Supply Matters at NUT Conference

Lewes, Eastbourne and Wealden NUT Association will be rattling the bars at NUT Annual Conference, over a promise that there would be a dedicated conference held during the past year for the Union's supply teacher members.

Angie Travis brought a motion from Brighton NUT to last year's NUT Annual Conference with such a request. An amendment from the National Executive added a number of useful campaigning priorities to the motion, but it did also appear to water down the commitment to getting supply colleagues together in their own conference.

Eddie Ritson, vice-chair of the Executive's Salaries, Superannuation and Conditions of Service Committee assured conference that this was not the intention- telling us "there WILL be a Supply teachers conference."

Not only has it not happened, not only has a date not even been set, but, in reply to Brighton Division Secretary Paul Shellard, a Hamilton House staff member replied that it had been decided not to hold such an event.

Decided by whom ? Certainly not by NUT National Conference, who thought that was exactly what they were voting for !

Angie, supported by Dave Brinson of the Executive will be moving the "reference back" of the section of the Union's Annual Report that deals with supply maters. (This is a technical move, that means they have to go back and reconsider it) We believe that the Union needs to show it is not only committed to campaigning for supply members, but actively involving them in its campaigns, and listening to their opinions and ideas.

We hope that NUT Annual Conference will show its support- not just for our Supply members, but also to make the point that promises made to Annual Conference should be honoured !

UPDATE: Sadly, due to the time allocated for the particular section of Conference- the motion was not debated or voted on. This doesn't mean we have given up- and I will be writing to the General Secretary asking for the wishes of Conference 2011 to be belatedly respected !

CPD in East Sussex

At a recent joint CPD training day for East Sussex and Brighton and Hove supply members, feedback from participants indicated a need for specific areas of training. The following requests were made, and it would be very helpful in assessing the feasibility of putting on sessions if members would let us know of their interest so that we can go ahead.

1. Phonics (people told us that they felt they needed training and updating in this area especially when “going in cold” on supply, and we have an enthusiastic and acclaimed trainer who is very willing to assist.)

2. PE ideas for the primary sector (experienced trainers available with a variety of ideas).

3. Voice care and training.

4. Poetry workshop.

5. Dance (modern educational dance) - a willing Head of Dance to supply a session.

6. The use of percussion and rhythm to both stimulate learning and assist in behaviour management.

Please contact Angie Travis (supply rep for B and H, Union Learning Rep for L/E/W ) to express interest in any of the above, and we will respond when we have firmed up any training.

Contact Angie by clicking here.

Free CPD in Southampton

Are you a supply teacher or do you know one at your school?

Supply teachers (all key stages) within about 1½ hours from/to Southampton are invited to attend this CPD opportunity led by tutor Pete Hrekow (Dreyfus Training).

Thursday, 31 May and Friday, 1 June 2012

Southampton

Review and extend effective approaches to classroom behaviour management that suit the special circumstances that supply teachers face
Enable supply teachers to review, exchange, update and learn new behaviour strategies
Acknowledge that there are no universal magic tips (although there will be a few) and the need to establish rapport/relationships

FREE (NUT) or £150 (others)

Travel expenses cannot be reclaimed.

If you are not a supply teacher or have already applied please do forward this to colleagues

Read the flyer and apply

New edition of Supply Lines now out !

The East Sussex NUT Supply Lines newsletter is now out, and being mailed to every supply colleague in the area. If you would like a pdf copy, or extra paper copies for your staffroom, please contact the secretary here.

Training Opportunities at Stoke Rochford Hall

If you have never been (or indeed have!) - the free training courses are there for you in the superb setting of the union centre near Grantham and all travel, accommodation and wonderful meals paid for! Just visit the NUT Website and scroll down for course info.

There are weekend courses - some supply teachers have said they miss out as they are unable to earn if they attend weekday courses. In particular look at:
International Development or Love Music Hate Racism both 23-25th March
Newly Qualified Teachers (many of our members are) w/e 2nd-4th March 2012
Women’s Development 15th - 17th June 2012

You may also not be aware that members can stay at Stoke Rochford Hall at other times for a discounted rate. Check at the Stoke Rochford website for more info.

Science CPD Courses- Free and with Grants

“Enthuse Awards” are available for courses at the National Science Learning Centre in York.

While these are available at no cost to schools for Science teachers, they are particularly keen to recruit primary and supply teachers . All information about this opportunity can be found at the Science Centre website or e-mail Paul Bishop, the East Sussex NUT Learning Rep.

Lewes and East Sussex NUT pass Supply Motion for Conference

Once again, the East Sussex Division is submitting a motion (below) to NUT Annual Conference on the subject of Supply Teachers conditions. This year, appropriately, our focus is on pensions.

With the huge growth of Agencies being used to provide supply teachers, rather than schools employing directly, thousands of supply colleagues are now prevented from making contributions to the Teachers Pension Scheme for their supply work- even if this is regular or for long term placements.

Although the Government is phasing a “pension entitlement” for Agency workers, this will not be for the Teachers Pension Scheme, but likely to be for an inferior private scheme with little, if any, employers contribution.

The motion reiterates the Union’s belief that supply teachers should be employed directly by schools, on the same terms, conditions and pension arrangements as their contracted colleagues. It seeks to build on the motion that was passed last year, calling for a dedicated supply teachers’ conference (we are still awaiting details of this… !)

• Conference acknowledges the strength of the campaign to protect teachers’ pensions.


• Conference notes that many colleagues who work as supply teachers have no alternative to working for agencies, and that this situation prevents them from contributing to the Teachers Pension Scheme.


• Conference further notes that there is an urgent need for this situation to be addressed.
  In particular, Conference recognizes that members who work for private agencies are already subject to discrimination, with lack of access to direct employment, lower rates of pay and fewer opportunities due to the use of cover staff and TA’s for much of the work previously available to fully qualified supply teachers. Conference therefore instructs the Executive to:
  
  1. Campaign to ensure that the Teachers Pension Scheme changes its rules (which at present exclude teachers who are not directly employed through a school or local authority), thus making it possible for agency teachers to be a part of the scheme.
  2. Work with the other teacher unions for solidarity on this very important issue.
  3. Continue to lobby for a return to the system whereby Local Authorities are required to maintain supply lists and administer the pay of supply teachers.
  
  Conference instructs the Executive to place this item high on the agenda when the Supply Teachers Conference which was proposed and passed unanimously at last years Conference comes to fruition, and calls for that a date to be set where these urgent matters can be given priority consideration.

The motions will now be circulated to all NUT Divisions and Associations to decide which should be prioritised for debate in Torquay at Easter. We urge all NUT activists to give priority to this motion supporting our thousands of professional supply teacher colleagues