there is likely to be an occupational scheme available for you to join and you may have automatic membership as soon as you are employed.
Information about the final salary section of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), including how to find out if you are in this TPS section.
- The Court of Appeal has ruled against the Government, following decisions in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeals Tribunal. The NEU sees no need to take legal action at this point. If the Government loses in the Supreme Court then whatever compensation is deemed payable will be applied automatically to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (E&W).
- The Government has published the proposed increases in teachers’ pensions with effect from 8 April 2019.
- Guide for teachers and other school staff who wish to continue working beyond age 65
- Information about the single-tier state pension and changes to the state retirement age.
- The Teachers’ Pension Scheme will provide much of your retirement income so it is vital that you understand it. This advise covers the career average section of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) in which most members are accruing pension.
- The Teachers’ Pension Scheme will provide much of your retirement income so it is vital that you understand it. This advise covers the final salary section and it aims to answer the most common pension queries for NEU members.
An overview of the Local Government Pension Scheme, introduced in 2014
Performance management
- Appraisal is particularly important because it affects decisions on your pay. This guidance aims to answer the most common queries NEU members have on appraisal. You should read this guide in conjunction with your school/college appraisal policy.
- NEU guidance surrounding capability proceedings
- This advice explains the circumstances in which schools may disclose capability information to prospective employers.
Planning
- Advice for trainee members on lesson planning, timing and pacing, and tips on how to save time.
Post-16
- This advice is intended to assist in discussions in relation to recognition and recruitment in FE colleges and sixth form colleges where there are National Education Union (NEU) members.
Pupil welfare
- Guidance on issues regarding pupil incontinence, and how schools can adopt policies to help.