NUT
SUMMARY GUIDANCE
from 1 september 2009, teachers will be able to rely on a contractual right to provide cover “only rarely” which has been introduced in order to help to reduce teachers’ workload
head teachers will be consulting teachers on the development of cover policies to ensure teachers are asked to cover for colleagues only in exceptional circumstances.
the government and its partners have issued advice to head teachers on establishing new policies. representatives should be vigilant that the advice is not used to excuse reductions in teacher entitlements.
you can help to develop a fair policy that:
- provides that no teacher’s non-contact time will be cut;
- allows for pupils to be taught by a qualified teacher by engagement of supply or cover teachers;
- maintains current leave of absence provisions;
- does not expect support staff to work beyond their proper role;
- does not propose re-timetabling which would undermine the ‘rarely cover’ provisions.
The NUT is determined to protect teachers’ rights to ensure no teacher is disadvantaged by implementation of the WAMG guidance.
School Representatives should:
· inform the head teacher that they wish to engage in the process of establishing a school cover policy in order that teachers’ workload is reduced;
· call a school meeting to discuss the head teacher’s plans and members’ responses;
· check contractual entitlements to leave of absence (available from your division secretary) to ensure proposals do not undermine existing rights
· request a preliminary meeting with the head teacher to highlight the principles of a fair cover policy.
Keep your Division Secretary informed of progress and, in particular, any attempts to impose unacceptable arrangements, in order that further support can be provided.
RarelyCover
This page contains some information about the introduction of Rarely Cover from the start of September 2009.
This affects all teachers apart from those employed 'wholly or mainly' to provide cover.
This is a contractual entitlement. Individual schools cannot negotiate their own version. The documents below have been sent to all Heads and Principals.This guidance has been issued by the national WAMG and endorsed by the Leicestershire WAMG, which has also agreed the Summary document included below. This document, along with NUT advice, will be made available to all Leicestershire NUT members in the next edition of The Leicestershire Teacher.
Rarely Cover will mean that teachers no longer have to cover classes whose teacher is absent, including teachers who are absent through illness - teacher absence is a 'forseeable' event in the sense that all schools should have analysed the pattern of teacher absence and so be able to make advance provision.
Teachers should only now cover for other teachers in exceptional and unexpected situations, and then only for a limited time while other arrangements are made. Examples might be a teacher who becomes ill during the day and has to go home, or a teacher who has to leave school to deal with an unexpected and sudden emergency.
Schools have to consult with staff on these issues, as can be seen from the various guidance documents.