Minute of Meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee for teaching Staff of 11 September 2023 for Noting
Perth and Kinross Council · 11 March 2024
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 11 March 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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JOINT NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE FOR TEACHING STAFF Minute of hybrid meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff (JNCT) held in the Council Chambers, 2 High Street, Perth on Monday 11 September 2023 at 2.30pm. Present: Representing Perth and Kinross Council Councillors J Rebbeck and S Carr; S Devlin, S Johnston, L Gordon, G Doogan and D Macluskey (all Education and Children’s Services); F Thomson (Corporate and Democratic Services). Representing Teachers’ Associations A Dickinson, L Gibb, L.J. Grant, M Laurie, J Leslie, C Rose, M Taylor and C Weston (all EIS); M Mackie (SSTA); Shaun Topen-Cooper (NASUWT) In Attendance: B Martin-Scott and S Turner (Education and Children’s Services); A McAuley, Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side); D Williams for Joint Secretary (Management Side). Apologies: Councillor C Shiers; S Dowling. M Laurie, Convener, Presiding. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were submitted and noted as above. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (ELECTED MEMBERS ONLY) There were no declarations of interest made in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 3. MINUTES The minute of meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff of 12 June 2023 was submitted and approved as a correct record, subject to the following corrections: Apologies had been submitted by Maureen Taylor, C Rose and L Gibb. With reference to Item 7, and a query regarding Counselling services attributed to L Gibb was actually made by L Gordon. 4. MATTERS ARISING (i) Update on Membership Ms A Dickinson be added to the membership to fill the existing vacancy on the Teachers’ Side.
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(ii) Verbal Update on Pilot Projects to Replace Seesaw D Macluskey advised that Learning Journal had been trialled in three schools across Perth and Kinross, with Just Too Easy trialled by a further three, with Just Too Easy having a parent and chat function. D Macluskey further advised that work was ongoing around these programmes with colleagues in the Council’s Data Protection team, and also dialogue was ongoing with counterparts in Aberdeenshire, who were also trialling Just Too Easy. In response to a query from C Weston regarding any feedback from schools, D Macluskey advised that the trials remained in early stages and there was some adjustments in changing from Seesaw, although there was some evidence of benefits that weren’t available on Seesaw. In response to a query from S Topen-Cooper as to why the Council was moving away from Seesaw, D Macluskey advised that no version of Seesaw was data compliant. D Macluskey offered to bring a further update to a future meeting of the Committee, and S Devlin advised of the importance of getting to the best position from an IT perspective and that pilot schools would be instrumental in the final decision. In response to a request from C Weston for training on any new programme, D Macluskey advised that this would be made available. (iii) Update on Employee Survey A verbal update was delivered on the Employee Survey, advising that the intention is that the survey would be issued in May 2024 allowing the working group more time to consider content. C Weston commented that she was pleased that the survey was being delayed until May 2024, as it would allow teachers more time to contribute to the working group. In response to a question from LJ Grant regarding the use of the results moving forward it was stated that the survey can be accessed at an appropriate level in order to address relevant issues e.g. HTs can use it for their own school. A REQUEST WAS MADE FOR AN ADDITIONAL ITEM TO BE ADDED AT THIS POINT OF THE MEETING, WHICH THE CHAIR ACCEPTED. 5. UPDATE FROM PROPERTY SERVICES J Beveridge, Perth and Kinross Council, delivered an update regarding Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in schools in Perth and Kinross.
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J Beveridge advised that RAAC had been found in one school in Perth and Kinross in February 2023 and, whilst there was a number of mitigations that could have been put in place, the Council decided to remove immediately and a programme of works was put in place which saw the RAAC removed from this school before the end of summer 2023. J Beveridge advised that work was now ongoing with regards to RAAC through the whole school estate in Perth and Kinross, with a third-party specialist firm brought in for assessment, meaning any potential RAAC will have to be investigated. He further advised that all ongoing work was in conjunction with schools and a weekly return was being submitted to Scottish Government. C Weston thanked J Beveridge for his update and stated that she welcomed the ongoing work, adding that this was ahead of the work being completed in other Local Authorities in Scotland. She added that it might be worth consideration to take this before the Employees Joint Consultative Committee. 6. JOINT BRIEFING NOTE – WORKING GROUP – DISTRESSED, CHALLENGING, VIOLENT OR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR IN ELC SETTINGS AND SCHOOLS There was submitted a joint briefing note providing the Committee with an update on a working group on distressed, challenging violent or aggressive behaviour in ELC settings and schools (G/23/103). F McKay stated that the group were continuing to look at strengthening reporting and analysis as well as trying to speed up progress. It was also suggested that there was a need to revamp membership perhaps with greater staff representation. C Weston advised those present that the outcome of the working group had led to a focus on the reporting of incidents rather than addressing impact and the way forward and stated that this was welcomed. S Topen-Cooper advised that in other Local Authorities a desktop shortcut was available for reporting incidents, and queried whether it might be possible to work with the Council’s IT department in order to make that available in Perth and Kinross. F MacKay advised that this could be revisited at a future meeting of the Committee. Resolved The Committee noted the contents of G/23/103. 7. VERBAL UPDATE ON THE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION F MacKay led on a verbal update to the Committee regarding the national summit on violence and aggression.
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F MacKay advised those present that she had attended a summit at the Scottish Government earlier in September 2023, stating that this had been a useful exercise in terms of gathering information. F Mackay added that whilst no specific outcomes had been agreed, it had been a useful start, and made specific reference to recording of incidents of bullying as an area requiring improvement. The summit focussed on recording and monitoring information and it needed to be narrowed further so that general behaviour in schools is looked at. HTs are particularly keen for this to happen. F Mackay advised those present that whilst no date had been set for the next summit, it would be focused on exclusions. In response to a query from C Weston regarding whether there was a timescale to bring about change, S Devlin highlighted the complexity of the area and the need for parties to establish what could be driven centrally in this regard from Scottish Government. C Weston added that she understood the complexity of this issue and whilst it was important to get positive outcomes in this area for pupils, it was equally as important to achieve this for teachers and support staff who had been verbally/physically abused. 8. PRESENTATION ON PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PLAN FOR STAFF IN SUPPORTING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP The Committee received a presentation from S Turner, Perth and Kinross Council, on professional learning plan for staff in supporting positive relationships. The presentation has been attached to all present as separate copy. In presenting, S Turner advised those present that work was ongoing with Education Scotland in relation to producing guidance in this regard, adding that intensive work was already being undertaken with schools. C Weston raised a question as to whether the relevant guidance would be circulated to all schools in Perth and Kinross or just the ones involved in the pilot scheme, to which S Turner advised this would be circulated to all schools in Perth and Kinross. In response to a further query from C Weston regarding support for staff, S Turner advised that work was ongoing to establish the most effective means of support with the resources available. LJ Grant queried whether this programme could address these issues given that many schools had been on this route for some time now. There are issues surrounding social media by pupils, along with a rise in misogynistic views, peer groups displaying anti-social behaviour and ‘gang’ mentality. These were all causing problems in schools even though staff are very good at using the nurturing approaches. S Turner in response stated that we must model best behaviour in schools even though these events happen.
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9. EDUCATION SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2023-24 There was submitted, for information, a copy of the Education Service Improvement Plan 2023-24. S Johnston advised that the Plan covered a lot of areas frequently discussed and had been submitted to the Council’s Learning and Families Committee on 23 August 2023. It was agreed that any questions regarding this could be submitted to the next meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff. 10. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY There was submitted, for information, a copy of the Parental Involvement and Engagement Strategy. S Johnston advised that the Plan covered a lot of areas frequently discussed, and had been submitted to the Council’s Learning and Families Committee on 23 August 2023. It was agreed that any questions regarding this could be submitted to the next meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff. 11. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS The issue of papers being made available, to members of the JNC, at least one week prior to the timetabled meeting was raised by the Teachers’ Side for approval. Date of next meeting will be 20 November 2023.