Campaigns, meetings and events

March CPD session: online

The Importance of Developing a Whole School/College Approach to Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing with Christine Clark

This session was suitable for all members from all sectors at any stage in their career.

Session content

•           Session introduction …… progress so far

•           Complexity of the current situation and future outlook

•           Why? A Whole School Approach

•           The Eight Principals of a whole school approach

•           Understanding your role in supporting Mental Wellbeing and Emotional Wellbeing

•           Questions & NEU Support

Reps Training  Our Spring Reps Training session: 3rd March 2022 at the Floral Pavilion We were joined by Daniel Kebede – NEU President  This session covered: Value Education, Value Educators – Pay Campaign Supporting members – a brief look at disciplinary/grievance/sickness and how you can support members when they are subject to action under these policies Representing members – Sickness Absence – how to support members in absence meetings, your entitlement to attend meetings, how to prepare, key issues Daniel also visited Mount Primary School and had lunch with Wirral Officers.

Stop The Council Cuts protest:

On Saturday 26th February Wirral NEU members joined the protest rally against Wirral Council’s proposed cuts to front-line services, libraries and leisure facilities. We convened at Hamilton Square and marched to Birkenhead Park where a variety of speakers explained the problems that cutting services has already caused and will further cause, aligned with Councillors being called to account. Climate justice, the war in Ukraine and NHS funding and their relevance to local people were also highlighted. About 100 people attended in total (our own estimate).

District Development Day 21st February 202210am – 2pm  What is a Union/What is the NEU? How does the NEU work? (structure/decision making/democracy) Why do we need members to be involved with Union work? How can members get involved? (meetings/officer roles/workplace roles) What are the barriers that prevent members being involved? How can we encourage more members to be involved with Wirral NEU?

Pay briefings for Wirral members: we have held two pay briefings in January on zoom (same content), delivered by Ian Harris using central office information and slides. The national pay claim survey is now available to access, please respond asap: educators’ pay have reduced in real terms by 17% over the last 10 years and with inflation and the cost of living rising rapidly we need to demand a relatively reasonable pay increase.

Making a Difference for Learners with SEND: whole class adaptive teaching strategies

Wednesday November 24^th 2021 (twilight)

Adapting our teaching to meet learners’ needs is an integral part of good teaching. These adaptations can be small moment to moment responses such as repeating an instruction or providing more thinking time. They can also be planned approaches such as allocating specific roles in a collaborative learning task or providing specified resources to enable a learner to complete a task successfully.

In this session we considered the processing difficulties preventing learners from succeeding in class and reflect on both the adaptations we need to make to our whole class teaching and planned classroom-based tasks. Small changes to our teaching can result in big changes to learner achievement.

This session was delivered by Rachel Ingham: BA, PGCE, MA SpLD to NEU members across the North West on zoom, about 80 members attended in total.

Wirral Reps training

On November 4th 2021 a successful afternoon’s training was provided by Wirral Secretary Ian Harris, ably assisted by Asst. Secretary Jan Maher. Several aspects of Union activity and responses were explored, discussed and developed, including:  Value Education, Value Educators campaign; directed time; and supporting members in the workplace (Pay/Appraisal and sickness absence). The training took place at the Floral Pavilion with a full capacity of socially-distanced members, a wonderful view, good food and an opportunity to network and support each other. Reminder: Workplace Representatives are entitled to attend training during school time.

General Meeting14th October 2021 – meeting took place online.

People’s Assembly – Manchester

The People’s Assembly – to which we are regionally affiliated – held a protest in Manchester at the annual Conservative Party conference on Sunday 3^rd October. The national union is a sponsor of the event and we encouraged a significant mobilisation.

Wirral NEU were in attendance with our banner.  We joined other NW branches and districts in marching to highlight:

Cuts in education funding

Teachers’ Pay Freeze

Support Staff low pay

Excessive workload

Toxic Assessment

Members and officers of Wirral NEU joined thousands of protestors from across the region on Saturday 11th September in Liverpool to protest against the proposed International Arms Fair to be held at Liverpool ACC (Council-owned) in October. Speakers included Maxine Peake, John Macdonald and Jeremy Corbyn.

Wirral Remembers Srebrenica

Actions taken 2021 – Neil Sledge, Wirral NEU International Solidarity Officer and Community Champion and NW Board member for Remembering Srebrenica

1. Display, flower-making and a pledge tree installed at the Wirral Deen Centre community café throughout memorial week and week following the 11^th July (3^rd – 19^th July incl.) (Piara Miah). Visitor numbers to the Deen centre were around 100, with about 40 pledges hung on the tree and 15 flowers made.
2. Wirral NEU joined a working group for highlighting issues and organising events at Wirral Deen Centre – including councillors, faith representatives, Wirral NEU and members of the local community – eg Palestine rally in May, Great Get-Together (June), Refugee Week (June), Remembering Srebrenica (July), Fairtrade Fortnight, Wirral NEU meetings/training events etc
3. Permanent memorial agreed with Wirral Council (organised by Paul Ronayne from Wirral NEU and Joanna Burrell at Wirral Council) – outside Birkenhead Library next to a large tree, and almost next door to the Deen Centre and Mosque. Date of unveiling tbc. We are also thinking of asking local school children and young members of the mosque to create a circle of white stones around the tree, and/or plant snowdrops and/or other white flowers around the memorial too
4. Wirral Council eventually lit up both town halls green on 12^th July, publicised on 13^th. Agreed with Council (Paul Morrison) that more strategic organisation is required next year

1. 5. We Are One football match (organised by Steve Baker) Sat 10^th July 12-2pm, Vauxhall Motors FC, Ellesmere Port involving Wirral Deen Centre, the NW Board for Remembering Srebrenica, Wirral NEU and Liverpool Pakistani Group was publicised afterwards. This led me to meet up with two of the representatives of the Liverpool Mosque Network the week after at a big World in One City football event in Toxteth – they are keen to build on what we are doing in Wirral and there is huge potential moving forwards to perhaps organise something much bigger in Liverpool next year

1. Schools information, resources & links were sent to all Wirral schools by Headteacher consultant (Kate Frost)
2. Wirral MEAS organised an art competition, and publicised their speakers and the links to resources (Anna Turnbull) on Twitter, Facebook and to all schools
3. Coffee morning and informal information and pledge event organised for July 11^th at Wirral Deen Centre community café – local press coverage in Birkenhead/Wirral News https://www.birkenhead.news/wirral-remembers-srebrenica-26-years-on/?iyaApp=true&fbclid=IwAR3MowlF5nh8XbvAnNy70P3FSnHQaQhhTT6ap4f7spFmf8StnpqpcOwYbYo
4. Informal We Are One football match – Thurs 8^th July – Andy Heywood (Wirral NEU member) organised our weekly kickaround to remember Srebrenica, raise awareness and raise funds (£120 when added to contributions from the game at Vauxhall Motors FC)

Wirral Remembers Srebrenica is marking Srebrenica Memorial Day by hosting an event. Members of Wirral Deen Centre community, Wirral NEU and friends will gather on Sunday 11th July to commemorate the worst atrocity on European soil since the Second World War, as part of UK’s Srebrenica Memorial Week, which runs from July 4th until July 11th.

Each year Remembering Srebrenica, a UK charitable organisation funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, encourages local councils, faith institutions, and various organisations to mark Srebrenica Memorial Week by organising a community action which brings people together to remember the victims and honour the survivors. This year’s theme for Srebrenica Memorial Week is “Rebuilding Lives” which hopes to shed light on the way genocide survivors have rebuilt their lives in the United Kingdom. An estimated 10,000 Bosnian war and genocide survivors found refuge in the UKin the 1990s. However, 2 million people were displaced, 100,000 people killed, and between 20,000 to 50,000 women raped simply because of their Muslim identity between 1992-1995 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In albeit very different ways the Covid pandemic has brought loss and difficulties to millions, shattering individuals andcommunities, who are now looking to rebuild their lives. And as we move forwards to rebuilding our communities in the wakeof the many health and economic challenges which people with divisive agendas are all too keen to exploit, we will rememberthe spirit of survivors who, despite the horrendous hatred and destruction they were subjugated to themselves, have been rebuilding their lives with dignity, humanity and without calling for retribution or promoting division or hatred.

This event will provide an opportunity for people in Wirral to come together to learn about the consequences of hatred and the importance of building stronger, safer, and more cohesive communities for all.

The event will take place from 11am – 2:30pm at the Wirral Deen Centre, Borough Road, Birkenhead. Refreshments, information and ‘make a flower and a pledge’ activities will be available. Please call in for coffee, cake, chat and reflection.

The centre is also open daily for coffee and biscuits, with the Srebrenica display and pledge activities available, until Thurs 15th July, from 10am-2pm (closed Fri 9th).

At the Wirral NEU AGM last month we voted to nominate Niamh Sweeney for post of Deputy General Secretary of the NEU, one of the most important roles in the Union. All three national candidates attended the virtual meeting and presented their vision for the union. They also took questions before departing for another Branch AGM elsewhere. Plus there were decisons to be made about our local work in local schools with and for you, the members.

Jan Maher was elected President for Wirral NEU.

AGENDA
Nominations for Deputy General Secretary – short presentation and Q&AApologies
Welcome/President’s Address
Reports/Statement of Accounts
Declaration of elections for Officers and Committee
Installation of new President
Appointment of auditors and scrutineers
Motions on which proper notice has been given*

Proposals for which Officers will receive honoraria, the level of payment and the latest guidance from HQ were discussed and agreed.
Access the Meeting Pack
(Please note this pack will be updated over the next few months the final version will be available from 14/5/21)  

This meeting will also announce the results of the elections for Wirral District Officers. The District is responsible for any functions that would be deemed as Trade Union Activity, this includes organising and campaigning on wider issues. The District Officers will also support the Wirral Branch structures in the work that they undertake. These roles do not attract paid release and these roles are undertaken in addition to other Union positions/work commitments. Under the District rules, all positions are elected annually, officers and committee will take up their positions from 1st September 2021.
The following positions have not been filled:
– Vice President
– Health & Safety Officer
– Young Worker Officer
– Union Learning Representative
– Independent Sector Officer
– Post-16 Officer
– Support Staff Officer
– Agency Worker Officer
– 10 non-officer committee positions
The rules allow for positions to be taken on a job share basis when both parties agree to this. If you are interested in any of the positions, please contact Ian Harris for further information about the role. We are still looking to fill these positions. All nominations need to be proposed and seconded by members of Wirral District. The membership number of the nominee, proposer and seconder are required for the nomination to be valid. In the event of multiple nominations for the same post a ballot will be conducted. Nomination Form Job Descriptions

Pre Retirement Seminars

• Please note we are holding two sessions for NEU members each session will focus on a different pension scheme.  When you book please indicate which session you wish to attend.
• WHEN: Tuesday 11th May 2021 5.00pm – 6.00pm (Teacher’s Pension Scheme)
• WHEN: Wednesday 16th June 2021 5.00pm – 6.00pm (Local Government Pension Scheme)
• WHERE: Log in conveniently from your personal computer or device
•  BOOK YOUR PLACE: Email lisa.barratt@lighthousegroup.plc.uk or call on 01273 523707 

Local Elections May 2021

Why are the NEU getting involved in the May local elections?

If we are to influence changes in education, we must engage with politicians and hold them to account for their election promises.

Are aims are to:

• Promote a greater understanding of the political process and the extent to which members can contribute to the union’s political and industrial work;
• Promote the NEU Councillors Network, increase the proportion of participants and maintain productive relationships under direction of Regional Council;

It is also hoped that by engaging with candidates’ members and activists will build their confidence in engaging with councillors and MPs in the future.

Engagement with these elections is therefore an important first step in building productive relationships for the future.

What can I do?

As a member you can approach candidates directly within the area you live or work.  Whilst Wirral NEU has circulated the questions below to candidates you can and should continue to pressure candidates for a response.  These questions can also be raised by friends and family to help highlight the importance of Education in these elections. Please also see May Local Elections 2021 – Google Docs

Democratic accountability

Do you agree that schools should be run within an open framework, which is democratically accountable to local communities?

Will you pledge that if elected you will do all you can to ensure that local schools remain accountable to their communities, including challenging central government policies that lead to a fragmentation of the education system?

Governance

Do you agree that schools should have governance structures that give a voice to staff, parents and the wider community?

Funding

Research by the NEU shows that 83% of schools will be worse off this April than in 2015.  This is reflected in rising class sizes, a reduction in the curriculum, staffing cuts and reduced budgets for maintaining school buildings.  If elected, will you commit to supporting campaigns for the restoration of education spending across all sectors, and addressing the unequal distribution of recent funding increases?

Nurseries

Are you aware of the ongoing financial crisis faced by maintained nursery schools, which have played a vital role in the pandemic?

If elected, will you commit to campaigning to ensure that all nurseries receive adequate long-term funding, including a review of the Early Years funding formula?

Child poverty

Will you pledge to do everything you can to ensure that no child in your ward is left behind during and after the pandemic? 

Will you call on the Westminster Government to develop a cohesive child poverty reduction strategy and commit to a target date by which child poverty will be eradicated in the UK?

Education Recovery Plan (Find details here: Education Recovery Plan | NEU)

Are you prepared to endorse the NEU’s Education Recovery Plan around school and college safety, building a better education system and giving young people the best start in life?

If elected, what will you do to help deliver the aims of the NEU’s plan?

Network (sign up here NEU Councillor Network (actionnetwork.org)

Are you aware of the NEU Councillors Network?  If not, would you like details about it and how to join?

Campaign: Directed Time

During the summer term the Union is encouraging members to talk to their headteachers about directed time.

Directed time is the the time a headteacher can direct you to undertake work, the maximum for a teacher is 1265 hours.

We have lots of excellent resources to help explain what directed time is and how to ensure that you are being directed within the limits of your contract.

Look here for more information.

Local Officers can support you with meetings and electing representatives to raise this with management.  Reply to this email if you would like support.

Campaign: Assessment

At our National NEU conference, the union agreed on a campaign on primary assessment.  We want to stop Baseline testing in the next academic year and will continue ti fight against SATs. 

Find out more on our website and join the national Zoom meeting on Wednesday 28th April 7pm.

Recent Wirral NEU General Meetings: outcomes

At our recent District General Meetings Wirral members considered nominations for the National Executive.  We heard from a range of candidates and agreed to make the following nominations for the National Executive elections:

District 4 Executive members: Debs Gwynn, Peter Glover, Ian Watkinson

Black Members Executive Seat: Vik Chechi-Ribero

Independent Sector Executive Seat: Brian Metcalf

LGBT+ Executive Seat: Kacey DeGroot

Support Staff Executive Seat: Trish Fay

Post 16 Executive Seat: Duncan Blackie

On the 4th March we held a further District meeting at which members heard about the ongoing action by British Gas workers in response to managements proposals to alter terms and conditions using fire and rehire rather than meaningful consultation and negotiation.  Their Union is clear that this needs to be dropped given the massive profits the company are reporting.

Wirral NEU stand in solidarity with British Gas workers in their struggle against and proposed changes to their terms and conditions particularly when bullying tactics of fire and rehire are used.  The meeting agreed to donate to the GMB British Gas Workers strike fund to support those members engaged in this struggle.

Declaration of results for Wirral State Education Branch Elections:

The term of office for Committee and Branch Officers is aligned with the academic year. In line with the Union rules nominations and election takes place during the Spring term. The following are duly elected:

President – Janet Maher

Vice President – Vacant

Secretary – Ian Harris

Assistant Secretary Member Support – Janet Maher

Assistant Secretary Member Development and Engagement – Neil Sledge

Treasurer – David Buckley

Membership Secretary – David Buckley

H&S Officer – Anna Ghader

Equalities Officer – Richard Evans

Union Learning Rep – Andrea Bryan

Support Staff Officer – Vacant 

Young Educator Officer – Vacant

LGBT+ Officer – Vacant

Non-Officer Committee Members:

Malka Biling

Cath Milverton

Karina Hassan

Chris Moss

Vacancies for 6 Non-Officer Committee Members – The committee meets once per term to discuss matters relating to the Branch and to agree strategies to support and develop out membership. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Ian Harris.

Reps Meeting – Wednesday 5th May 4:30 – 5:30pm

This meeting will discuss the ongoing campaigns but is an opportunity for you to bring issues that you would like to discuss these may be linked to campaigns, casework, policies/procedures or other matters relating to school.

If your school doesn’t have a rep consider becoming one.

If you can email ian.harris@neu.org with any specific issues ahead of the meeting that would be useful

Black Lives Matter: next steps

A meeting for Wirral members: Wednesday 17th March 4.30pm

The purpose of this meeting is to share good practice, discuss issues in our own school settings, look at the NEU Charter pack and start to develop a common actively anti-racist approach within our classrooms and workplaces.   We will have a couple of speakers to support this event, including Anna Turnbull from the Wirral Minroity Ethnic Achievement Service and Vik Chechi-Ribeiro, Black members’ executive seat-holder. This is an open meeting to all members.

Please contact neil.sledge@neu.org.uk and we will send you login details for the remote zoom meeting.

Black Lives Matter (BLM) and anti-racism: Wirral NEU CPD sessions

Wirral NEU Equalities Officer Richard Evans (RE) presented two 90-minute sessions a fortnight apart in Feb and March 2021.

In the first session RE outlined the history and facts of racism in the US initially, in order to explain why the BLM movement became front -page news around the world last summer. He then also presented the history of racism in the UK. His commentary was supported by numerous video-links, documentary evidence, references and quotes. Some of these were stark, brutal and offensive, displaying the fundamental beliefs and values that have underpinned British society and institutions for hundreds of years. Around 20 members from a wide range of educational settings attended this online training event. Feedback overall was very positive.

In the second session RE focussed on a more positive angle, in which people and groups had fought back against racism in the US and UK in the past, going beyond Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Struggles and successes were outlined, and once again supported fully with video links, references, quotes and written evidence.

This session then culminated in a discussion and references to local Wirral-based support available to schools locally. There was also reference to the NEU Anti-Racist Charter. About 15 members attended this session.

A plan of action to move things forward with promoting and supporting anti-racism in schools is being drawn up as a result of the follow-up meeting held on March 17th, details to follow.