Councillor Rodden, J Houston, Head Teacher, Mossvale Primary School, JP Tonner, D Tollan, T Millar and B Kelly (all EIS) and L Gibson (NASUWT).

There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

In accordance with the terms of the local recognition and procedure agreement, it was due to be the Teachers’ Side to chair this meeting. As the Joint Chair (Teachers’ Side) had submitted apologies, it was requested that the Management Side chair this meeting. This was agreed. Councillor Paterson chaired the meeting in Councillor Rodden’s absence.

DECIDED: That Councillor Paterson chair this meeting.

There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of this Committee held on 14 May March 2024.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved. 

In relation to mobile phone use in schools, it was noted that the Interim Head of Education would re-issue the Council’s policy on mobile phone use in schools to all head teachers and arrange a meeting to discuss this further with the Teachers’ Side.

The Teachers’ Side advised that they would commence their own review of the policy meantime whilst awaiting an update on the Scottish Government’s position on the matter. 

In relation to the Violence and Aggression Policy it was agreed that any specific issues in relation to the reporting of incidents be raised with the Interim Head of Education. It was noted that further information in respect of professional learning would be available at the October In-Service day as this initially required to be considered by the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board. 

In relation to the Inclusion Update, it was noted that there had been several media statements made recently relative to ASN provision/funding.

DECIDED: 

(a) That the Interim Head of Education would re-issue the Council’s policy on mobile phone use in schools to all head teachers;

(b) That the Interim Head of Education would arrange a meeting to further discuss mobile phone use in schools with the Teachers’ Side;

(c) That it be noted that the Teachers’ Side would commence their own review of the mobile phones in school policy; 

(d) That any specific issues in relation to Business World incident reported be raised with the Interim Head of Education; and

(e) That it be noted that further information relative to professional learning would be available at the October In-Service day following consideration by the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board.

(f) That it be noted that there had been recent media statements made relative to ASN provision/funding.

The action log for the JNC was submitted.

DECIDED: That the updates to the action log be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretaries relative to the Annual Report for Session 2023/2024.

It was noted that at Appendix 1, Management Side Membership, the report should have read J Houston, Head Teacher, Mossvale Primary School, and not Heriot Primary School.

The report outlined the meetings of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers held since the previous Annual General Meeting on 6 June 2023. The report detailed the ongoing work of the Committee, it’s membership and summarised the reports discussed during this period. 

It was highlighted that the issue of staff not having access to Standard Circulars on Renfo, which had been raised earlier in Session 2023/24, was not yet resolved. The Interim Head of Education advised that she was unaware of this issue as it had been discussed prior to her appointment but that she would investigate how access to Circulars could be provided going forward.

DECIDED:  

(a) That the Interim Head of Education investigate how access to Standard Circulars could be provided to staff;

(b) That the Annual Report Session 2023/24, amended as above, be circulated to all educational establishments; and

(c) That otherwise the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretaries relative to Membership of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers for session 2024/25.

The report outlined members, joint chairpersons and joint secretaries for 2024/25.

The Teachers’ Side advised that T Millar and P Quinn (both EIS) were no longer members and that they may add additional members or substitute members as required.

The Management Side advised that M Thomson and J Colquhoun were stepping down and being replaced by S Bell and Y Ward, both Education Managers.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the membership of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers be noted for session 2024/25; 

(b)  That the appointment of joint chairpersons Councillor E Rodden and Mr JP Tonner and joint secretaries E Henry and K Fella be agreed; 

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretaries relative to dates for future meetings of the Renfrewshire Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers during Session 2024/25. The report outlined meeting dates which were agreed at Council to the end of 2024 and proposed meeting dates for 2025 to be approved by the JNC. 

DECIDED: 

(a) That the schedule of meetings to the end of 2024 be noted; and

(b) That the proposed dates for meetings during 2025 be agreed.

There was submitted a report by the Interim Head of Education relative to the start date for the August 2025 session and the re-alignment of dates to better match the session dates of neighbouring Local Authorities. There followed a general discussion on the proposals and it was agreed that consultation regarding the amended start date of 12 August 2025 be approved.

DECIDED: That the consultation regarding the amended start date of 12 August 2025 be approved

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) relative to trade union involvement at Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) induction days. 

The Teachers’ Side advised that they had previously been invited to present the benefits of trade union membership to Renfrewshire’s NQTs, but that this opportunity had not been afforded to them in 2023.  The Teachers’ Side requested that the participation of trade union representatives be re-incorporated into the August 2024 induction event and that trade union input be made a standing item at future NQT induction days.

J Colquhoun, Education Manager, explained that there had previously been two NQT induction days, but that these were now condensed into one day. Due to the time pressure of fitting in all the required information in one day, it would not be possible to accommodate a trade union session at this forthcoming induction day. Trade union representatives were still welcome to be present on the day and communications would be provided in advance to all NQTs regarding trade union membership.

It was proposed that a separate trade union information session be arranged for NQTs, it was agreed that J Colquhoun, Education Manager, discuss this further with the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side).

DECIDED:

(a) That it be noted that there could not be a trade union session at the August 2024 NQT induction day; 

(b) That trade union information be provided to NQTs in advance of the August induction day; and

(b) That J Colquhoun, Education Manager, discuss the provision of a separate NQT trade union information session with the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side).

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) relative to Renfrewshire Educational Psychology Service (REPS).

The report outlined the role of Educational Psychologists and their concerns expressed regarding their ability to deliver the required initiatives due to the proposed termination of temporary contracts recently announced and around the staffing complement within the service.

The Teachers’ Side expressed concern that any reduction in the REPS service would have a consequential impact on teachers and the level of support being provided to pupils and young persons at a time when evidence indicated that the need for the REPS service had increased, not decreased.

The Interim Head of Education provided the Committee with an explanation on REPS current ratios, staffing levels and funding. She advised that communications had already taken place with the Head of REPS. The Joint Secretaries would discuss this matter further and involve the Head of REPS if required.

DECIDED: That the Joint Secretaries discuss this matter further and involve the Head of REPS if required.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) relative to Seesaw and other digital platforms and the implications for accessibility to teachers outwith the working day via its instant messaging function.

The report advised that Seesaw was regularly used by parents/carers as a communication method, despite several reminders that this should not be done. The Teachers’ Side expressed concern that the reporting function of Seesaw, in particular the expectation that learning continue to be shared with parents/carers, was impacting time spent teaching or preparing for lessons and was unsustainable as it had created additional workload and stress for teachers.

The Teachers’ Side sought to balance the workload of teachers with proportionate progress reporting by way of an audit of digital platform use to create a policy which would ensure a consistent approach across all establishments, limit access to teachers beyond their normal working day and incorporate protocols around the use of Seesaw when messaging teachers to involve intermediaries such as the school office or SMT as appropriate.

The Teachers Side also requested recognition that where staff agreed to the use of digital platforms such as Seesaw that these be realistically incorporated into working time agreements with time taken from the recording and reporting time used for that purpose.

There was a general discussion on the benefits and negative impacts of using Seesaw and it was agreed that a review of it’s use and cost would be beneficial and that this could be reflected in the work being undertaken on Working Time Agreements. The Interim Head of Education would take this area of work forward.

DECIDED: That the Interim Head of Education arrange a review of digital platform use across the school estate, in particular the Seesaw application.

It was noted that the date of the next meeting of the Renfrewshire Joint Negotiating Committee was scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on 3 September 2024.