FAQs Covid-19 Substitute Teachers Time Budgets Northern Conference 2020 74% of members participate in first INTO online Poll - Irish National ...
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May 2020
FAQs Covid–19
Pages 10 & 11
Substitute Teachers
Page 5
Time Budgets
Page 6
Northern Conference
2020
Pages 12 to 15
74% of members participate
in first INTO online Poll
Page 8
Nuacht CMÉ
INTO remains available to you
Since the closure of the INTO office in Against the backdrop of the public Covid-19 emergency and the sharing of
Belfast on the foot of health and safety health emergency, INTO has been information coupled with the subsequent
advice, all our lives have been greatly working hard to ensure that members polling of members on the pay and
changed and for some have the most up to workload agreement.
tragically so. We, at INTO, date advice available to We are very grateful to you, the
extend our sympathies them and easy access members, for your continued patience
to our members and to information that is and co-operation in these challenging
their families and the relevant, current and times and we assure you that INTO
wider educational helpful. To this end will continue to be at the forefront
community who have the officials, alongside of protecting your interests. In these
experienced bereavement our administrative and uncertain times, we are all growing used
as a consequence of this support colleagues in to working differently and at INTO we are
terrible virus. We are Northern Office, have seeking to ensure that different means
concerned for the welfare been working remotely maintaining and enhancing the standard
of all our members and to ensure members are of service you expect from us. In time
their families and we urge getting the assistance things will change again and we will
you to continue to observe and support they are adapt to whatever those changes bring.
the public health advice entitled too. We have Together we are capable of overcoming
and avoid putting yourself been experiencing a the challenges that a post Covid 19 world
and those about whom very high level of contact will bring.
you care at further risk of Gerry Murphy from members
infection. Northern Secretary arising from the
Northern Committee
continue to meet via
Microsoft Teams
NORTHERN COMMITTEE INFORMATION
Area Branches Mobile INTO Email
CEC 1 District 1 0101-0113 Seamus Hanna CEC Rep shanna@into.ie
CEC 2 District 2 0201-0217 Dorothy McGinley CEC Rep 07818424080 dmcginley@into.ie
BFC - Patrick McAllister BFC Rep 07828769034 pmcallister@into.ie
NEP North Eastern Primary Region 0101/0102/0104/0107/0109/0111 Michelle McCrystal INTO N Ctte 07851460682 mmccrystal@into.ie
NES North Eastern Post-Primary Region 0101/0102/0104/0107/0109/0111 Siobhan McElhinney INTO N Ctte 07915091871 smcelhinney@into.ie
SEP South Eastern Primary Region 0110/0113 Rachel O'Hare INTO N Ctte 07743427483 rohare@into.ie
SES South Eastern Post-Primary Region 0110/0113 John Kelly INTO N Ctte 07809694954 jkelly@into.ie
BP Belfast Region Primary A 0106 Caroline McCarthy INTO N Ctte 07977935988 cmccarthy@into.ie
BP Belfast Region Primary B 0105 Geraldine McGowan INTO N Ctte 07717277565 gmcgowan@into.ie
BS Belfast Region Post-Primary 0105/0106 Caoimhin MacColaim INTO N Ctte 07710234126 cmacolaim@into.ie
SP Southern Region Primary A 0202/0206/0208/0217 Marty Lavery INTO N Ctte 07733207887 mlavery@into.ie
SP Southern Region Primary B 0201/0203/0211/0214 Noreen Kelly INTO N Ctte 07846392235 nkelly@into.ie
SS Southern Region Post-Primary 0201/0202/0203/0206/0208/0211/0214/0217 Kevin Daly INTO N Ctte 07568528951 kdaly@into.ie
WP Western Region Primary A 0209/0213/0215/0216 Marie O'Shea INTO N Ctte 07802891109 moshea@into.ie
WP Western Region Primary B 0207/0212 Moira O'Kane INTO N Ctte 07522937888 mokane@into.ie
WS Western Region Post-Primary 0207/0209/0212/0213/0215/0216 Annmarie Conway INTO N Ctte 07701049789 amconway@into.ie
PRINTOUT 2 MAY 2020
INTO news
First hurdle overcome!
The spring of 2020 will be forever ensure INTO’s views are formally logged participating in the online poll compared
imprinted on the memories of everyone on the record should there be a future to 39% of members who participated in
who has been fortunate enough to investigation as to how the Executive the postal ballot in 2016 which set us off
have come through it. The Covid-19 handled the Covid-19 emergency. on the industrial action in the first place.
emergency has placed a whole set of As if this wasn’t enough, we were then With 67% of members in favour of
new demands on teachers across a range faced with having to reach a decision accepting the offer, we proceeded with
of areas such as: working outside of the as to whether we would accept an offer the approval of the Northern Committee
familiar school environment, managing based on the agreement in principle and the CEC, to formally ratify the offer
distance learning, delivering learning reached with the Management Side and with the other members of the Northern
in the absence of access to broadband the Department of Education in May of Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) on
and computer hardware coupled with 2019 on pay and workload. The carefully April 28th at the Teachers’ Negotiating
managing our own personal caring laid plans INTO had developed for Committee. We now have the task
responsibilities. These are but a sample consulting members were immediately of ensuring the Agreement is fully
of the hurdles INTO members have been destroyed by the introduction of the implemented. This is something we at
overcoming in recent weeks. necessary Covid-19 restrictions on Northern Office, along with the Northern
The officials at Northern Office have movement and gatherings. We quickly Committee and the members generally,
been ensuring that the membership had to readjust our approach to ensure will be focused on when the schools
has available to them specific advices the membership had all the information eventually re-open. It is only the first step
on how they are to continue meeting it was possible to get to them concerning in a series of steps to be completed to
the demands of their jobs when what was on offer and to provide the bring about continued improvement for
everything is so different. The website necessary clarifications. Whilst doing members on the pay and workload
now carries a whole series of Covid-19 this we also undertook a huge task to fronts, but it does represent a significant
related documents addressing members collect up to date contact details of all change both for the members and how
concerns and providing clarification of our members. The sterling efforts of the the NITC does its business. INTO will
documents received from the Minister of Northern Committee and the officials continue to lead this work and already
Education, officials in the Department of and staff at Northern Office with the we are gearing up to get the pay awards
Education and the Employing Authorities. assistance of our colleagues in Parnell for 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 delivered.
Our objective through all of this has Square, Dublin ensured that we had on This will be the focus for the NITC in the
been to try and lessen the uncertainty the eve of polling virtually every INTO coming weeks.
for members. At the same time, we have member’s current contact details. The
been formally responding to both the turn-out in the online poll confirms Gerry Murphy
Minister directly and the Department to this with a massive 74% of members Northern Secretary
PRINTOUT 3 MAY 2020
Supporting your
Wellbeing
While we all adapt to Freephone Telephone A range of bespoke, tools and
resources are just a click away:
new ways of working, Support Guided self-assessment via
we know that as key ‘iHelpr chatbot’, Self-help courses
At any time, you can access our and digital intervention tools, ‘5 steps
workers, you face Freephone telephone support line. to wellbeing’ database, Wellbeing
challenges and Available 24 hours a day, 365 days information library, Bibliotherapy
pressures that are a year, it’s staffed by a specially and a Mood Tracker.
trained support team, who if
wholly unique. required can provide access to A new ‘COVID-19’ area within the Hub
our network of accredited and provides information, guidance and
Now more than ever, we learning tailored specifically to help
highly experienced counsellors.
understand the importance of you look after your wellbeing during
staying connected and feeling this time. Check in for regularly
Based on the most recent
supported. updated information.
government advice and in light
of ongoing events, all structured
Sometimes, just talking to friends To sign up online:
counselling will be provided via Click the ‘Sign up’ button on the
or family can help, but at other
telephone or online, rather than homepage. Here, you’ll be
times it can be useful to talk to
face-to-face. prompted to enter a PIN. As this is
someone trained to listen who can
offer support, guidance and a fresh unique to you, please don’t share it
Whatever’s on your mind, call us outside of your organisation.
outlook.
24/7, free and confidentially on:
Your unique PIN is: EDUC2019
That’s when we can help.
0808 800 0002
Visit us at:
Available to all teachers in
Northern Ireland, the Inspire Online wellbeing www.inspiresupporthub.org
Employee Assistance Programme support tools
provides access to a range of Financial and legal
wellbeing support services, The Inspire Support Hub provides
including: our online Support Hub, online access to a range of
information
specialist wellbeing information, information, guidance, screening Many personal factors can
and if required, counselling. and intervention tools, tailored to influence our mental health and
your individual wellbeing. wellbeing, particularly at this time,
and in addition to our counselling
It will intuitively guide you through service, we can provide access to
evidence-based self assessment consultative information on a number
to personalised wellbeing reports, of financial and legal areas.
and recommendations for
proactive next steps. For more, email during office hours:
workandstudy@inspirewellbeing.org
INTO news
Every member matters
In any one month there are between pay until the additional money is secured relation to honouring of these payments,
three and four thousand unemployed and mechanisms put in place so our INTO have successfully intervened and
teachers retained in a temporary or casual members can access it. secured the money in practically every
basis across the school system. These The battles to protect substitute case. Similarly, where subs were covering
teachers are essential to the smooth teachers and to ensure those who are a maternity or sick leave and the teachers
running of schools in every sector. The denied the means of earning a living have returned earlier than expected
fact that there are so many employed in arising from the closure of schools will we have secured continued payment
capacities other than fulltime does beg continue and INTO will be at the front for the subs in question, through direct
the question is our system adequately demanding fair treatment for all our interventions with both the employing
staffed in the first place? It is our view at substitute members. The extension of authorities and school managements.
INTO that it is not and the cuts over the the Job Retention Scheme or a variation The work to deliver for substitute
last decade in education spending, as a of it seems a relatively straightforward members goes hand in hand with all
result of Tory austerity, has contributed to mechanism to make it possible to pay the work INTO undertakes on behalf of
this situation. casual substitute teachers. After all, the members. INTO makes no distinction
Approximately 10% of the members money needed to provide payment in how we approach a member’s issue.
of INTO in the north are what is referred would have had to be found anyway even We are actively engaged in improving
to as substitute teachers. These full INTO in normal times so this is not new money the conditions of service for substitute
members are a mix of teachers swapping or additional money as some would try to teachers but our priority for the present
careers, newly qualified and experienced make us believe. is to secure payments for the casual
teachers employed on either temporary We have also dealt with large numbers substitute members. We realise that there
contracts or on a casual basis and are of substitute members on other matters are a whole series of issues to be resolved
subject to the normal employment issues relating to the payment of substitute and INTO remains the best and only
that arise from time to time for any teacher. teachers during the COVID-19 emergency realistic prospect for providing the vehicle
Our work at INTO is central to and secured continuation of payment to deliver these improvements.
improving the lot of substitute teachers. for subs in contract or with verbal
We insisted that the whole employment agreements about extended periods of Gerry Murphy
model of substitute teachers be included work. Where problems have presented in Northern Secretary
in the nine reviews that came along with
the pay offer. INTO has, for many years, led
the NITC in highlighting the unacceptable Our work at INTO is
haphazard conditions of employment.
We keep substitute members updated central to improving
and informed as to their entitlements
and protections through regular articles the lot of substitute
in Printout and via our website and
social media output. Our officials are teachers.
on hand with specific advice and are
always available to accompany substitute
teachers when called upon. A recent
article in our all island magazine, InTouch,
provides a picture of the numerous calls
we have dealt with from subs and our
efforts made on their behalf.
In the current crisis we have been key
in developing an agreed NITC position
which has seen many communications
in the name of all five unions concerning
the payment of casual substitutes during
the Covid-19 emergency. We have been
following this activity up on a daily basis
either in conference call meetings with
Management Side or other channels and
usually both. The fact that the business
case for additional money, to pay our
casual members, was put forward by DENI
and is now with the Executive is evidence
of the positive effects of INTO’s efforts. We
will continue to lobby and bring pressure
on behalf of these members waiting on
PRINTOUT 5 MAY 2020
Nuacht CMÉ
Correctly balancing time budgets
One of the key areas up for review as teacher, must be accounted for within a 1265 available hours. To be compliant
part of the recently settled pay deal, teacher’s time budget. with the workload agreement which
will have a focus on the workload A time budget commences at the states that, ‘workloads will be such that
agreement. While this may bring beginning of the day from the time that all contractual duties will normally be
changes and amendments to the a teacher is expected to be at school. completed within contractual hours,’
workload agreement, INTO believes If teachers are required to be on the all duties associated with managerial
that essentially very little will change premises from 8:35am to welcome allowances must also be accounted for
concerning its structure and how an pupils before classes begin at 9:00 within the time budget.
agreement around a time these 25 minutes, each In addition to this, schools must
budget is reached. morning will be included include all occasions that teachers are
Since the introduction and totalled within the required to be on the school premises or
of the workload time budget. an alternative chosen venue, outside of
agreement, all teachers Similarly, the full school the normal school day. This will facilitate
should have met with day, when lessons are open, prize and parents’ evenings.
their principals and held, is accounted for, Other events such as preparation for
agreed a directed time as is the morning break sacrament and religious services will
budget at the beginning and the supervision after also be included.
of each academic year. school. Normally all of Some remaining time, known as
This time budget is these single time periods contingency time, must be set aside
used to identify both are multiplied by the for other issues that arise without
the number of hours number of days which warning. There must be flexibility to
which a teacher can be they require actioning. accommodate situations that arise and
directed to undertake all While most schools end are unaccounted for within the time
their professional duties around 3pm, the time budget.
and the professional spent ushering pupils As part of the 2020 pay deal,
duties that should be Tommy McGlone off site and supervising time budgets will be enhanced with
undertaken. Senior Official bus duties is included in the inclusion of discrete planning,
Essentially it is a full all teachers’ time budget preparation and assessment time. (PPA)
description of what is regardless whether This PPA time is 10% of all teachers’
expected from a teacher for each year they are rotated; this is an essential directed time so will be recorded as
and what can be achieved by a teacher component of the time budget as there 126 ½ hours on the time budget. This
within that year. The fine detail is based is an understanding that teachers will dedicated PPA time will enable a
on the ‘Jordanstown agreement’ and the make themselves available during this teacher to raise standards through
key to all time budgets is that teachers time to cover for absent colleagues. individual and collaborative professional
will account for their time up to a Directed time after the normal activities.
maximum of 1265 hours every year. This teaching day should be included within As part of the negotiated pay offer,
means that all of a teacher’s contractual the time budget and this must be viewed training and support for school leaders
duties must be completed within the as the opportunity by principals to hold will be included and provided for by
1265 stated hours. When drawing up meetings. These should be held weekly EA. The NITC is also in the process of
and agreeing a time budget, any duties and of no more than 1 hour in duration producing an agreed checklist to help
that are required to be completed by a and would be recorded as 38 of the proof all time budgets.
Reporting
on visit to
Palestine
Liam O’Monachain, Michelle McCrystal,
Paul Woods and Eamon McMahon (TUFP)
delivering a report on their recent visit
to Palestine at a fringe event at Northern
Conference.
PRINTOUT 6 MAY 2020
INTO news
Members’ Voice
‘Bottom of the Pecking Order!’
Life as a substitute teacher is hard changing situation at Stormont. Currently, arises if the DENI continues to leave us
enough. With the uncertainty of the Minister of Education has asked the behind.
obtaining a permanent post and the Treasury for assistance as he claims that
financial insecurity, suffice it to say that without assistance, any possible package Having been contacted by several
substitute teachers are in their career may be a smaller level substitute teachers
because they are passionate about it. Yet of support. Without the throughout the North of
we are pushed down the pecking order support of the INTO we Ireland it is evident that
every single day whilst the Ministers would not have achieved hardship has already
of Education and Finance continue to such progress which I, and hit many households,
squabble about who is responsible for many other substitute with substitutes now
paying out a £12M bid for a hardship teachers are thankful for. relying on the goodwill of
fund or a furlough-like scheme for the family members to help
financial provision of substitute teachers Through my own put food on the table
during the closures. According to the BBC campaigning and and many concerned
there are up to 3800 substitute teachers communications with about mortgage or rent
affected by this. local MLAs I have been payments. Financial stress
informed that politicians is something we substitute
We are now into week 7 since the school are fighting hard on our teachers have got used to
closures with many substitutes now behalf however with a over the years, however
having no income; that is up to 3800 wait of 7 weeks it seems this has been the tip of the
families and persons who will at this stage as if our pleas for financial iceberg for many including
be struggling to meet the demands of help are falling on deaf Shauna McNamee myself as I fear what the
their usual bills and everyday living costs. ears. We are consistently next few months hold for
being pushed down the pecking order myself and my husband financially, along
Substitute teachers are still teachers. We in terms of priorities by the department with a baby due in October.
are key workers and essential workers. It and we rely heavily on the actions of the
is insulting to our hard work and efforts INTO and the Education Committee at Despite the amazing experiences and
that we put in every single year to be Stormont to continue to fight for us. support I have received by the INTO and
left behind in terms of a Job Retention the schools I have worked in the past, I
scheme. To be a substitute teacher currently is feel continuously let down by the DENI. As
demoralising, exhausting and limited in substitute teachers, we must continue to
The INTO is continuing to be proactive in terms of growth and opportunity. I fear collaborate with the INTO and ensure our
terms of the fight for a substitute teacher that many substitute teachers may seek voices are heard. The label of ‘substitute’
payment and this is evident in the ever- other career paths when the opportunity does not make me any less of a teacher.
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PRINTOUT 7 MAY 2020
Nuacht CMÉ
Report of the first online
INTO Poll in April 2020
The online poll information out to members to send were sent by 7.00pm that evening.
At the end of March 2020 it became clear updated contact details to INTO to update The links were to be sent from 12.00
that despite the pandemic, Management the database. Emails were sent to INTO noon on Monday 20 April 2020 but this
side were going to make an offer to school reps, branch secretaries and was delayed by an hour due to some
teachers in relation to pay and workload. Northern Committee to send to their INTO technical issues. Members were informed
INTO had committed to member contacts and via of this via the INTO website and social
balloting members on an ebulletin to individual media as well as emails to INTO Branch
this offer and had been members through the Secretaries and Northern Committee.
working on a postal e-newsletter. Regular What hadn’t been anticipated by INTO
ballot. As a postal ballot updates were also issued or the company employed by INTO to
was not feasible at this through the INTO website administer the poll, was that all members
time a number of options and social media platforms. would try to participate in the poll as
for an online ballot were INTO Northern Office soon as they received their email or text
explored. was closed from Saturday with the link. The result was that the
INTO’s requirements 11 – Tuesday 14 April INTO website crashed early on Monday
were to ensure that: inclusive. By 6.39pm afternoon with the 1,000s of members
• The poll would be open on Wednesday 15 April trying to submit their answers around at
to INTO members only. 1,000 email queries had the same time. Thankfully the problem
• Members could only been received over the was sorted promptly and submission of
participate in the poll Easter break and 619 of answers continued.
once. them were answered and This did cause a problem though,
• Their answer would be processed in that one day. with so many members submitting
anonymous. Nuala O’Donnell From 6 April 2020 when their answers around the same time,
• There would be only Senior Official INTO issued information to their screens froze with their submitted
one question with a members about updating answer but they didn’t receive a response
simple YES/NO answer their contact details on the database to stating, ‘Thank You, your answer has been
• As many INTO members as possible participate in the poll, until the close of submitted’ and therefore thought their
would be able to participate in the poll. the poll on 22 April, 3290 email queries answer hadn’t been submitted. A number
The timescale to set up the poll were received, into the infoni@into.ie of such queries from members were
was very short and development was and INTOPoll2020@into.ie email inboxes, checked with the company administering
therefore limited. INTO were able to and processed by the officials and staff in the Poll, who were able to assure INTO
secure a solution for all members with Northern Office, and the Chair and Vice- that those members’ answers had been
a valid email address or mobile number chair of Northern Committee, Kevin Daly submitted. Based on information from
on the INTO database, to participate and Caroline McCarthy. On Thursday 16 and the company, INTO then sent the wording
in an online poll by having a unique Friday 17 April, we were gratefully assisted below to individual members in response
link created for each member who was by Carmel Cunningham and Sharon to those queries. This wording was also
eligible to participate and send this link to Kane in INTO Head Office who updated sent to NC and Branch secretaries by
the individual members either via email (if members details on the database for us. email and posted on the INTO website
they had an email address registered with At the cut-off point at 10.30am on and social media to reassure members.
INTO) and/or via text (if they had a mobile Monday 20 April 2020, there were 6971
‘If the screen froze while you were
phone number but no email address). active members on the INTO NI database,
submitting your answer and it
This link would take them to a ballot of which 6942 were eligible to participate
remains frozen at that answer and
page on the portal, whether they were in the poll. (Honorary and Associate
the link can no longer be used, then
registered on the portal or not, and once members are excluded by Rule). Of those,
your answer has been submitted, as
they had used the link it would no longer 686 members had neither an email
the link can only be used once.’
be able to be used. address nor mobile number on the INTO
database and could therefore not receive Further queries arose over the three
Updating the database the link to the online poll. days of the poll. INTO Northern Office
On 30 March 2020, there were 6913 had issued information that no emails
members in INTO in the North of which Overcoming technical issues received after 4pm on Friday 17 April
5347 members had email addresses on 6258 links to the online poll were sent to 2020 would be updated in time for the
the database. It was suspected that many individual INTO members on Monday 20 Poll, as staff needed time to process the
of these email addresses were outdated April 2020 from 13.00 by email and SMS. emails received up until then and update
and possibly invalid. 5599 emails and 5544 SMS text messages the members’ records in the database.
Work commenced on getting the were sent that day. The last SMS messages All the emails received prior to 4pm on
PRINTOUT 8 MAY 2020
INTO news
Covid–19
S -o-c-i-a-l D-i-s-t-a-n-c-i-n-g?
Friday were processed and contact details How do we all stay safe when we know basic guidance isn’t possible in a special
updated before 10.30 on Monday 20 April school or LSC?
2020 when INTO staff were instructed not
to update any more records until Thursday DE guidance for vulnerable children & young people is available on the DE
23 April, after the poll had closed. Website but how does that get translated into an actual school setting?
Some members who were previously
registered on the INTO database went The guidance is a bit light on the rules that apply compared to other settings
into the portal and updated their details (eg. social distancing and personal hygiene), though reference is made to
themselves after 10.30 on Monday 20 https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/implementing-social-distancing-
April, these members were not sent a link education-settings-ni-coronavirus-covid-19. It does, however, specify that
but were sent an email explaining why individual risk assessments should be written and be specific and clear about
this was so. the risks. If risks cannot be removed or significantly reduced then the placement
would not be possible without causing harm to the child & others including
The result other pupils and staff. This is essential guidance and the Minister has supported
By the close of the poll at 5pm on this stance a number of times in interviews.
Wednesday 22 April, 4620 INTO members
had participated in the online poll, 74% of So guidance to teachers is what it is for every teacher.
those eligible and able to participate. • Social distancing is paramount – if a pupil cannot maintain social distancing
3099 (67%) members answered YES to then how are the pupil and staff protected – is PPE able to mitigate risk,
accept the pay and workload offer reduction of hours or days, identification of best activities and if risks are not
1521 (33%) members answered NO. reduced then the placement should be reviewed.
1638 members who were sent a link did • Hand hygiene maintained by the pupil – soaps, hand sanitiser etc
not participate in the online poll. • Maintaining appropriate cleaning of the areas as per PHA guidance.
On Thursday 23 April 2020 an email was
sent to all members with a valid email All staff should be made aware of and most importantly fully understand the
address on the INTO database informing main risk assessment and individual risk assessments before being asked to
them of the outcome of the poll. 5784 work in school with pupils so that they are all clear about what protections and
emails were sent, 185 more than had been expectations are in place. If any staff member feel these do not reflect what is in
sent on Monday with a link for the Poll. place then they should inform the management that risks are not being mitigated
INTO Northern Office staff had updated and the placement of a pupil be reviewed.
hundreds of email addresses and mobile
numbers that morning after the poll had On the 22nd April BBC Radio Ulster 4pm – 530pm focused on the extremely
closed. challenging situation arising for some families with special schools being closed
INTO is now in the process of sending and the impact for their child with challenging behaviours. As Special School
text messages to the 292 members who Teachers we can understand the extreme challenges some of our children
have a mobile number but no email present at home. It can be dangerous, isolating, emotionally exhausting for
address on the INTO database asking families. School provides a significant support not just educationally but also
them to email us so we can update their socially. It is important for all that
details. Further work will be required on a return to school is safe, planned
return to Northern Office to send letters and able to be maintained. The BBC
to the 606 remaining members on the presenter finished his piece by stating
INTO database with no email address or “schools have decided the health &
mobile number to seek to update their wellbeing of staff is more important
details on the database. than the wellbeing of the pupils” – I
If you have not received an email from shouted back in an empty room “it is
INTO in the last week or so, or didn’t the safety of us all that is important!”
receive an email link for the poll it is likely
that there is no email address for you We all hope to return to whatever
on the INTO database. To ensure that form of normal we can as soon as
INTO can contact you and provide you we can BUT schools must use every
with important and relevant information mechanisms outlined in guidance to
where necessary please email infoni@into. ensure the safety of every member of
ie with your name, TR number and mobile the whole school community.
number so your details can be updated
on the INTO database.
PRINTOUT 9 MAY 2020
Nuacht CMÉ
Covid-19
Impact on education
Covid-19 caught everyone out. Except There is no doubt that most parents right now. Teachers and school leaders
for the movie industry. If anyone has have come to appreciate the role of the are contending with all this while also
seen Contagion, it is uncanny how teacher and how demanding the job being silently terrified for their own
the film portrays the spread of the can be. Meanwhile teachers continue families and loved ones, helping those
virus similar to the reality of today. to provide resources and guidance for they care about most deal with the
Yet countries were ready for such their pupils where possible but are faced changes they are facing.
a pandemic or, so we with all the problems that
were told. The top two remote learning raise. Reopening concerns
countries in the world on Not all pupils have the What does the future hold for schools?
paper who were pandemic technology at home to In Denmark schools have reopened, but
ready were the USA receive the work from have they? If you read into the detail of
and UK and yet the two school and not all pupils the reopening of schools, there are many
countries currently with are engaging with the obstacles and few solutions that return
the highest numbers of support provided by education to the normal practices prior
deaths from Covid-19 are teachers. to Covid-19. Here are an example of
the USA and UK. Teachers are also some practices occurring in countries
providing supervision that have opened their schools;
Meeting the challenge for Key Workers children • The start of the school day is
Nobody was really and vulnerable children staggered to avoid overcrowding.
prepared for Covid-19 and in schools that are open. • Washing of hands occurs 6 to 8 times
its impact on the world There are teachers who in the day.
least of all our education are unable to attend • Children bring own pencils etc. and
system. Nonetheless work due to the risk of do not share.
teachers, as they always Covid-19 but still do their • Hand sanitation points and extra bins
do, stepped forward and Paul Groogan job from home and there for masks everywhere.
met the new challenges Trade Union Official are teachers who make • Classes are smaller (1 teacher to 8
with the necessary energy themselves available to pupils)
and child centred approach they always facilitate a rota in school to provide • Each pupil has an allocated desk for
apply. For INTO as a union it was supervision for Key Workers children social distancing.
initially a process of fighting the flames and vulnerable children. Teachers are • Schools close early.
and trying to provide for our members also volunteering for work in their • Clear social distancing marking.
the most up to date advice which in communities to help those unable to These practices are necessary to
itself was extremely difficult considering get out of their houses due to having facilitate schools to open but if you take
things were changing on an hourly to self-isolate. Deliveries of food and the example of smaller class sizes, one
basis. However, manage we did and like medical supplies are some of the roles teacher can only teach a class of perhaps
our members we put our heads down that teachers have taken on in the midst 8 to 10 pupils due to social distancing.
and worked through each problem as it of this dangerous pandemic. Who is going to teach the other 20
presented itself and with engagement pupils belonging to that class? There
with management side provided the The issues for teachers are major practical concerns with the
guidance our members needed, safety Teachers deserve great praise for the reopening of schools.
being the priority at all times. way they have performed and continue There is no straightforward solution
Many schools, teachers and parents to perform through this Covid-19 crisis. to schools reopening any time soon.
are facing huge challenges with the Taking the messy and exhilarating Safety for all is the way to proceed.
closure of schools. While some schools business of learning and recalibrating the To do this testing needs to be at the
had already embraced electronic digital challenges, more or less overnight, forefront of government policy for
means of contacting pupils and is no mean feat. Add to that the fact that schools. Not testing when symptoms
parents, most schools and teachers teachers may not have the technical skills are apparent but testing for all to be
had no understanding of, or means – let alone the right hardware in their able to ensure safety for our children
to facilitate remote learning. Schools homes – to pull this off, and straightaway and teachers and provide that security
and teachers did their best to provide you have a huge to-do list. As for the to do their job without fear of putting
work for their pupils by gathering home poor wi-fi don’t ask. Then there are those themselves and their families at risk. The
packs and setting up remote learning vulnerable families, the ones that need policy to test, trace and isolate should
through Seesaw, ClassDojo and Google us the most but, at this time of greatest be adopted to protect all in our school
Classroom and continue to do so. need, can find themselves the furthest communities.
Parents have now become the teachers, away. Offering support and keeping these Stay at home, stay safe and stay in
but they were the first educators anyway. connections strong is another vital task touch.
PRINTOUT 10 MAY 2020INTO news
FAQs – Covid-19
I have been asked by my principal to providing advice in regard to an epidemic, they will have to be
to attend school to collect books to amended or ‘light touch’ report. Until this postponed. Also given that UPS
mark, I am worried about my own guidance is forthcoming, INTO advises movement is usually not signed off by
safety if I am forced to go to school. its members not to begin to write any principals until October each year, INTO
Unless a visit to school is business summer reports. INTO further advises will be requesting that when schools
critical then INTO advises members that the statutory requirement is for reconvene for the 2020/21 academic term
that they should continue to follow only one written report to be provided that they use September to carry out the
the PHA advice and remain at home to a parent in any academic year. This missed observations from the 2019/20
and do not go to school. Any meetings requirement will have been fulfilled if a academic year. In the interim INTO will
can be held remotely and in regard to written report has already been provided be pressing EA to introduce a COVID-19
going to school to prepare more work during the current academic year. Should waiver similar to the maternity waiver.
or collect books for marking, INTO you have already prepared a report to
advises that it is unreasonable to expect go to parents at this time, INTO would
teachers, who are working from home, suggest that it would be unreasonable to I am meant to be returning from
to mark individual pupil’s work. Until the expect new reports to be prepared as a maternity leave during Covid-19
Department of Education publicly states result of new guidelines from DE. crisis. What should I do?
that schools are reopening this advice It is assumed that a teacher will return
will remain in place. to work on the date specified on TR160,
Can I be asked to attend a school as confirmed by the Department of
other than my own as part of a hub Education, and no further notification of
As a substitute teacher will the cluster? return to work is required.
days that I was booked for still be Essentially if you are fit for work then However, a teacher who wishes
honoured. the simple answer is yes. Hub schools to return to work before or after the
During this school closure substitute are schools that will be the main school specified date, whether from ordinary
teachers will receive their normal pay for open in an area to accommodate key or additional maternity leave, must give
the period of time that they have been workers children and vulnerable children. 28 days’ notice of the date on which she
engaged to work. This includes any Other schools in the area may have very wishes to return to work.
engagements currently registered on small numbers of children attending so
the NISTR system AND any engagements by clustering schools together only one
which have been verbally agreed between school need open, the Hub school. I was on sick leave when the schools
the school and the substitute teacher. closed. What should I do now?
If you are still unfit for work, you should
Do I have to work evenings and continue to provide sick lines to your
My school has asked me to contact weekends? school.
parents by phone, I am not No. Hub schools may well continue to Paid sick leave will continue in line
comfortable with this. open in the evenings and weekends to with the provisions already in place. If
Essentially, spending time telephoning accommodate the working cycle of key you recover, you should indicate to your
pupils has the potential to detract from workers. INTO advice is that vulnerable school/ principal that you are now fit for
the time that teachers actually have children should not be included in work, and you should follow the current
to remotely engage with pupils. While evening or weekend supervision. The COVID-19 advice for attending school. If
this may not be a GDPR issue, INTO supervision of children on evenings you have been absent for a short-term
have always requested its members to and weekends will be on a voluntary illness, on a medical certificate ending
be cautious when contacting pupils at basis only. Any member, permanent or during the current closure, the school/
home, especially from their own homes substitute who volunteers to work extra principal will follow the dates of the
or personal mobile phones. INTO must hours on evenings or weekends should certificate and can end the sick leave
also be mindful that this practice of fill in a TR269 form to receive pay for during the closure. If you have been
telephoning pupils at home, coupled extra hours. Where possible principals absent for a longer period – 4 weeks or
with the perceptions of both pupils and should employ substitute teachers for more – you need to give a week’s notice
parents, may have child protection issues supervision cover during evenings, to your principal of your intention to
and INTO strongly advises its members weekends and holiday periods. return to work. If you have been referred
not to contact parents directly at home. to Occupational Health, an appointment
should be arranged by telephone. The
Because of Covid-19 I am unable procedures for return to work on the back
What is the union’s advice to complete my PRSD which I need of the OH report will apply as previously
regarding completing the annual to advance up the upper pay scale. although again a return to work meeting
statutory written reports? What will happen? should be facilitated by telephone. In
INTO is currently liaising with department Because observations cannot be summary, sick leave should be treated as if
of Education officials with a view conducted during the Coronavirus the school was in operation.
PRINTOUT 11 MAY 2020Nuacht CMÉ
Power in a Union
Northern Conference – Newry 2020
For the first time since 2012 INTO Northern
Conference was hosted by Newry branch.
Hopefully, it will not be as long until the north’s
largest branch host Conference again.
Conference 2020 may well end up being
remembered best as the only teaching union
conference to have taken place as scheduled, in
what will undoubtedly become an unforgettable
year for obvious reasons. However, despite events
overtaking us all since the beginning of March, it
deserves to be remembered also as a conference
that displayed much of what is best about the
INTO.
For the first time in a number of years a Minister John Boyle – General Secretary, Kevin Daly – Northern Committee Chairperson, Feargal
for Education was in attendance for the opening of Brougham – President, Gerry Murphy – Northern Secretary
Conference and to address delegates and invited
guests. The undoubted highlight of Minister Weir’s
speech were his comments on the need for change and more were debated, and policy positions taken
in the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI). by delegates.
It appears that space has opened up for meaningful On the fringes of Conference activists organised
engagement about a new approach to inspections. an excellent and well attended event reporting back
Relief may best describe the reaction of those from the latest delegation to Palestine. The packed
assembled at hearing, for the first time in what schedule of a busy conference makes such events
seemed like an age, some positivity coming from a difficult to plan for and organise at times, but it
Minister for Education. is testament to the commitment of the delegates
Well received speeches from INTO President involved that they are so well presented and
Feargal Brougham and Northern Secretary Gerry attended.
Murphy highlighted the major issues facing
education, not least the need to address a decade of
decreased pay and underfunding of schools.
The contents of the ‘clár’ spoke to a membership
that has a collective finger very much on the pulse
of the most pressing issues in education. Pay,
workload and the ETI were of course prominent in
our deliberations, so too SEN and the continued
detrimental impact of austerity on education that
continues to bedevil the entire system and all
who work and learn within it. Mental health and
wellbeing of teachers and pupils, climate change,
fair employment legislation and sectarianism,
governance of schools, opportunities for beginning
teachers, class sizes, workload for school leaders
Paul Groogan – Trade Union Official, Mark McTaggart – Assistant Northern Secretary, Nuala
O’Donnell – Senior Official, Tommy McGlone – Senior Official
PRINTOUT 12 MAY 2020INTO news
The hospitality and entertainment
organised by Newry Branch cannot go
without mention either. The branch has
gone from strength to strength in recent
years with an increase in new activists
and it showed in their contribution
throughout. The staff and pupils
of St Mary’s PS Mullaghbawn who
entertained delegates and guests so well
with a selection of songs at the start of
Conference deserve particular mention
and thanks for setting such a positive
tone as delegates gathered for the start
of conference.
Delegates and guests were fulsome
in their praise of the Canal Court Hotel
for the excellent service throughout.
As hard as delegates worked on Friday
and Saturday there was, in fine INTO
tradition, no shortage of refreshment,
music and dancing at the conference
dinner on Friday evening.
All in all, delegates, guests and
INTO staff came together to produce
a productive, progressive and outward
looking conference that has set a broad
agenda for the year ahead, COVID-19
notwithstanding. The last line of my
own speech, before quoting a verse
of Billy Bragg’s anthemic ‘Power in a
Union’, was that we need to ‘act on our
decisions and change things for the
better’. Disruption to normal life won’t
change that aim.
Kevin Daly
Northern Committee Chairperson
PRINTOUT 13 MAY 2020Nuacht CMÉ
PRINTOUT 14 MAY 2020INTO news PRINTOUT 15 MAY 2020
Nuacht CMÉ
Larry Magee, teacher and a trade unionist
a tribute from Gerry Murphy, Northern Secretary
A very special guest joined us at our
Northern Conference. As Larry Magee
enters his ninety-fifth year, he completes
almost seventy-five years as a committed
and active member of our Organisation.
He remains active to this day, attending
meetings of his North Armagh Branch
on as many occasions as he can manage.
He remains available to those who seek
the benefit of his wisdom and advice but
nowadays by appointment only.
In paying this tribute to Larry, mention
must first be made of the passing just
last week of his beloved wife, Una (who
was also a longstanding member of
our Organisation). We offer our sincere
sympathy to Larry and to his family on
their great loss. Go neannaidh Dia ar a
hanam dhilis.
Larry entered the teaching profession
in the late nineteen-forties initially
teaching in Ballymena, then joining the
staff of the Abbey Primary School in
Newry, before taking up a post in Saint
Peters Junior Primary School then based
in North Street, Lurgan not far from the
family home in Wellington Street. From
the outset he joined INTO. It was during
these early days he encountered Al
Mackle and Gerry Quigley.
Some would say that INTO in the
North of Ireland was a sleeping giant at
that time but with the arrival of Mackle,
Quigley and Magee it awoke from its
slumbers with an almighty roar. They set
about radicalising INTO in the North by
establishing a young teachers’ grouping
within the Organisation and in which
Larry played a pivotal role. Due to their
endeavours the INTO achieved the
removal of the marriage ban for female
teachers in the mid 1950s followed by
gaining the recognition of teaching as
a profession on a par with the legal and
medical profession a few years later.
Throughout his years in the
organisation Larry held positions at
School, Branch, District, Northern
Committee and Education Committee
levels. As a committed trade unionist
he led his North Armagh Branch to
affiliate to its local Trades Union Council
participating with the wider trade government. It was due to the leadership The contribution that Larry Magee
union movement in rallies and marches of people such as Larry that INTO in has made to INTO and to the teaching
demanding peace throughout the Northern Ireland emerged from those profession is immeasurable and we all
seventies, eighties and nineties; and years as a strong and vibrant offer our sincere gratitude to him for the
against the excesses of the Thatcher organisation. legacy he leaves.
PRINTOUT 16 MAY 2020INTO news
Academic
selection
At this time in the school year, pupils affected by socio-economic status. landscape will look like in 8 or 12
and parents of Primary 6 pupils, turn “For our present purposes the area of months’ time.
their thoughts to transferring from greatest concern is the finding that the How, for instance would schools be
Primary to post-Primary school. most important factor which influenced able to facilitate such testing and ensure
Parents must decide if they wish to opt student achievement at GCSE was social distancing. Rather than looking
their P6 children in to taking part in whether individuals had been placed in a for ways to facilitate this archaic system
an unregulated test and to decide the grammar school or not,” the report said. of selection, there is an opportunity to
school or schools that will be available to At the time of writing, the two adopt a new model. One which does
them to select from in February 2021. consortia that offer the commercial, not continue to disadvantage children
This has, for the last 11 years, been unregulated ‘transfer’ because of their socio-
a difficult decision to take for many tests in Northern Ireland: economic background.
parents, and has caused stress to both the Post-Primary Transfer One which would allow
pupil and parent. Despite the then Consortium (PPTC) all children to move to
Education Minister Catriona Ruane and the Association for the next stage in their
submitting proposals to end academic Quality Education (AQE), educational journey with
selection to the Executive in 2008, and have postponed the the classmates they have
the last state sponsored test taking application process for spent seven years with,
place that year, academic selection has taking part in their tests. one which does not label
been allowed to continue. Indeed, on In the unprecedented children as young as ten
the 7th September 2016 the current situation that we as failures. A model which
Education Minister, Peter Weir, reversed find ourselves today, would take away the
the guidance to schools which had through the Covid -19 stresses associated with
prevented primary schools preparing crisis, where GCSE and the transfer test, where
children for the unregulated tests. A-level exams have been parents would not feel
This decision by Mr Weir went against cancelled, the Stormont pressurised into having
the advice of the UN CRC Committee’s Education Committee has their children tutored,
2008 recommendation to put an end to on a number of occasions Mark McTaggart and the expense that
the two-tier culture in Northern Ireland questioned the minister Assistant Northern Secretary comes with it. A system
by abolishing the 11+ transfer test. It also in relation to how pupils that would give equity
went against the recommendation from will transfer from primary to post for all pupils in the final year of their
2016 that the NI Executive abolish the primary in 2020/21. primary school.
practice of unregulated admission tests The minister has responded by saying In response to the current education
to post-primary education. that the Department of Education has landscape, where some children are
In 2012, the Catholic Bishops in no control over the unregulated tests. already disadvantaged in terms of
Northern Ireland similarly called for the However he continues to support the home schooling due to lack of access to
abolition of academic selection, saying use of academic criteria for admission technology, both in terms of hardware
that it has “outlived its usefulness”. They to post primary schools. While his and broadband, the department and
called on all political parties to agree department do not have control over the the education authorities are looking
on a better system of transfer to post- unregulated tests, they do have control to mitigate these inequalities by
primary schools. over the use of such tests as admission prioritising these pupils in terms of
Research has shown that the criteria, and it is they that set the dates returning to school settings when it is
current system of sorting pupils into for the application process to schools. safe to do so.
separate educational routes magnified The consortia have indicated that they Surely, given this understanding,
inequality. The Centre for Research in may not be able to meet their normal it is time for the Minister of Education,
Educational Underachievement (CREU) timescale for putting these unregulated and his department to work towards
at Stranmillis University College report tests in place, and therefore there must mitigating the harm caused to young
particularly highlights that access to and be some question as to whether they people as a result of the transfer
performance in the current unregulated will be able to move forward with them. procedure, and to finally consign
tests, and through them the placement No one is sure as to when our schools academic selection to the dustbin of
in particular schools are negatively will reopen, nor what the educational history.
PRINTOUT 17 MAY 2020Nuacht CMÉ
Register to stay informed
The COVID-19 virus has created Please note you are not able
unprecedented disruption and to register directly on the website
changes in our workplaces, if you are already a member of
our social lives and our homes. INTO.
As we strive to overcome the If you didn’t receive a pre-
problems we are now facing registration email, please check
daily and follow the government your junk mail and any old email
regulations of social distancing addresses and if you still haven’t
and the call to stay at home, we, received one and you aren’t
I suppose, have to be thankful already registered on the INTO
that we live in a technological website, then please email
age which allows us to follow the infoni@into.ie with your name,
guidance from the authorities. teacher reference (TR) number
Working from home before and school.
COVID-19 was seen as a luxury If you are already registered
afforded to the few but desired with a username and password,
by the many. Through mobile please go to the INTO website and
phones, emails and social media log in today to ensure we have
platforms we can maintain your most up-to-date details.
contact with our work, our On the log in page you will find
families and our union. a reset password option should
Teachers have risen to the you need it; you can only use
challenge to continue to provide this option if you have previously
educational provision for their registered.
pupils through preparation of Once you have logged in you
packs for pupils to take home, should be able to:
to the establishment of remote 1 Check and update your
learning sites. Teachers have also member record (My INTO
stepped forward to provide a page).
supervisory role for the children 2 Register for INTO courses and
of key workers and vulnerable events (Events – Seminars &
children in their schools. your details on our database are correct. Workshops).
Throughout all of the mayhem caused Members should first and foremost 3 Update your preferences for
by COVID-19, teachers have turned to ensure their contact details on the INTO communication from the INTO (My
the INTO for advice and the INTO has database are up to date. You can check Contact Methods).
worked relentlessly to provide teachers your details through the INTO website 4 Access all the INTO information
with the most up-to-date information once you have registered on it. and services in the members’ portal
and advice with a minute window (Information Area).
for turnaround. Through the
new INTO website and database,
Without the most up to date By following the above advice,
members have been contacted
and received advice as quickly
details, members will not always we can ensure that you as
members get the information
as it was possible to do so in a
constantly changing environment.
receive the support they need you need in a timely fashion.
Members should note that
Now in a moment of reflection
of the days and weeks that have
as and when they require it. all updates are posted
immediately on the INTO
passed, a few issues from the website and e-newsletters
perspective of an official come to mind. Following the recent updating of are also issued, but those in receipt of
It is only by having the most current the INTO database, emails with a pre- such emails should not take this as a
mobile number or email address that I, registration link were sent a couple of confirmation of active membership.
as an official, have been able to contact weeks ago to members not already Please email infoni@into.ie if you have any
those stressed and anxious members registered on the INTO website but for issues around registering or logging in –
with necessary advice. Without the most whom INTO has a valid email address making sure to include your TR number
up-to-date contact details, members on the database. If you received one of and name.
were not always getting the support they these emails all you need to do is click Remember to stay safe, stay in touch
needed as and when they required it. on the unique link contained in your pre- and stay at home for now.
So, I suggest that you as a member registration email to register with your
should, as a matter of urgency, make sure email address and password. PAUL GROOGAN, official, Northern Office.
PRINTOUT 18 MAY 2020You can also read
