Early years staff must have the same rights and protections as other education staff. The health and safety responsibilities owed by school and college employers. Today’s statement follows a longer statement to the Secretary of State on Friday (8 May), which set out in full detail the principles and tests necessary for the safe reopening of schools. If you receive a notification from your employer that says you hours will be cut or you are in danger of losing your job, contact your local branch straight away for advice. However, we believe that schools should also consider extending this policy to younger pupils. The section called ‘Ensuring good respiratory hygiene’ sets out the measures your school should be taking in this regard. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The government's own advice from SAGE makes it clear that opening schools to all pupils now risks increasing the infection rate. Headteachers should be satisfied that the person has the appropriate skills, expertise and experience to carry out the work, and discuss and agree any proposed changes in role or responsibility with the member of staff. Unison head of education Jon Richards said: "The Government must end its bitty, piecemeal approach and act decisively by delaying the start of term for all schools … Only cleaning staff should be asked to carry out a deep clean of a school or particular area within the school. Schools with a confirmed case of coronavirus can contact DfE’s dedicated schools coronavirus helpline on 0800 046 8687 to seek advice on what action is needed. online and other home learning resources. See our detailed advice. Please contact your local UNISON branch to discuss your concerns. Put protocols in place for drivers/escorts to report to staff if any child is unwell on a journey to school, including isolating other student son the transport, the driver and escort. UNISON strongly disagrees with this guidance. For cleaning staff, a risk assessment and training should be conducted and appropriate personal protective (PPE) equipment provided by the employer before any deep cleaning is carried out. Exception; Please contact your school for details. Schools should reduce bubble sizes to limit spreading the virus. Notify all staff and keep them updated on any development. Significantly the government and Public Health England have now admitted the role of airborne transmission, particularly in poorly ventilated places where groups of people spend long periods of time together (this crucial new information is particularly important for schools). Rushed government reopening plans have led to guidelines on ‘safe’ class sizes being ignored by some schools, according to a survey published by UNISON today (Friday). UNISON has been engaging throughout the Covid-19 pandemic with the Department to ensure that the concerns of our members are heard and acted upon. Schools should not permit routine movement between bubbles which undermines other safety measures. Their advice recommends that schools refer to safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care settings for more information about infection and PPE. If you have issues with your employer, please raise them with your UNISON rep or local branch for advice and assistance. UNISON is therefore calling on school employers to require contractors to pay full sick pay and the real Living Wage as a minimum (as part of our Clean Schools, Safer Schools campaign). These practices should be adhered to at all times. Please read the detailed advice we have produced for vulnerable employees. Educational provision is maintained for children during this time away from the classroom e.g. Introduction. Six trade unions have released a joint statement on the safe reopening of schools and slammed the government for its “chaotic handling” of the return of children to the classroom for the start of term this January amid the Covid crisis. We continue to push hard on all these issues. Unions with members in the education sector today (Wednesday) published a joint statement on the safe reopening of schools. UNISON fears on schools reopening hit Echo UNISON hits at schools reopening plans: UNISON’s concerns about government plans to reopen schools too early and without the adequate safety precautions hit Thursday’s Echo. There are some grey areas however over what is seen as PPE and what isn’t, for example: Uniforms are not generally seen as PPE but a protective apron to prevent the spread of infection would be. The DfE has now stated that the national restrictions mean that all children who can stay at home should stay at home. Schools should also follow alerts from the app to self-isolate when directed. Where HLTAs are deployed to lead classes, they should be provided with enough time, within their contracted hours, in which to plan and prepare, including opportunities to liaise with class teachers. We do not think that the DfE should make this blanket statement. Your employer has a legal obligation to carry out a risk assessment. Unison, which represents school support staff and the National Education Union, had told members “not to engage” with school reopening plans until further guidance was issued. The $202 billion budget Gov. If you have any concerns about your educational setting or need support please contact your branch for advice. This applies if the setting either closes, or remains open but at reduced capacity. In addition, individuals shouldn‘t have to work where they reasonably believe that they (or others)  face serious and imminent danger. The arrangements adopted by schools for minimising contact and maintaining social distancing are vital for staff and student safety. Where bubbles/small classes remain, the school must do a risk assessment to ensure that any adjustment to ‘normal’ routine and/or staff moving between classes/bubbles does not increase risks. This will include Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves and appropriate cleaning solutions along with instructions. Unions with members in the education sector today (Wednesday) published a joint statement on the safe reopening of schools. UNISON is concerned that the very limited measures in the DfE guidance mean social distancing in schools will realistically be very difficult and very little PPE will be provided. 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