Updated 5 June : Barnet Schools Risk Assessments for Reopening submitted to Barnet UNISON

This list is accurate as of Monday 1 June 2020.

  1. Akiva,
  2. All Saints N20,
  3. All Saints NW2
  4. Alma
  5. AP Barnet Oakhill
  6. Ashmole Academy (Primary and Secondary).
  7. Barnfields,
  8. Beit Shvidler
  9. Bell Lane,
  10. Blessed Dominic,
  11. Broadfields Primary
  12. Brunswick Park
  13. Chalgrove Primary
  14. Childs Hill
  15. Christ Church Primary
  16. Christ College Finchley,
  17. Claremont
  18. Colindale
  19. Coppetts Wood,
  20. Cromer Road,
  21. Danegrove
  22. Deansbrook
  23. Dollis Primary,
  24. Edgware
  25. Elliot Foundation,
  26. Fairway,
  27. Foulds School,
  28. Frith Manor Primary
  29. Garden Suburb Junior
  30. Goldbeaters and Orion
  31. Grasvenor
  32. Hasmonean
  33. Hendon,
  34. Hollickwood
  35. Holly Trinity
  36. Hyde
  37. Independent Jewish Day School
  38. Livingstone School,
  39. Mapledown,
  40. Martin Primary
  41. Menorah
  42. Monken Hadley
  43. Monkfrith,
  44. Moss Hall Federation
  45. Moss Hall Nursery,
  46. Noam Primary
  47. Oakhill
  48. Oaklodge Special School,
  49. Oakleigh Special School
  50. Osidge
  51. Our Lady of Lourdes
  52. Pardes House
  53. Pavillion
  54. QE Girls
  55. Queenswell
  56. Rosh Pinah
  57. Sacks Morasha
  58. Sacred Heart Primary,
  59. Squires Lane Learning Federation (Tudor and Manorside).
  60. St Agnes,
  61. St Andrews CE
  62. St Catherines,
  63. St Johns N11
  64. St Johns N20
  65. St Josephs
  66. St Marys N£
  67. St Marys NW3
  68. St Pauls N11,
  69. St Pauls NW7
  70. St Theresa
  71. St Vincents
  72. Summerside REACH Academy,
  73. Sunnyfields,
  74. The Annunciation
  75. The Pavilion
  76. Totteridge Academy
  77. Trent Primary,
  78. Underhill
  79. Wessex Gardens
  80. Whitings
  81. Woodcroft Primary
  82. Woodridge Primary.
  83. Wren

IF

your school in not on this list but you have seen a Risk Assessment for your school, please contact Barnet UNISON on contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Breaking News: Barnet UNISON ending Lockdown survey results

 

We asked our members (most of whom are working from home) one question.

“Do you feel that it is safe for you to go back to work?”

94% of our School UNISON members felt it was not safe.

85% of our Capita UNISON members felt it was not safe.

79% of our Barnet Council UNISON members felt it was not safe.

79% of our Barnet Homes members felt it was not safe

 

 

“COVID-19: How to make your workplace safe” Zoom meeting

Barnet UNISON as part of our Know Your Rights at Work campaign are hosting a

ZOOM meeting with NEU and GMB entitled:

“COVID-19: How to make your workplace safe”

Wednesday 27 May 6pm

Guest Speaker: Janet Newsham, Chair Hazards Campaign, sitting member of Employment Tribunal for past 25 years.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82640214991?pwd=cW01ZzhtTTJoeStjNWVVcGJSaEhqQT09

Meeting ID: 826 4021 4991

Password: 363400

 

URGENT: All Schools members please follow advice below.

Dear Members

URGENT: Please cut and paste the UNISON email to your Head Teacher immediately and copy in Barnet UNISON using contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

 

 

Dear head teacher/chair of governors

Government’s plans to increase number of pupils in schools from 1 June

I am writing to say how worried I am about the government’s plans to increase the numbers of pupils in some schools from 1 June and the potential threat they pose to the health and safety of pupils, parents and staff in our school community.

We all want to see schools up and running and our school community back together again, but only when it is safe to do so. Any plan to achieve this needs to be clear on issues such as social distancing, PPE, testing, tracing and isolation. The current government guidance is not.

My union, UNISON, is taking these issues up with government, calling on it to step back from an unsafe increase in pupil numbers on 1 June. Unions and the government need to work together to create the conditions for a safe return to schools, based on the principles and tests set out by education unions representing support staff, teachers and head teachers (see TUC statement).

I don’t believe that the current situation is the fault of the school or its leadership and I understand that the school has to plan for all eventualities. Therefore, my union has advised me to request that you urgently provide an update on the following issues:

  • Copy of school’s risk assessments for increasing pupil numbers
  • What the plans are for maintaining social distancing; with all pupils and staff to be kept 2 metres apart
  • What PPE will be supplied and under what circumstances
  • Arrangements for handwashing and sanitising
  • Arrangements for protecting vulnerable pupils and staff
  • How testing, tracing and isolating will work locally and how it will apply to our schools
  • Arrangements for screening out workers exhibiting symptoms of the virus
  • Plans for enhanced cleaning of workplaces,
  • Procedures for travel such as parking, using public transport, car sharing given the 2-metre rule

I think it is really important that we all stand together to ensure that everyone in the school and community is safe and that we meet health and safety laws. This means that we should only open up the school when is it safe to do so. My union and I do not believe that this is possible by 1 June.

Finally I would like it to be formally noted that my involvement in any meetings and discussions will be on the basis of a sharing of information only, and not my agreement to an unsafe reopening from 1 June.  I would further request that you enter into collective discussion with my union on the measures that need to be taken for a safe increase in pupil numbers, as stated by the DfE. I call on the school not to put pupils and staff at risk with an unsafe increase in numbers from 1 June.

Yours sincerely

 

“How To Reopen Schools Safely” : Barnet Joint Trade Unions zoom meeting

Barnet UNISON is hosting a Barnet Schools Zoom Meeting

Wednesday 20 May at 6 pm.

“How To Reopen Schools Safely”

Speakers: Jon Richards (UNISON), Kevin Courtney (Joint General Secretary NEU) GMLB speaker to be confirmed, NASUWT speaker to be confirmed

Joining details

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86557588815?pwd=WEZGaVVkaks2ZTI5SFppTHNzL04wdz09

Meeting ID: 865 5758 8815

Password: 328320

 

 

12 Key issues of concern for UNISON on re-opening of Schools.

12 Key issues of concern for UNISON

1. The guidance restates the DfE‟s blanket line that scientific evidence “indicates” that school staff do not need PPE – what exactly is the scientific evidence which the DfE referring to? Will they publish this scientific evidence in full?

2. Risk assessments should be carried out for staff as well as for pupils. Local unions and health and safety representatives can add help and expertise to this process and should be fully involved.

3. The onus of the guidance unreasonably places pressure and the risk onto members of staff.

4. It will be impossible to provide the care that some children and young people need without close hands-on contact. Risk assessments need to be carried out and the appropriate PPE supplied in these circumstances.

5. The guidance states PPE is only needed in residential care if pupils develop symptoms. No account is taken of the hazards faced by school staff in terms of spitting, scratching or biting, exposure to other bodily fluids or when performing clinical procedures. 

6. There is no reference to the safe disposal of waste or PPE including masks and gloves.

7. The guidance rightly highlights the paramount necessity of strict hygiene, but does not mention soap or the provision of hand sanitiser. UNISON members have raised concerns about lack of soap and having to bring their own sanitiser to work. UNISON has already raised concerns with the DfE over previous guidance suggesting some cleaning items may be rationed.

8. There is no recognition of the complexity of the issues being faced by schools with vulnerable young people – for instance what about the risk of children attending who live in crowded accommodation either in a hostel, B&B or where a large family are sharing?

9. The guidance recognises that classes should be kept to small sizes but there is no definition of what a small size is. What happens if there is an outbreak and it leads to staff absences? For pupils with SEND there may be a one to one ratio. It is common practice in SEND settings to have 8-10 students to a ratio of 5 staff.

10. The guidance recommends that soft or cuddly toys are not to be shared by students – how is this to be managed in a SEND or early years environment?

11. Social distancing is impossible to fully maintain in schools. There is no reference to the built environments that schools work in. Some schools are small with narrow corridors and passage ways.

12. Any redeployment of staff across special schools will be unsettling for the pupils who are familiar with individual teachers/teaching assistants/ learning support assistants. It could also add to the risk of spreading the virus.

Recommendation  UNISON recommends that the Government’s advice is urgently revised to take full account of the needs of pupils and staff, including realistic expectations of what is achievable. It should also take into account the duty of care that the DfE and schools have to their pupils, staff and the communities in which they operate. Ofsted have identified sufficient risk to issue their inspectors with PPE in order to safely undertake emergency inspections. PPE is vital for staff who are working on the front line – without the undertaking of risk assessments for staff and the appropriate provision of PPE then some schools could be unsafe for staff, pupils and the wider community.

To read full statement click on link below

2020.04.21. UNISON-response-to-DfE-guidance-on-SEND-risk-assessment

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