Page 6
Upfront
NUT submissions to early years reviews
The NUT responded to the Review of Early Education and Childcare Qualifications carried out by Professor Kathy Nutbrown earlier this year.
The NUT met the Department for Education to raise concerns about the early childhood sector workforce. Many of the issues raised have been included in Professor Nutbrown’s interim report. These include:
• The importance of early years teachers in raising the quality and status of early education
• That early years professional status (EYPS) is not as rigorous or lengthy as qualified teacher status (QTS) despite the Government’s insistence that it is. The NUT believes the EYPS qualification should not be used as a replacement for QTS
• The importance of introducing an initial teacher education course for the birth to seven age range, or early years key stage
• The importance of well qualified support staff. The NUT has called for a minimum level 3 requirement for all early years support staff.
Professor Nutbrown is still considering the issues in the interim report. The NUT welcomes your views on any of these issues, or other matters in the report, which can be found at
www.education.gov.uk/nutbrownreview Send your comments to
j.ellerby@nut.org.uk and we will incorporate them in our feedback to the review team.
The NUT will also be contributing to the consultation on the revised Sure Start Children’s Centres Statutory Guidance which can be found at
www.education.gov.uk/consultations
Remembering workers’ day
The NUT and other trade unions all over the world commemorated workers’ memorial day on 28 April when events and rallies were held across the UK.
The purpose of the day is to remember people killed at work. This year the TUC called on health and safety reps, trades councils and safety campaigners to make 28 April a day of action against the Government’s attacks on health and safety law, cutting enforcement and inspection and making it harder for workers to win compensation for injuries.
Stop this unpardonable execution
The NUT is urging members to take action in support of Iranian teacher and lecturer on Persian literature Abdolreza Ghanbari, who has been sentenced to death in Iran, and Bahraini Teachers’ Association President Mahdi ‘Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb and vice-President Jalila al-Salman.
Abdolreza Ghanbari was arrested in 2009 following demonstrations against the Iranian regime in which he did not take part. He was beaten and forced to confess. His family and witnesses have made it clear he was at home during the demonstrations but have been denied the chance to present their evidence. A request for a pardon to the Commission of Justice was rejected.
Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi ‘Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb were arrested in spring last year in connection with the protests in Bahrain in 2011 and faced charges of ‘inciting hatred of the regime’. They both report being tortured. Jalila al-Salman has been bailed and Mahdi ‘Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb sentenced to ten years. The next hearing was due to take place on 2 May.
Find details at
www.labourstart.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52