Following the Government statement earlier today, please find below all the relevant links to publications issued today.
 

• Schools guidance 
• Impact assessment 
• Children's rights and wellbeing impact assessment 
• School FAQ
• Young Scot Schools FAQ – please note that this version is a “starter for 10” and additional Q&A will be added almost daily and existing ones updated as required.
• Early learning and childcare services guidance 
• Fully outdoor childcare providers guidance
• Support to childcare sector
• Childminder services guidance 
• Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues – advisory note on physical distancing in early learning and childcare settings (ELC) 

Please note: SSTA will be issuing advice early next week (Week Commencing 3 August 2020).
 

30 July 2020

Message to Members 25 June 2020

The SSTA position throughout the COVID-19 crisis has been one of safety first for all teachers and pupils. We have been guided throughout by the scientific and medical evidence and that will continue to be the case. We would all like to return to normal schooling but we are not at that place yet and not likely to be in the coming months.

The SSTA view remains that schools can only reopen and operate safely if there are significant operational changes in place to ensure effective social distancing, strong hygiene routines linked to thorough cleansing practices, appropriate PPE available where required, and ongoing risk assessments in place to monitor operations.
 
The DFM statement on 23 June and the decision for all pupils to return to school full-time in August was unexpected. The SSTA had been working with Government and Local Authorities in putting in place plans for blended learning in schools for August. At this point in time that position has not changed.
 
Please see the Government Press Release and the DFM’s Statement
 
To date the Government approach had been a cautious one, with the safety of all its paramount concern. The conditions that the DFM expects in place for the full time return of pupils to school:

• sufficiently low infection rate;
• early warning infrastructure in place, including test and protect;
• right protective measures and risk assessments in place in schools

The DFM also stated that a full time return to school in August for pupils could only be achieved if there were no social distancing measures for young people. This situation cannot apply to teachers and other adults in school as COVID-19 has not been eradicated. The SSTA cannot ignore members’ safety and allow schools to return to normal as if the COVID-19 crisis had not existed.

The DFMs statement has heightened members concerns and raised more questions that must be answered before schools can return in August. The SSTA will be working to find answers to the many questions in the coming weeks to ensure members are safe should schools return in August.

The SSTA will be seeking that

• additional time be given to all school staff to prepare for a change from the current blended learning plans for schools including delaying the return of pupils to secondary schools
• teachers will not be required to undertake additional work in altering existing plans during the summer vacation
• teachers who are in the vulnerable and shielding categories remain protected when schools return in August
• suitable physical distancing arrangements for all adults in schools are in place
• that the provision of suitable PPE is available for all staff,
• proactive testing of all school staff, and
• the highest level of school cleaning regimes are in place.

The SSTA believes it is unwise to anticipate the situation we may be facing in August and await further details before embarking on further work.

SSTA Advice

1. Make no alterations to their existing plans for schools reopening in August
2. Members should take their well-deserved break following a very stressful and demanding term and return to work refreshed and rested in August.

The ‘Arrangements for Re-opening Schools August 2020’  SNCT 20/76 has now been finalised.
 
The SNCT document contains the following information

• Early return and leave dates
• Realignment of Session 2020/21
• Pre-Existing Holiday Arrangements or Commitments
• Quarantine Arrangements
• Summer Retirals

 The earlier ‘Emergency Provision’ SNCT 20/74 that included provisions for ‘Self-Isolation’ remain in place

‘Employees who are undergoing self-isolation as instructed by their GP or as advised by Health Protection Scotland should advise their school and Council immediately. They should be entitled to full pay during this absence as COVID-19 is a notifiable infectious disease. The provisions of SNCT Handbook Section 6.34 will apply’.

Please follow link to circular.

Finally

1. Please follow the Government guidelines
2. Follow the SSTA on Twitter
3. Contact info@ssta.org.uk if you require further advice
4. #StayHomeStaySafe

Health Protection Scotland (HPS) advice
HPS advice can be found at  https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19/
The most recent ‘Core COVID19 Information and Guidance for General (Non-Healthcare) Settings (version 4)’ can be downloaded here
 
Scottish Government Guidance
The Scottish Government guidance is very clear with the main message to ‘Stay at Home’ and ‘Work from Home’ where you can. If you, or a member of your household, have an underlying health condition, or are a part of a vulnerable group, you must work from home.
 
This will be a major factor in any arrangements for teachers returning to school towards the end of June to prepare and plan for the new way of working and welcoming pupils back. 
 
Reopening of Schools
The SSTA view remains that schools can only reopen and operate safely if there are significant operational changes in place to ensure effective social distancing, strong hygiene routines linked to thorough cleansing practices, appropriate PPE available where required, and ongoing risk assessments in place to monitor operations. SSTA District Secretaries are working with Local Authorities in preparing detailed Risk Assessments for the reopening of school buildings.
 
Details of the Scottish Government guidance can be found below

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): re-opening schools guide
• The Deputy First Minister’s letter ‘Strategic Framework Supporting Guidance and Next Steps’ 

SNCT Guidance
Guidance from the SNCT is being prepared regarding contractual matters relating to the decision to reopen schools on 11 August. This guidance will include clarification of early return and leave dates, guidance for pre-existing holidays or commitments, and summer retirals.

Returning to school in June
In preparation for schools reopening in August some schools are asking staff to return to their place of work. The SSTA urges caution in members returning to school prior to all normal premises management preparations being complete, detailed risk assessments being completed, and health and safety measures put in place. Schools should be collating lists of staff who are able to attend the school and making arrangements accordingly.

The SSTA expects a collegiate approach to be taken by schools when planning approaches to blended learning.

SSTA Advice

1. Members must continue to work from home
2. All meetings should continue to be held remotely
3. Members should only attend their workplaces:

• To assist with the completion of Risk Assessments i.e. as part of a physical premises inspection
• To assist in the Risk Assessment of their own workspaces including staff department areas
• To collect teaching materials in preparation for the reopening of schools to pupils in August

1. Should schools invite specified pupils to school as part of a transition arrangement (following adequate risk assessment and planning) only those staff that have direct child supervision responsibilities for those pupils should attend. No other members of staff should be required to attend.
2. Members must not attend work if they have not been assigned a specific child caring responsibility and given advice on procedures to be followed.
3. Please remember. If you, or a member of your household, have an underlying health condition, or are a part of a vulnerable group, you must work from home

Additional Training and Wellbeing Support Survey
A new workforce support group created in response to COVID19 is surveying Scotland’s education workforce, including early learning and childcare, to find out what additional training and wellbeing support is needed.  The group is one of a number of workstreams formed by the Scottish Government and is focused on looking beyond the immediate impact to consider how national and local government can best work with key partners to support schools and early learning and childcare services in moving forward.

The SSTA is represented in the group and is keen that members take part in this important survey to share their views on what additional training and wellbeing support is required.  Details of support currently available is here:

Please use this survey link to share your feedback with the group: https://bit.ly/CERGWS6Feedback

SQA arrangements for 2020-2021
SSTA has been pressing the Government and SQA to make alternative arrangements for the examination diet for 2020-2021. It would be reasonable for the SQA to make adjustments to take into account the current COVID19 crisis. An early decision and a reduction of what is expected is essential to allow teachers to prepare in advance of the reopening schools in August. Should the collection of evidence be a major factor then the SQA must ensure the focus should be quality rather than quantity.

Working Time Agreements
Working Time Agreements exist as a tool to help control workload.  They are usually negotiated at this time of year by school negotiating committees, with 190 hours of collegiate time being allocated to a range of essential activities.  This year uncertainty caused by the closure of school buildings has presented a significant challenge to negotiations (see SNCT circular).

Following strategic advice from the COVID19 Education Recovery Group, LNCTs should be offering schools advice on how collegiate time should be allocated, although the final Working Time Agreement is still a matter for school negotiating committees to conclude.  As indicated by the SNCT, any agreement reached before the summer break may require to be renegotiated after school buildings reopen.

SSTA advice up until now has been that time could be allocated like this:

40           Additional Preparation/Correction
30           Parents Meetings
40           Formal Assessments
40           Pupil Reports
25           Staff/Departmental Meetings
3             Professional Review and Development
5             Additional Supervised Pupil Activity
*             Curriculum Development
*             Continuing Professional Development

(* minimal time remaining)

However, it is likely that a blended learning model will increase the preparation/correction and curriculum development workload.  The format of parents meetings is likely to have to be rethought, and reporting may take on greater significance.  Teachers will need time to develop online pedagogical skills, and formal assessment may need more time depending on how things develop with the SQA 2021 exam diet. 

School Working Time Agreements will need to be thought through carefully to prevent workload spiralling out of control.

The SSTA recommends that:

• School improvement plans are adjusted to allow teachers to focus on core learning and teaching activities. 
• Working Time Agreements are reviewed early in August
• Workload is regularly reviewed by the school negotiating committee throughout the year
• Clear plans for parent/carer reporting are agreed and time allocated
• A schedule of staff meetings is agreed within allocated time
• Additional development time and CPD required for online teaching is estimated and allocated
• Time is allocated for SQA and other formal assessment requirements

If your school is currently without an SSTA representative, please consider offering to take on the role so that SSTA members are represented in WTA negotiations.  Contact info@ssta.org.uk for more information.

Finally

1. Please follow the Government guidelines
2. Follow the SSTA on Twitter
3. Contact info@ssta.org.uk if you require further advice
4. #StayHomeStaySafe

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister announced that all schools will reopen on 11 August and teachers would return to school towards the end of June to prepare for the new term. See details below.

• Recovery Route Map 
• Strategic Framework Reopening Schools 
• John Swinney, Deputy First Minister’s statement regarding the reopening of schools. 

These arrangements were not agreed with the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers(SNCT) and will be part of the negotiations with teacher unions in the coming days. The SNCT will be issuing guidance on the contractual implications of the decision to reopen schools. It is clear that teachers should not suffer any detriment as a consequence of a change of school holiday dates in terms of such contractual entitlements such as annual leave and pension entitlements. The SNCT guidance will cover all these issues and the details will be implemented at Local Authority level. It will also be expected that members who have outstanding commitments during expected school holidays will have those commitments honoured.

The SSTA view is that schools can only reopen and operate safely if there are significant operational changes in place to ensure effective social distancing, strong hygiene routines linked to thorough cleansing practices, appropriate PPE available where required, and ongoing risk assessments in place to monitor operations. This will mean that as schools cannot reopen as normal, a phased return will be required and priorities established around attendance, which is likely to be part time for most pupils. Therefore, the 11 August should be regarded as an aspirational date for the reopening of schools.

The existing Scottish Government guidance to ‘Stay at Home’ and work from home where possible remains in place and this will be a major factor in any arrangements for teachers returning to school towards the end of June to prepare and plan for the new way of working and welcoming pupils back. The existing SSTA advice remains in place and will be updated in the light of SNCT guidance. If you, or a member of your household, have an underlying health condition, or are a part of a vulnerable group, you must work from home. Members should only attend work if you have been assigned a specific child caring responsibility within school and given advice on procedures to be followed.

Finally

1. Please follow the Government guidelines
2. Follow the SSTA on Twitter
3. Contact info@ssta.org.uk if you require further advice
4. #StayHomeStaySafe

The SNCT Teachers’ Side wrote to John Swinney, Deputy First Minister, urging caution in plans for reopening of schools. The position of all unions is that the safety of pupils and staff is and can only be the first consideration and that schools should reopen in August .  In  his response the Deputy First Minister stated:

“Whilst the Scottish Government is clear that we don’t want restrictions to be in place any longer than they need to be, the decision on when and how to re-open schools will not be taken lightly. As you say in your letter, we believe that “stay at home” remains the right message at this time but we are continuing to assess different means of easing restrictions”.   

“Any decisions made regarding the timing of school opening will be guided by the science and schools will not re-open until the science indicates that it is safe to do so.  Decisions on this will align with the Scottish Government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) framework for decision making which sets out the challenges Scotland faces and outlines the approach and principles that will guide us as we make decisions about transitioning out of the current lockdown arrangements”.

See the Deputy First Minister’s letter.

Within the COVID19 Education Recovery Group (CERG) a number of workstreams have been established to develop guidelines for the reopening of schools and other educational settings.  The CERG has been advising the Deputy First Minister on actions necessary. We await a statement on Thursday from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the route map that will give an up-to-date view of the phasing of a return to school.  At this point the SSTA is unable to predict what decision will be taken and what the implications will be for members.

Following the First Minister’s statement and consideration of the accompanying detailed guidance the SSTA will be issuing advice to members.

Seamus Searson
General Secretary

Teacher Unions United on Schools Opening in August
The SNCT Teachers’ Side has written the John Swinney, Deputy First Minister, urging caution in plans for reopening of schools. The position of all unions is that the safety of pupils and staff is and can only be the first consideration.It appears to us, therefore, that there is a strong argument to maintain a cautionary approach and to reinforce such by indicating schools will reopen after the summer break. Schools should prepare for an August reopening should all safeguards be in place. See the letter to DFM

COVID-19: Members Update
The situation with COVID-19 is changing constantly but the fundamental priority is keeping people safe. It is essential that everybody adheres to the Government guidance and do not put people at risk.

Health Protection Scotland (HPS) advice
HPS advice can be found at  https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19/
The most recent ‘Core COVID-19 Information and Guidance for General (Non-Healthcare) Settings (version 4)’ can be downloaded here

Community Hubs, Social Distancing and PPE – LATEST GUIDANCE
Agreement has been reached with Scottish Government and COSLA for specific advice for Community Hubs and ASN settings has been published today. This guidance highlights the need for social distancing, the provision and use of PPE.  Please also find a link for a message from Jason Leitch (National Clinical Director)

SSTA Advice

1. Community Hubs must ensure a ‘risk assessment’ has taken place that includes the Scottish Governments’ advice on social distancing
2. Community Hubs must ensure the provision of necessary cleaning materials (including handwashing materials and hot water) and measures to prevent close contact before asking staff to attend
3. If you, or a member of your household, have an underlying health condition, or are a part of a vulnerable group, you must work from home
4. Community Hubs will be staffed by volunteers
5. Community Hubs need to prepare a schedule for the supervision of pupils and a rota for available staff
6. Members must not attend work if you have not been assigned a specific child caring responsibility and given advice on procedures to be followed

Teachers’ Pensions
The Teachers’ Pension scheme administered by the SPPA is a very important condition of service available for all teachers. https://pensions.gov.scot/teachers A valuable benefit in addition to providing a regular income in retirement is the provision of death in service  currently three times your final full time equivalent salary. SSTA advises all teachers to be members of the teachers’ pension scheme. Please follow the link to SSTA quick guide to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

Injured at Work
SSTA Legal Services are here to help with any accident suffered in the last three years. If you would like further advice or information please see this flyer

SSTA Membership Offers

• Probationer members who are completing their induction year will continue to receive free membership until the end of December 2020.
• Incoming NQT’s - Free membership until the end of December 2021.
• All New members receive 50% off the first 12 months of subscription fees*

Anyone wishing to join the SSTA can do so via the SSTA Website www.ssta.org.uk/join.

Members who have moved school, changed post or home address can update their details with the SSTA by completing a form at www.ssta.org.uk/updatedetails.

Finally

1. Please follow the Government guidelines
2. Follow the SSTA on Twitter
3. Contact info@ssta.org.uk if you require further advice
4. #StayHomeStaySafe

COVID-19: Members Update
The situation with COVID-19 is changing constantly but the fundamental priority is keeping people safe. It is essential that everybody adheres to the Government guidance and do not put people at risk.
 
Health Protection Scotland (HPS) advice
HPS advice can be found at  https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19/
The most recent ‘Core COVID-19 Information and Guidance for General (Non-Healthcare) Settings (version 4)' can be downloaded here

Community Hubs, Social Distancing and PPE
The teacher unions have been pressing the Scottish Government and COSLA for specific advice for Community Hubs and ASN settings for a number of weeks. This guidance will highlight the need for social distancing, the provision and use of PPE. It is anticipated that specific guidance will be circulated in the coming days.

The current Scottish Government advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19): social distancing in education and childcare settings can be found here  

SSTA Advice

• Community Hubs must ensure a ‘risk assessment’ has taken place that includes the Scottish Governments’ advice on social distancing
• Community Hubs must ensure the provision of necessary cleaning materials (including handwashing materials and hot water) and measures to prevent close contact before asking staff to attend
• If you, or a member of your household, have an underlying health condition, or are a part of a vulnerable group, you must work from home
• Community Hubs will be staffed by volunteers
• Community Hubs need to prepare a schedule for the supervision of pupils and a rota for available staff
• Members must not attend work if you have not been assigned a specific child caring responsibility and given advice on procedures to be followed

SQA and Teacher Professional Judgement
Please follow the link to the SQA process for estimating grades for the current examination diet.

The decision to focus on Teacher Professional Judgement in awarding grades for examinations in 2020 was a sensible approach to the difficult situation that has been created by COVID-19.

SSTA Advice

• Detailed SSTA advice can be found here
• It is essential that members use their professional judgement in estimating the final grades
• It is essential that estimate grades are not shared with pupils and parents.

Supply Teachers
The SNCT Joint Secretaries letter Supply Teachers Job Retention Payment  (JS/20/78) confirms the commitment to ensure supply teachers suffer “no detriment”.

SSTA Advice

• The Local Authorities should be contacting all supply teachers to confirm the arrangements for payment
• Members are advised to inform their employer that they are available for work if they have not been contacted by their employer

Teacher Workload During Term 4
Unfortunately, many local authorities and schools have forgotten that schools are closed and the priority is supporting teachers in continuing learning during the school closure. The current situation is extremely stressful for both teachers and pupils. Schools should ensure that unnecessary pressure by ‘standing-down’ many of the normal activities that occur during this term. Many of these activities should be undertaken when schools reopen.

SSTA Advice

• Main focus should be on teaching and learning
• Members should not be required to submit daily lesson plans or records of work undertaken
• Members should aim to follow their normal working pattern as far as possible
• Careful consideration should be given to the workload implication of change of timetable that will create further workload problems when schools reopen
• Members should not attend meetings at school
• Current Working Time Agreements to remain in place until schools reopen
• Current School Improvement Plans should remain in place until schools reopen

Finally

• Please follow the Government guidelines
• Follow the SSTA on Twitter
• Contact info@ssta.org.uk if you require further advice
• #StayHomeStaySafe

The situation is constantly changing and I would like to take the opportunity to give further information and advice.
More detailed SSTA advice to members can be found on the SSTA website.
 
Social Distancing: The latest Scottish Government advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19): social distancing in education and childcare settings can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings/pages/social-distancing/

SSTA Advice

• Schools must ensure a ‘risk assessment’ has taken place that includes the Scottish Governments’ advice on social distancing
• Schools must ensure the provision of necessary cleaning materials and measures to prevent close contact before asking staff to attend
• Schools need to prepare a schedule for the supervision of pupils and a rota for available staff
• Members must not attend work if you have not been assigned a specific child caring responsibility and given advice on procedures to be followed

Community Hubs
Please find link to latest SNCT circular 20/75 School Closures. I would like to highlight the following:

Spring Break Community Hubs will be open over Spring Break for vulnerable children and for children of key workers who cannot make their own childcare arrangements. The Community Hubs should be staffed on a volunteer basis and any holiday time worked will be paid back (*either as pay or a time off in lieu to be taken during the normal summer term of session 2019-20.) Specific arrangements will be determined locally across each of the 32 Councils. Teachers on supply lists should also be given the opportunity to provide cover for Spring Break.

SSTA Advice

• All teachers and pupils are on leave during the spring break
• The community hubs will be staffed by volunteers who should have leave reallocated when the school session is due to return
• Community Hubs need to prepare a schedule for the supervision of pupils and a rota for available staff.
• SSTA members who are well and able are encouraged to volunteer as part of a rota in the community hubs
• Members who volunteer to support the community hubs must not attend if have not been assigned a specific child caring responsibility.

Supply Teachers
The SSTA is pressing the SNCT to ensure that all supply teachers are protected during the national emergency. Negotiations are taking place to ensure that supply teachers suffer “no detriment” and we are hoping for a an agreement to be reached in the coming days

Pastoral and Guidance Teachers
There has been a high number of contacts from members who work in Pastoral Care and Guidance highlighting increased workload demands as a consequence of school closures and online learning.

       SSTA Advice

• Moving to online education should not have changed previously agreed remits
• Where it is possible, try to ensure that work previously done by others remains on their remit
• Schools should have a strategic plan to manage pupil and parental contact for different issues to clarify who to approach for different queries
• The strategic plan should be communicated to all staff
• Normal procedures for pupils failing to engage with departmental work should still apply with Faculty Heads in the first instance
• Unresolved concerns would apply to the appropriate members of Senior Leadership Team, Learning Support or Pastoral Care teams depending on the nature of these concerns.

Online Communication
The purpose of this advice is not to curtail freedom but to reduce teachers’ exposure to professional vulnerability.

Online working and remote learning is not normal for the majority of teachers and few staff have received much formal training in how to do much more than the basics. There is a lot of evidence that teachers, attempting to bridge the gaps left by local authority IT provision, are turning to using personal communications such as email, WhatsApp, texting, Zoom, Facebook messenger, FaceTime etc.  Existing IT provision in Glow (e.g. Google Meet and Teams)  has not been established with a view to widespread teaching, and teachers using Teams within Glow are reporting difficulties with access.  It may be a result of individual access.

SSTA advice is drawn from GTCS advice, which observes that:  ‘A teacher can be vulnerable to unintended misuses for electronic communication.  E-mail, texting and social media encourage casual dialogue and very often, very innocent actions can easily be misconstrued or manipulated’  (See: http://www.gtcs.org.uk/web/FILES/teacher-regulation/professional-guidance-ecomms-social-media.pdf ). 

Before asking teachers to engage in live video or audio calls to learners, a risk assessment should be carried out leading to robust guidelines for how such calls should be handled and tracked.  There will need to be protection for users at each end, with measures put in place to protect teachers from allegations of impropriety.  Issues to consider may include, but are not limited to: system security, retention of evidence, IT equipment location, auto-answer settings, background events/conversations, IT failure/resolution, child protection reporting procedures, observance of GDPR, etc. If members feel that sufficient protection is in place they may feel confident in accepting the risk.

SSTA Advice

• Do not engage in live face to face or audio discussions with learners using online video or webchat
• Only use official channels of communication e.g. GLOW and work e-mail addresses and be aware of and comply with employers policies and guidance
• Do not exchange private phone numbers, personal e-mail addresses or photos of a personal nature with pupils
• If recording video resources, take care to obscure anything in the background which may compromise your privacy or professionalism
• Be aware that anything shared online is not private

The SSTA is engaged with Scottish Government and Education Scotland to issue advice to all teachers on safe online teaching. Further advice to be circulated at a later date.

Working from Home
Please find link to SSTA detailed advice on Working from Home.

SQA National Qualifications
Many schools and employers are asking staff to enter estimates for pupil attainment in SQA examinations.  The advice of the SSTA is that teacher should not enter estimates in any recording system,  such as SEEMIS,  until clear guidelines from the SQA have been issued.  It is hoped that such guidelines should give clear indication as to how these estimate grades may be reached so that all pupils are assessed in a similar manner throughout Scotland. However, discussions relating to pupil progress within departments will, of course, continue to take place, and it is likely that schools will be giving some consideration to what data they already have and how secure it is.

SSTA Advice

• The SQA plans to provide further details on the estimation of grades required from teachers and lecturers to inform certification
• Although pupils may be aware of target and estimate grades, teachers must not give pupils any assurances of anticipated final grades
• It will be the duty of the SQA to inform learners of their formal grades and to ensure that certification processes are robust and defensible
• Teachers should not be gathering any further coursework or any other materials
• Members are not required to submit predicted grades at this time

 
Finally

• Please follow the Government guidelines
• Follow the SSTA on Twitter
• Contact info@ssta.org.uk if you require further advice
• #StayHomeStaySafe

The situation is constantly changing and I would like to take the opportunity to give further information and advice.
 
The SSTA advice to members can be found on the SSTA website.
 
School Closures
Please find link to latest SNCT circular 20/75 School Closures. I would like to highlight the following:
 
Spring Break Community Hubs will be open over Spring Break for vulnerable children and for children of key workers who cannot make their own childcare arrangements. The Community Hubs should be staffed on a volunteer basis and any holiday time worked will be paid back (*either as pay or a time off in lieu to be taken during the normal summer term of session 2019-20.) Specific arrangements will be determined locally across each of the 32 Councils. Teachers on supply lists should also be given the opportunity to provide cover for Spring Break.
 
SSTA Advice

• The schools (not school buildings) will be closed during the spring break and members will not be required to provide materials for pupils.
• All teachers and pupils are on leave during the spring break
• The community hubs will be staffed by volunteers who should have leave reallocated when the school session is due to return.
• Community Hubs need to prepare a schedule for the supervision of pupils and a rota for available staff.
• Members must not attend work if you have not been assigned a specific child caring responsibility.

Working from Home
Please find link to SSTA detailed advice on Working from Home. I would like to highlight the following SSTA Advice:

Online Communication

• Do not engage in live face to face or audio discussions with learners using online video or webchat.
• Only use official channels of communication e.g. GLOW and work e-mail addresses and be aware of, and comply with, employers’ policies and guidance.
• Do not exchange private phone numbers, personal e-mail addresses or photos of a personal nature with pupils.
• If recording video resources, take care to obscure anything in the background which may compromise your privacy or professionalism.
• Be aware that anything shared online is not private.

Teacher Workload and Reducing Bureaucracy

SSTA Advice

• Members who volunteer to undertake child supervision duties should not be expected to provide online work, etc. for their normal classes during that time
• Usual management procedures should apply and no additional procedures should be introduced
• Members should not be asked to provide confidential or medical information on themselves or members of their households
• No new paperwork for gathering evidence of pupil attainment or teacher professionalism should be developed
• Members should not be required to submit daily lesson plans or records of work undertaken
• Members should aim to follow their normal working pattern as far as possible
• Members who have caring responsibilities should be encouraged to limit the time spent on work related matters
• Members should focus their time on learning and teaching and not take on any other tasks required by others
• Members should be allowed to manage their available time in a professional manner

SQA National Qualifications

SSTA Advice

• The SQA plans to provide further details on the estimation of grades required from teachers and lecturers to inform certification as soon as possible
• Although pupils may be aware of target and estimate grades, teachers must not give pupils any assurances of anticipated final grades
• It will be the duty of the SQA to inform learners of their formal grades and to ensure that certification processes are robust and defensible
• Teachers should not be gathering any further coursework or any other materials
• Members are not required to, and SSTA advises members not to, submit predicted grades

Finally

• Please follow Government guidelines https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19
• Follow the SSTA on Twitter https://twitter.com/SSTAtradeunion
• Contact info@ssta.org.uk if you require further advice
• #StayHomeStaySafe