
Coronavirus: joint union checklist for partial opening period to February
During the current desperate public health situation, it is imperative that the way schools operate during lockdown does not make matters worse.
During the current desperate public health situation, it is imperative that the way schools operate during lockdown does not make matters worse.
This briefing gives guidance on health and safety precautions for staff and pupils working with information & communications technology (ICT) equipment, including computers, keyboards, display screens, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
NEU along side NI teacher unions (Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council) have written to the First and Deputy First Minister to highlight concerns regarding Special School Provision during the current lockdown.
To support schools, Department of Education, Northern Ireland (DENI) has prepared phase specific information.
Updated guidance in light of the current crisis in public. These replace the actions set out in the letter to schools of 31 December 2020.
The previous DE guidance of 29 September has been amended.
The NEU is advising all teacher trainees to finish their placements in early December.
Local authorities and multi academy trusts that have agreed with the NEU’s position on CEV workers.
Covid-19: our commitment to members, children and young people
An NEU toolkit to support members affected at work by domestic abuse. Model policy, guidance, poster, FAQs and a checklist for reps and leaders. #NEURNotAlone
Advice for members and reps on how to protect and keep yourself safe in the workpplace during the coronavirus crisis.
Week four training and events for health and Safety Month 2020
Week three training and events for Health and Safety Month 2020, 16-20 November
Week two training and events for Health and Safety Month 2020
Week two training and events for Health and Safety Month 2020
NEU Health and Safety Month aims to empower members, reps and officers with skills and knowledge to ensure schools and colleges are as safe as they can be, during the pandemic and beyond.
Wirral primary rep Andy Heywood describes his successful safety campaign.
Telford Special school rep Donna Macdonald describes her successful organising campaign.
Swindon primary rep Fran King describes how acting collectively led to a successful safety campaign.
Oldham rep Noo Khadem describes her successful safety campaign.
Guide for National Education Union officers on how to support your members during coronavirus
Our demands: the Government must help schools to be as safe as possible
All union risk assessments for national and regional offices
We all want schools to open – as soon as it is safe to do so. The NEU’s five tests do not require a vaccine, which will be many months away.
NEU advice on what you need to know during the coronavirus crisis.
NEU health and safety representatives play a vital role in promoting safety in the workplace by representing members and employees’ interests on health and safety issues.
This course is for elected NEU health and safety representatives at workplace level and runs over five days.
This briefing lists the most common sorts of school infestation, together with control measures that should be in place in all schools.
Advice on working through the menopause, guides and checklists for leaders and school reps and the NEU's model menopause policy.
Advice on your legal rights and NEU union policy on the maximum and minimum temperatures under which staff and pupils should be expected to work in schools.
NEU continues to meet with DENI, the Education Authority, and the PHA and to raise a wide range of concerns for staff and pupils on substantive matters of health and safety.
Advice on safety in schools during lockdown and remote learning
Joint statement on behalf of NAHT, ASCL, NEU, NASUWT, AOC, NGA, The Church of England Education Office
Advice for members on mass Covid-19 testing in schools and colleges.
Covid-19: Why clinically extremely vulnerable staff must be allowed to work from home
Supporting victims and challenging the behaviour of perpetrators
A guide for members on how to tackle domestic abuse and the workplace
Covid-19 and pregnancy: Dos and Don’ts
This advice sets out how to spot hazards in low/“child” height working environments, and includes simple practical measures to prevent and reduce, pain, strain and injury.
Our advice on ventilation in Covid-19 schools and workplaces.
Staff who are at greater risk of severe illness from coronavirus must be protected.
During the winter months, staff and students will be spending more time indoors. Ventilating indoor work areas, whilst at the same time ensuring a comfortable working temperature, will become more and more challenging.
Covid-19 safety in schools. These are minimum standards for keeping everyone safe and ensuring reasonable working conditions.
Knowledge about the greater risks of Covid-19 to specific individuals and groups has grown during the current crisis.
What to look out for in your school/college risk assessment
NEU and joint unions' advice on medically vulnerable - whether clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) or clinically vulnerable (CV) - and higher risk groups.
Ten points on the wearing of face coverings to reduce the risk of transmission and on circumstances where medical masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) may be appropriate.
Our major priority, during this awful crisis, is the health and safety of our members who are continuing to go to work to care for vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers.
NEU Guidance for Members, Reps and Local Officers on how health and safety reps can use their powers can work with members to address excessive workload.
NEU Guidance for Members, Reps and Local Officers around the development and implementation of photograpic policies in schools
The most common queries NEU members have on health and safety policy in academy trusts.
This policy forms part of the employer’s overall commitment to safety, good employee relations and the promotion of health, safety and welfare at work.
This harassment and bullying model policy is comprised of two sections: a model policy statement and a model procedure for dealing with complaints of harassment and bullying.
The most common queries NEU members have on harassment and bullying in schools.
Educational visits can be of substantial benefit to the education and development of pupils.
A model letter which can be sent by parents to the head teacher of their child’s school to request information about asbestos in the school
This briefing sets out advice on the safe use of photocopiers in schools.
This briefing sets out NEU advice on the requirements of the fire legislation covering schools and on fire safety precautions to be followed in schools. It takes account of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
NEU Guidance for Members, Reps and Local Officers
This guidance document is aimed at NEU members who are worried that their mental health is suffering because of the demands of their work. It will also be of use to NEU members who are considering returning to work following a spell of absence due to a mental health condition.
This page outlines the key legal requirements for drivers and operators of school minibuses and describes the support school staff should be given before they agree to drive a school minibus.
This NEU briefing provides guidance to safety representatives and members on taking action to reduce the incidence of accidents and injuries due to falls from height, including the legal requirements on employers, practical steps which can be taken and sources of further advice and information.
Safety representatives play a vital role in promoting safety in the workplace. This briefing covers the appointment of safety reps and their rights and functions.
This briefing sets out the objectives and benefits of safety committees, in addition to advice and guidance on their composition, inception, and remit.
This briefing advises safety reps on the steps to be taken in arranging and carrying out safety inspections and preparing inspection reports
In response to requests for assistance with undertaking stress surveys, a system has been developed which enables the NEU to provide an online staff stress survey as a resource for local officers, reps and safety reps.
The NEU offers an online staff stress survey as a resource for local officers, reps and safety reps to assist them gather evidence about stress levels within a school and establish the causes and impact of this workplace stress.
NEU Guidance for members, reps and local officers.
This briefing considers the management of health and safety in schools and colleges and the respective roles of the employer, governing body, head teacher and other staff of the school.
This NEU briefing tells you about the framework of health and safety law - in particular about the legal duties placed on employees, employers and others by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and about other sources of health and safety law.
This briefing examines the various means by which branches can attempt to secure adequate levels of paid time off for health and safety advisers to perform their various functions and the legal provisions which can be used to support them.
NEU Guidance for Reps and Local Officers
NEU Guidance for Reps and Local Officers
As a school leader, it is important to ensure that your school is a great place to work, with a happy and healthy workforce and low levels of sick leave.
It is important to understand the extent of governing body’s responsibilities for managing health, safety and welfare of teachers and ways in which the NEU and governors can work together to safeguard the mental health of teachers.
Advice on radon and preventative measures that should be taken in schools to avoid exposure.
This advice explains the ‘resilience’ approach, why it does not lead to meaningful improvements for employees and how safety reps should instead seek to tackle work related stress in their school or college.
This advice gives information on the legal requirement for employers to carry out risk assessments and the extent to which teachers and school staff can be required to assist in the process.
This advice gives NEU guidance on the law’s requirements on assessing the safety of practical activities and on taking steps to ensure that these do not pose risks to the safety of staff or pupils.
This advice considers a number of health and social issues which may affect older school staff and suggests sources of further information and support.
This advice sets out advice and guidance on playground supervision to allow children to play safely.
This advice contains advice about health and safety matters which both newly qualified and student teachers should be aware of when entering the profession.
Mould is a health and safety issue as it can cause a variety of health problems.
This advice focuses on the potential of mobile phone photography to lead to bullying and harassment of others within the school community.
This is a guide to using the data which has been made available via the DfE Asbestos Management Assurance Process (AMAP). It aims to assist local officers in extracting information about asbestos in schools in their area, and in seeking to fill in some of the gaps.
NEU leadership members are key to supporting women going through the menopause in the workplace. As a leader, you’re not alone. Collaboration between leaders, governors, workplace reps, health and safety reps and a staff support network can go a long way towards creating a supportive environment for women experiencing menopause symptoms at work.
The menopause is an occupational health issue for women educators, as well as being an equality issue. It is important that schools and colleges are suitable workplaces for menopausal women. The purpose of this guide and checklist for reps is to signpost you to advice, and to support you in improving workplace conditions for menopausal women.
The purpose of this guidance is to suggest practical ways in which the school and college environment can be improved for women who are going through the menopause.
NEU advice on risks of lone working and what can be done to counter them.
This model policy sets out how employer will seek to prevent workplace violence in its schools, and the procedures that will be followed if a violent incident occurs.
This briefing gives information about tuberculosis (TB) and steps to be taken when cases arise in schools among students or teachers.
It is essential that health and safety in schools should be gender sensitive and appropriate.
How to deal with cases of harassment and bullying of NEU members.
Employers must seek to ensure, again ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’, that non-employees are not exposed to risks to their health or safety.
Health and safety issues for supply teachers, including those employed directly by local authorities, schools and academy trusts and those employed via supply agencies.
Advice for teachers on voice care, including spotting problems, simple preventative measures and information on how and when to seek appropriate specialist help
Excessive workload and working hours are continually cited by teachers as one of the main causes of their workplace stress. This advice explains how to tackle stress at a local level in your workplace.
Advice about violence issues in schools, in particular how this should be tackled by employers.
It is common for teachers to offer private tuition to students. Before doing so, there are several important issues to consider, such as legal and insurance protection and health and safety issues.
A quick guide on what to do in severe winter conditions or adverse weather.
Advice for teachers and school staff who teach swimming or supervise swimming, including qualifications, training and safety.
How schools can help protect pupils from sun exposure and advice around sunscreen.
If someone is threatening imminent suicide call 999 and stay with them until the emergency services arrive.
A stress risk assessment is a careful examination of what in a workplace could cause staff to suffer from work-related stress, so that you can weigh up whether you have done enough, or should do more to prevent harm.
There is a vast range of legislation on health and safety matters which applies in whole, or in part, to schools in Wales. This briefing identifies those which will be most relevant and the areas which they cover.
There is a vast range of legislation on health and safety matters which applies in whole, or in part, to schools. This briefing identifies those which will be most relevant and the areas which they cover.
Every year, many schools are damaged or destroyed by fires, affecting the education of thousands of pupils, and causing millions of pounds worth of damage. The impact of fires is significantly reduced by fitting sprinklers in schools.
How to reduce the incidence of accidents and injuries in schools due to slips, trips and falls.
The basic framework of health and safety law for sixth form colleges
Advice for school staff to support the uninterrupted education of children with sickle cell disorder and thalassaemia.
Information for school staff who transport children in their own car on the law and regulations regarding child car seats and seatbelts.
Our NEU policy and advice on screening and searching pupils for prohibited items in schools in England and Wales.
Advice about health and safety on school trips, including legal rights and obligations.
Advice about school security, in particular at security arrangements and methods to deal with intruders.
Excessive workload is a key cause of mental health problems among teachers and education professionals. This advice explains what to do if you are struggling with mental health and outlines the different ways you can get support.
Information about meningitis and what should be done when an outbreak occur in a school.
Who is responsible for the management of health and safety in schools and colleges and the respective roles of the employer, governing body, head teacher and other staff of the school.
As teachers and school staff often work on their own, there are some key health and safety issues that employers must consider.
Advice on the health and safety issues relating to lifting and handling that school staff face while at work
The symptoms, treatments and preventative measures that should be taken in schools to avoid outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease.
Advice for teachers and support staff on the administration of medicines
Advice on classroom acoustics and reducing the risk of vocal strain on teachers
Advice on what to do when reporting accidents and injuries which happen in schools.
General advice about how to manage cases of infectious illness in schools, including when children should be absent.
Advice on the ways in which violent or threatening pupil behaviour can successfully be tackled using standard risk management techniques.
Advice on the role of the Health and Safety Executive in schools
Advice on the appropriate hygiene procedures for schools which will help to prevent the spread of blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis A, B and C, and conditions such as dysentery.
Hot summers bring regular queries about the maximum temperatures under which staff and pupils should be expected to work in schools.
Advice on what precautions to take when a case of viral hepatitis arises in a school or where a known carrier of the disease is a pupil in the school.
How to tackle the problem of head lice in schools, including facts about head lice and head lice treatment
Advice on the heating levels in schools and classrooms in England, and how to deal with the various types of heating problems which are commonly encountered during cold weather and snow.
Advice on the heating levels in schools and classrooms in Wales, and how to deal with the various types of heating problems which are commonly encountered during cold weather and snow.
Advice on the requirements for first aid provision in schools
Advice on how to deal with epilepsy and seizures in schools, including how to recognise when a pupil might be having a seizure.
Advice on the procedures for dealing with emergencies in schools.
At least 86 per cent of schools contain asbestos, all of it old and much of it deteriorating. Unless your school was wholly built after 1999, it is extremely likely that it contains asbestos.
Advice on dealing with asbestos problems in schools, including the law on asbestos removal and management in schools.
Supporting NEU members in schools which suffer particularly badly in times of extreme heat.
A model health and safety policy for academy trusts, where no such policy is in place or where the existing policy is considered to be inadequate.
Advice on legal requirements and good practice for construction work in schools and a stage-by-stage guide to the role of safety representatives.
NEU guidance on the law and practical advice on electrical safety in schools
NEU guidance on health and safety issues with safe preparation of food in schools.
Precautions to be taken to avoid discomfort and possible damage to the eye when using data projectors
Guidance on issues regarding pupil incontinence, and how schools can adopt policies to help.
Advice on responding to flood alerts in schools and dealing with the aftermath.
Advice on what employers need to do to protect staff from the problems caused by wood dust and MDF dust.
The issues around ergonomics in classrooms and good practices for school staff.
Frequently asked questions in relation to staff car parking on school premises. It includes information on provision of school car parks, charges for car parking, car park safety and malicious damage to cars.
Guidance on maximum class and room sizes
Guidance on what asthma is, what can trigger it, and how to support pupils at risk
A guide to what anaphylaxis is, and how to support pupils at risk
Advice on the main health, safety, welfare and legal factors surrounding animals in schools.
Information and guidance for school staff to support the uninterrupted education of children with diabetes.
Mark Langhammer, Northern Ireland regional secretary's shares his concerns on the effect of low isolation figures on Covid-19 transmission in Northern Ireland.
How has Northern Ireland’s economy coped with lockdown, and how might the workplace change as we gradually emerge? By Mark Langhammer, Northern Ireland regional secretary.
Mark Langhammer, Northern Ireland regional secretary writes about why Government should only reopen schools when it is safe to do.
NEU’s Regional Secretary, Mark Langhammer's blog on NEU's ten demands for a proposed return for schools, colleges and educational settings.
Kirsty Williams, Education Minister Wales thanks the school community for helping the country in a time of national need.
We are relieved that the Government now accepts that it was wrong to introduce testing in this way
Department for Education releases data on the impact of coronavirus on the school workforce.
The number of pupils eligible to go to school and colleges is higher than in the previous lockdown but even given the increase in student numbers staff attendance rates could be much lower.
We have always supported the idea of mass testing in schools as a means to facilitate safe on-site learning, but this has to be consistent with scientific understanding.
Gavin Williamson on school staff being a “top priority” in next phase of vaccine rollout
The principle of trusting teachers rather than algorithms is absolutely the right one to take. The fact that the Government originally did not do so last summer was what caused upset and chaos for students.
The National Education Union and UNISON have highlighted a series of funding and safety issues ministers must address to ensure community safety around the care and education of young children.
The NEU and UNISON have written to Gavin Williamson about the effect a significant extension to the number of pupils allowed back into school will have on Coronavirus transmission rates.
The Government can't seem to decide whether schools are safe or unsafe. Let this data end their confusion.
No one wanted schools and colleges to be shut again but the evidence clearly pointed to the necessity for this to happen weeks ago.
We are informing our members of their legal right to protection to be guided by the science. In order for viral levels in children and in the community to decrease to below R1 primary schools should not open in the first weeks of January.
SAGE told ministers that they needed to close schools to contain coronavirus, before Christmas.
NEU responds to the Government’s announcement on the return to school in January
NEU presses Government to release advice from Chief Medical Officer and reiterates position that schools and colleges should start the New Year with a period of online learning
NEU calls for new measures to ensure safe return of schools and colleges in January
Latest COVID infection survey shows huge surge amongst school and college students
NEU has today written to Gavin Williamson about his “inoperable” mass testing plan for secondary schools and colleges beginning in January.
NEU call that education staff should be vaccinated
Today’s announcement by Government, made on the last day of term, demonstrates ministerial panic rather than rational and responsible action.
These attendance figures that have been hidden from the public for so long show just what a profound impact coronavirus has had on schooling in many areas.
This announcement gives almost zero notice for unions to assess the plans, or for schools to implement them. The Government’s suggestion that the preparation for the roll-out of testing should happen this week is ridiculous.
This Government really has taken a step too far. They should hang their heads in shame. Parents, students and school staff will not forgive this wilful neglect of their safety.
The latest ONS Coronavirus survey figures should be very worrying to the Government - especially in the run up to Christmas. They show that cases are again rising in secondary and primary schools.
Rolling out testing in these two areas is a start, but the Prime Minister needs to urgently address those other parts of the country where infection rates remain high.
The latest figures from the last week of national lockdown are deeply depressing. One in five secondary pupils and one in ten primary pupils were absent last week
We are deeply concerned by the results of the REACT-1 coronavirus survey which show that over the lockdown coronavirus has continued to increase amongst school age children
The only way to improve school attendance is for the Government to act to bring down coronavirus infection rates in schools.
NEU demand that clinically extremely vulnerable staff should work from home after lockdown.
This is a welcome intervention by Independent SAGE, which once again exposes the enormous blind-spot that Government has towards schools.
School attendance continues to fall in the face of the pandemic.
As rates rise lockdown seems to have done nothing to slow the increase in infection amongst school age pupils
Much of this Government guidance is welcome but more needs to be done to make schools and colleges safe.
Everything that can be done must be done to ensure that schools and colleges remain open wherever possible.
NEU survey shows a complete lack of trust in Government to keep schools open and safe through Covid
NEU tells Government that support for wider opening of schools should not be taken for granted, and demands urgent action on testing
Education Support survey on Covid pressures on schools
NEU Cymru notes face coverings announcement in schools and colleges.
Government revises its guidance on the wearing of face coverings in schools.
Report by PHE England and the Chief Medical Officer's comments on the full return of schools and colleges in September
The NEU has raised concerns with Government in relation to the wearing of face coverings in schools, and its lack of consistency with guidance on other public places.
NEU Cymru have commented on Education Minister’s statement regarding full opening of schools in September.
NEU Cymru welcomes suspension of the categorisation system. It is important that safety is a focus ahead of September.
Leaks of proposals for school re-opening in September are not helpful. Schools and parents need to see from Government a clearly thought-out plan outlining the scientific reasoning behind a return for all pupils.
The NEU is of course in favour of all children being back in school, but even with a one-metre rule that will need more teachers and more spaces.
The Prime Minister's hopes are not enough. He needs a plan for more teachers, to ask teachers who have left the profession to return, and he needs to be finding extra spaces in which they can teach smaller groups.
NEU launches call for funding for Local Government to co-ordinate 2020 Summer holiday offer for children and young people.
The Government is seriously out of touch if it can't see that many families will need support with food.
The NFER report shows that a quarter of pupils have limited access to IT at home. Gavin Williamson confirmed in the Commons last week that only around half of requests for the Government’s free laptop scheme for disadvantaged students have so far been met.
The National Education Union has today written to the Prime Minister outlining its proposals for a National Education Recovery Plan.
The figures released show what a very long way the Government has to go to convince the nation’s parents and teachers that a wider opening of schools is safe.
The government’s social distancing rules made it impossible for primary schools to admit all pupils before the summer holidays. Primary schools and secondary schools will not re-open to all pupils until September at the earliest.
Trade unions set out five tests Government and colleges must meet before staff and students can return.
The NEU calls on the Government and Public Health England to develop urgent advice on the issues of greater health risk identified in the Fenton Review.
The Minister’s statement in which she has opened schools to all year groups with effect from 29 June does not sit well with NEU Cymru. It is too much, too soon.
Respondents to a survey conducted by the National Education Union between 31 May and 1 June, reveals the pragmatism of schools when asked to open more widely under easing of lockdown.
The NEU sends its solidarity to the family and friends mourning George Floyd. We condemn the systemic racism that caused George's death and we support the urgent demands for justice for George Floyd, for his family and his community.
We are not saying only go back when it is 100% safe. But meet your own tests, produce evidence, and return when the time is right.
This latest report casts yet more doubt and concern over the Prime Minister’s decision to press ahead with a 1 June wider opening for schools.
A snapshot survey of 4,016 members of the National Education Union, reveals continued problems with health and safety even before wider opening.
Today, two months since lockdown was introduced, the Government has finally granted access to some of the scientific modelling behind its proposal for schools to open more widely from June 1.
Prime Minister responds to concerns on track and trace operation before the wider opening of schools during PMQs.
NEU Cymru welcomes no date set for opening schools in Wales. Like everyone, we want learners to be back in their classrooms. But not until it is safe to do so.
We are pleased that Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government on Covid-19 has told the NEU that information and papers from SAGE would be published and that they will prioritise its release.
It's really important that we are absolutely clear what the level of safety is and if it remains the case that we believe it to be unsafe, we will not back the wider opening of schools.
LGA need to give Councils power to close schools and nurseries when clusters of Covid-19 cases emerge.
Unions with members in the education sector are today (Wednesday) publishing a joint statement on the safe reopening of schools.
1,173 local authority councillors from across England have signed the NEU Councillors letter to Gavin Williamson.
Poll of over 1,000 parents, commissioned for NEU, shows support for lockdown measures since March.
These studies raise real concerns about the impact that a wider re-opening of schools would have on the rate of Covid 19 transmission and its incidence in families.
NEU Cymru welcomes the announcement that schools will NOT open more widely on 1 June.
On the eve of Sage meeting at which lockdown measures will be reviewed, NEU petition demanding schools re-open only when safe to do so nears 350,000 signatures.
NEU and Parentkind sign a joint letter to the Education Secretary to express concerns about the re-opening of schools.
NEU snapshot survey of over 2,000 school staff shows significant concerns about effectiveness of present social-distancing measures in schools.
The General Secretaries of 10 teacher trade unions across the UK and Ireland have written to the Education Ministers in all 5 jurisdictions urging “significant caution in any consideration of reopening schools.
NEU has launched 5 tests for Government before schools can re-open. We believe that these test must be capable of being passed in order to create the necessary confidence amongst parents and staff.
NEU members win case against accusations of Key Stage 1 and 2 grade inflation by the Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust.
For our members, parents and learners themselves, staying safe at this difficult time is critical. We look forward to hearing more details from the Welsh Government in the coming weeks.
We welcome the data the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) has collated to enable good local responses to supporting vulnerable children.
The NEU welcomes Ofqual’s announcement today on the regulatory arrangements for awarding this summer’s Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs).
NEU welcomes Government's announcement that practical steps will be taken to test school staff for Covid-19. It is essential that staff who are self-isolating at home get immediate access to the test.
NEU Cymru welcomes the Welsh Government’s revised guidance today. Our members will be heartened to see that the Welsh Government is thinking about those children most in need of support.
Some pupils will need much more individual support than is possible, and many will need support for their wellbeing before any meaningful learning can take place.
We're pleased the Education Minister has focused on wellbeing in launching this policy statement. Like the Minister says, the wellbeing and safety of learners and education professionals alike is centrally important at this difficult time.
Over 80,000 have signed the NEU petition to "open schools when it is safe" and the number continues to grow.
Extra £1.25 million for school counselling services will be invaluable to support the anticipated increase in need for mental health services as a result of social distancing and school shut down measures.
In the light of speculation on the re-opening of schools and colleges, the joint General Secretaries of the National Education Union have called on the Prime minister for clarity on how the Government will make such a decision.
NEU Cymru welcomes the Welsh Government plans to ensure social distancing in the workplace. These are challenging times, and it is right that we try and keep those in work as safe as possible.
The coronavirus microsite provides advice and recommends resources to parents to support home learning.
Schools should only remain open to those whose parents are key workers. The vast majority of children should stay at home. This is the safest place for them.
The National Education Union has called for testing of education staff to be made an urgent priority in efforts to tackle coronavirus.
We welcome this announcement from Government. Evidence shows teacher-assessed grades are reliable and valid.
It is vitally important that parents follow Government advice and keep their children at home where possible.
This is a very long list and could result in some schools having the majority of pupils attending. This will not achieve the goal of slowing the spread of the virus.
NEU Cymru statement on school closures in Wales.
We welcome the Government’s announcement that, for public health reasons, schools will now close.
We welcome the Education Minister’s announcement to close schools from Friday. We are pleased that Wales is the first UK nation to take this practical and pragmatic approach.
NEU has written to the Prime Minister asking that he close all schools and colleges, and we are hoping that the this will be the same for Wales.
This announcement is as welcome as it is overdue. Schools are operating in extraordinary circumstances and must be able to focus on what is essential.
Why aren’t schools closing if mass gatherings are to be suspended?
As COVID-19 spreads, schools need to focus on what is important.
NEU calling for school closures "at least for some time and at least in some areas"
Schools have an important role to play, but we are concerned about suggestions in recent days that larger class sizes will be recommended for indefinite periods.
The British Lung Foundation (BLF) and the National Education Union (NEU) has produced guidance with support from Living Streets, the UK charity behind the National Walk to School campaign.
Given that “the science” is clearly having to bend to political will, at a time when the spread of the virus is accelerating and dangerous, we feel it is beholden on us as your union to meet with you, hear your views, and do what we can to support you.
This two-day course is suitable for NEU health and safety reps who have completed the induction course.
This is a one-day induction course for all new NEU H&S representatives and will provide initial training on the role and responsibilities of the rep as well as an update on current issues.