agreement in place with teacher unions

9

WQ.236/2018

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 6th NOVEMBER 2018

Question

Further to the response to Written Question 206/2018, will the Minister –

1. inform members what agreement, if any, is currently in place with the teaching unions regarding any limits to the amount of cover provided for teacher absence, whether planned (i.e. training or maternity) or unplanned (i.e. sickness) by –

1. teachers;
2. teaching assistants; or
3. supply teachers;

2. state how the department, or others involved, can monitor whether any such agreement is being met, given the absence of a consistent record of planned absence across schools;
3. also inform members whether the cost of supply teachers is centrally funded or individually funded by schools; and  
4. state, for the years 2015 to 2018, the total number of days required from supply teachers in the primary and secondary sectors?

Answer

1. i) Teachers: There is an agreement in place in the Terms and Conditions of Service for

Teachers – page 10, paragraph 14 "undertaking an appropriate share of collective responsibilities including substitution for an absent colleague subject to guaranteed non-teaching time".

2. Teaching Assistants: No agreement as these staff are Civil Servants
3. Supply Teachers: An agreement is not in place for this group due to the nature of the role being on an as and when required' basis.

2. Monitoring of the teachers agreement is carried out within schools by the Head Teacher.
3. If there is a central requirement, e.g. a decision is made centrally, costs will be funded centrally, otherwise individual schools fund from their budget. Paternity and Maternity is centrally funded. Schools pay the first 5 days of any long term sickness, the balance is funded centrally. Other cover, including short term sickness, backfill of secondments, PPA and Moderation, is funded by the school budget.

*2018 total to September only