Ask the union

Flexible working request

MY head teacher will not allow me to request flexible working informally. They will not engage in any conversations about it and instead are pushing me to do a statutory request. Is this allowed?

An employee has a right to request flexible working and your employer must consider such a request carefully in a reasonable manner in accordance with the ACAS Code of Practice.

NEU policy is to request flexible working arrangements informally. If your head teacher insists that all flexible working requests are submitted formally you may want to seek support from your school rep or local NEU office in the first instance. Unfortunately, you do not have a right to request flexible working informally.

You can only make a formal flexible working request once every 12 months and your employer should only deny a request if there is a good business reason to do so. The law requires that all requests, including any appeals, must be considered and decided on within a period of three months from receipt.

Ask your workplace rep or school office for copies of relevant policies and procedures – for example, flexible working, job share, and home working policies. The NEU urges all employers to adopt clear policies and procedures to enable flexible working. In order to maximise your chance of success, try to anticipate any arguments that might be raised to justify refusing your request and prepare suggestions for how those arguments could be countered. Even if your specific request is not agreed, you may still be able to agree a compromise.

n Visit neu.org.uk/advice/flexible-working

Inappropriate social media

A CHILD in my class has been watching sexually explicit videos and forwarding them to friends, as well as making slanderous videos about other pupils. The senior leadership team says there is nothing it can do as it’s happening outside school.

We would suggest that your school’s designated safeguarding lead seeks advice from the Professionals Online Safety Helpline, part of the UK Safer Internet Centre (pictured above). This free service for professionals and volunteers working with children and young people provides advice to help resolve online safety issues staff face, about themselves or in respect of young people, such as cyber-bullying or sexting issues.

n Visit saferinternet.org.uk/professionals-online-safety-helpline

Accident-at-work sick pay

I INJURED myself while teaching, but school has refused to pay me the appropriate accident-at-work sick pay as stipulated in the Burgundy Book. Instead, I’m on normal sick pay – which means a drop to half then zero pay – and am going through absence management. The school says it wasn’t its fault I hurt myself.

If you have been injured at your workplace while carrying out your teaching duties and occupational health has confirmed

Free CPD webinars for all NEU members

NEU members have exclusive access to our continuing professional development (CPD) webinars. Here are some of the courses coming up.

Wellbeing in the primary classroom

Practical ideas for making you and your class happier, which have a positive impact on learning too.

24 May from 3.45-5pm

Secondary mental health series: Preventing bullying, cyberbullying and sexual harassment

Based on the classroom wellbeing toolkit by the Anna Freud Centre and Early Intervention Foundation, this webinar will cover practical strategies that secondary school staff can use to help prevent bullying behaviour and sexual harassment.

14 June from 3.45-5.15pm

Women’s empowerment – finding your voice in the NEU

Aimed at members who are not yet active in the union. Hear from inspirational women guest speakers and explore how to work together to create change in your union and your workplace. Held over the weekend of the Women Chainmakers’ that this is the case, you are entitled to six months on full pay in addition to normal sick pay entitlements.

Whether or not it was your school’s fault is irrelevant. If your school is covered by Burgundy Book terms and conditions, it must follow this procedure.

If your school refuses to pay you the additional six months, please contact your local NEU branch or the AdviceLine.

Please email your questions to educate@neu.org.uk festival in the West Midlands. 29-30 June from 9am-5.30pm

needs of children with English as an additional

Meeting the language (EAL) Explore EAL and the importance of understanding how language acquisition progresses, including how to build a picture of a child to identify and begin to support their needs.

5 July from 3.30-5.30pm n Webinars are available for seven days. n Email cpd@neu.org.uk or visit neu.org.uk/national-cpd