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NEWS • VIEWS • INFORMATION • ADVICE


CUTS HEIGHTEN ASBESTOS RISK

The decision to cut capital spend on schools means fewer amounts of deadly asbestos will now be removed from schools.

This is one of the more disturbing consequences of Education Secretary Michael Gove’s controversial scrapping of the multi-billion pound Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme, participants at this year’s NASUWT’s Health and Safety seminar heard.

BSF would have renovated and rebuilt thousands of schools, many of which still contain the deadly legacy of asbestos, used as insulation in many buildings.

Bob Johnson, National Official for Salaries, Pensions and Conditions of Service, and a leading expert on asbestos within the union movement, said the NASUWT did not share the view that asbestos was safe if managed correctly.

He told the seminar: “The Health and Safety Executive’s view is that this material is safe if managed properly. We do not share that.

“BSF would have reduced much of the asbestos present in schools.”

Warnings were also given that the growth in academies and other arrangements that give more autonomy to schools could put staff and pupils at risk because of opposition from employers to enabling health and safety representatives to operate effectively and to work with them.

The seminar also received a briefing from members of the NASUWT North West Region Health and Safety Committee, who showed a film they had produced, advising members on introducing controlled risks for pupils on outdoor adventurous activities.

Participants also took part in various good practice seminars on classroom risk assessment, sickness absence and the use of harassment legislation to resolve stress casework.


Reflection, Renewal and Reality

Teachers’ experiences of SEN and inclusion, and perspectives on policy and practice

Wednesday 12 October 2011

International Convention Centre (ICC), Birmingham

Find out about:

• the latest SEN policy reforms and what this will mean for practice in schools;
• the new Ofsted inspection framework for schools and the inspection of SEN;
• the findings from NASUWT-commissioned research into teachers’ and school leaders’ experiences of SEN and inclusion;
• international perspectives on SEN and inclusion and the implications for policy practice in the UK;
• local authority perspectives on SEN and wider education policy reforms.

Participate in discussions and workshops, covering:

• practical approaches to inclusion;
• the role and future for special schools;
• training and CPD for teachers and school leaders;
• managing pupils with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties;
• an inclusive approach to curriculum design;
• multi-agency working;
• teaching assistants and support for pupils with SEN and disabilities.

Delegates will be able to hear from a range of expert speakers, including representatives from the NASUWT, Ofsted, the Department for Education (DfE) and the Local Government Association (LGA).

The conference costs £149 but is FREE to NASUWT members.

For further information and to reserve a place at the conference, please register online at www.nasuwt.org.uk or contact the NASUWT’s Conferences and Events Team on conferencesandevents@mail.nasuwt.org.uk or by calling 0121 453 6150.