Education

WAMG Guidance Note 19

(13/3/2008) WAMG Note 19 (attached, Welsh version available) is an update on work programmes and priorities reported in WAMG Note 15, April 2006. It reviews the last five years in social partnership for remodelling of the school workforce. It claims that according to Ofsted and Estyn (Wales), teachers are more focused on teaching and learning and that support staff have new and enhanced roles. It describes the role of LSPs and key areas of activity over the coming months.

Branches are invited to send examples of good and bad LSP experience to: Education@unison.co.uk

WAMG Note 20 will be issued shortly with further detail on effective operation of LSPS.
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WAMG Guidance Note 18

In July the Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group (WAMG) organised three conferences to bring together local social partnerships (LSPs). WAMG Note 18 summarises comments collected from nearly 500 delegates at these conferences. Over 5,000 individual comments were captured from delegates. This note summarises observations on the effectiveness of WAMG and LSPs and also details key themes and issues which delegates felt should be the subject of ongoing or enhanced focus of social partnership working, both nationally and locally.
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UNISON urges head teachers to stop the exploitation of school support staff

(31/07/07) UNISON, the UK's largest public sector union, wants head teachers to end the exploitation of school support staff after official government figures reveal low pay and unpaid overtime is becoming the norm.

Advice Notes on Term Time Working

(04/02/2007 This bulletin gives information on advice sheets that are being produced for members in the schools sector.

The first one relates to Term Time Working.

Advice Notes on the Managing Medicines in Early Years Settings

(04/02/2007 This bulletin gives information on advice sheets that are being produced for members in the schools sector.

This one relates to advice on Managing Medicines in School and covers resource implications. Further copies can be ordered from Communications from the online catalogue by quoting the stock reference numbers. Managing Medicines in the workplace is 2538 and Term Time working is 2537. The link to the catalogue is http://www.unison.org.uk/catalogue/ Click here to download the UNISON bulletin and advice sheets UNISON Bulletin on Advice Notes

UNISON Advice on Managing Medicines

Training the School Food Workforce

(30/01/2007) Last September, new school meals measures were announced and included the establishment of new training centres for school catering staff. The School Food Trust held a seminar in Birmingham on 10 January to discuss the way forward. The centres will not be central, teaching institutions built around the country. They will be developed at FE colleges, Centres of Vocational Excellence, employers’ training centres and so on.

WAMG Guidance Note 17

(11/8/04) Guidance on the deployment of HLTAs. The Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group has now agreed more detailed guidance on the role of higher level teaching assistants (HLTAs). It emphasises again that teachers and HLTAs are not interchangeable.

WAMG Guidance Note 16

(26/07/06) WAMG Note 16 summarises the contractual changes which should now be in place for teachers and headteachers. It also emphasises that "school-level reviews must also ensure that there are clearly defined roles for support staff with associated career paths, access to training, etc. These roles must attract appropriate pay and grading, within local structures and gradings".

WAMG Guidance Note 15

(10/05/2006) WAMG Note 15 gives a summary of the achievements reached since the introduction of the National Agreement and identifies outstanding actions from this agreement. WAMG agreed a six-point plan for the next three years in order to make further improvements for the school workforce as a whole.

Draft Role Profiles for School Caretakers, Catering and Cleaning Staff

(10/05/06)The NJC Schools Working Group has now developed draft role profiles for school caretakers, catering and cleaning staff. These can be downloaded from the link below and we are asking branches for feedback on these as soon as possible. Once agreed they will be included in the planned School Support Staff: the Way Forward II. This will also include advice on employment issues around extended schools. We hope to agree this by the Summer.

WAMG Guidance Note 14

(25/08/05) WAMG Guidance Note 14 - emphasises the legal requirement of schools to implement Planning, Preparation and Assessment in September 05.

WAMG Guidance Note 13

(22/08/05) WAMG Note 13 emphasises the need for schools to have strategies in place for the wider remodelling agenda in September.

WAMG Guidance Note 12

(21/08/05) WAMG Guidance Note 12 - provides guidance on the deployment of Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTA). It should be read in conjunction with WAMG Guidance on HLTA and the UNISON advice .

WAMG Guidance Note 11

(18/08/2005) WAMG Guidance Note 11 - contains note providing schools with information about the work the WAMG is undertaking in relation to the Every Child Matters (ECM) agenda in England, particularly in relation to extended schools.

WAMG Note 10

(17/08/05) This provides guidance to schools on implementing the statutory requirements on cover supervision and PPA.

WAMG Note 9

(16/08/2005) This is a progress report on the introduction of HLTA training and assessment, and the work being taken forward by the Teacher Training Agency (TTA).

WAMG Guidance Note 8

(15/08/05) WAMG Guidance Note 8 - contains what the Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group has identified a number of factors that characterise those LEAs that are leading the way in workforce remodelling.

WAMG Guidance Note 6

(13/08/05) WAMG Guidance Note 6 - looks at support staff roles and training, NJC guidance on support staff roles, and the role of governing bodies.

Career structure for science technicians

(11/8/04) A leaflet has been produced by the Association for Science Technicians (ASE) and is endorsed by Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group. It sets out a four level career structure for science technicians in schools.

WAMG Guidance Note 5

(10/08/05) WAMG Guidance Note 5 - this looks at extended roles for support staff and Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) training.

WAMG Guidance Note 4

(10/08/05) WAMG Guidance Note 4 - focuses on important developments relating to support staff which schools must consider. This looks at extended roles for support staff and Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) training.

WAMG Guidance Note 3

(3/08/2005) This provides a progress report on the changes to the teachers’ contract and the development of the Regulations to be made under Section 133 of the Education Act 2002.

WAMG Guidance Note 2

(2/08/05) WAMG Guidance Note 2 - This note informs schools on the progress being made on the implementation of key provisions in the National Agreement.

WAMG Guidance Note 1

(28/06/05) This is the first in the series of joint guidance by WAMG to assist schools in implementing the Agreement in England and Wales

What is Remodelling and what is WAMG?

(06/09/2005) The School Workforce Agreement was signed in January 2003. The agreement was designed to improve the status and conditions of all who work in schools.

School Support Staff : The Way Forward

The NJC has now produced a book version of the NJC profiles and the joint guidance on training and fixed-term contracts, which were sent to branches in October. One copy is attached and further copies can be obtained from the employers organisation.


School Support Staff : The Way Forward