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ASK THE UNION
on the NUT website: www.
teachers.org.uk under School sector>Primary.
The coalition Government has said it will make changes to the national curriculum “to ensure a focus on the basics and to give teachers more flexibility than that offered by the proposed new primary curriculum.” No timetable for these changes has been announced at the time of going to press, other than that next steps for the national curriculum will be announced this autumn. The NUT will update members once this information is available.
The Government has also indicated that the Key Stage 1 and 2 national curriculum assessment arrangements will remain in place for 2010/11. The NUT’s campaign for assessment reform will therefore continue (see page 14).
The NUT has produced a pamphlet on assessment, jointly with the ATL union, entitled Make Assessment Measure Up. This is available to download from the NUT website at www.teachers.
org.uk/assessment. Visit the same web page for the latest information about the Union’s assessment campaign and how you can get involved.
Q My husband has been offered a post abroad for six months next year, and I’d really like to go with him. Am I entitled to take unpaid leave from my teaching job, or will I have to resign and hope there’s a position available for me when I return?
A There is, unfortunately, no automatic right to a sabbatical in such circumstances. You would need to discuss the situation with your head teacher and your proposal would then have to be considered by your school’s governing body.
If there is a reluctance to agree six months’ unpaid leave of absence, you could offer to be absent for the whole academic year. This might then make it easier for the school to fill your post on a fixed-term basis. If this suggestion was agreed, when you return from abroad you could make yourself available to your school to cover any absences or vacancies that have arisen in the intervening period.
Q I work part time as a supply teacher and have recently started earning some extra money as atravelling storyteller. I was wondering, does my NUT insurance cover me if I go to a school to deliver storytelling sessions, rather than regular lessons? How about if I’m doing storytelling at a non-school venue, such as a library or kids’ club?
A If you are working on a self-employed basis you need to ensure that you have all the necessary insurancecover. You are entitled to the union’s assistance in relation to certain problems that could arise, for example false accusations made against you by students or accidents in the course of your work.
However, you will need to ensure that you have insurance cover for professional indemnity and public liability, which are not covered by the union’s legal and professional services. Professional indemnity is cover for financial loss resulting from advice or services given by a professional for a fee. Public liability is the legal liability owed to any third party as a result of negligence relating to the business and its activities – for instance a client being injured as a result of negligence.
This cover is normally provided by your employer, but when you are working in a self-employed capacity you need to arrange for the insurance to be in place.
The NUT recommends the Alan Boswell Group for the provision of insurance for self-employed members for a reasonable premium. Find full details at
www.teachers.org.uk – go to Members' centre> Benefits and services>Self-employment insurance.
Q I’ve heard that the minimum age for premature retirement has increased. Can you explain the new rules to me?
The minimum age at which teachers can get premature retirement on the grounds of redundancy or reorganisation has risen to 55 from April 2010. This applies regardless of when you joined the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and is an over-riding legislative requirement brought about by the Finance Act 2004.
The minimum age to take actuarially reduced early retirement was already 55 for all members. Members who qualify for early retirement on grounds of ill health can get their pension at any age.
For full information about your teacher’s pension, including calculators to help you with pension planning, visit
www.teacherspensions.co.uk. For the latest information on issues affecting retired NUT members, visit
www.teachers.org.uk and go to Members’ centre>Retired members.
Send your questions to the NUT’s legal, professional, and health and safety experts to Ask the union, The Teacher, NUT, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD or email
teacher@nut.org.uk.
Please note that questions relating to personal problems or specific workplace situations should be directed to your school NUT rep or local NUT association or division secretary in the first instance – contact details are on your membership credentials.
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