Urgent information for parents regarding industrial action on Wednesday 30th November 2011

Members of the following trade unions - the GMB and UNISON along with the Professional Associations of the National Association of Head teachers (NAHT); National Union of Teachers (NUT); National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) have notifed their employs that the school will be involved in industrial action on Wednesday 30th November 2011. As my professional association is one of the above I am required to undertake a risk assessment relating to the potential impact of the action. Under current industrial legislation employees who continue to work cannot be required to undertake work beyond their normal duties. The risk assessment is made against the impact that the action will have on the health and safety of pupils, staff and visitors, whether the school is able to deliver a full or amended curriculum and ultimately whether the school should remain open or whether it should close.
I have informed the Director of Education and Chair of Governors that the school will be closed for pupils on that day. The reasons are that it is not possible to provide adequate staffing cover for all or some of the pupils; No first aid cover be available; There will be indequate supervision of children at lunchtime and break times neither will there be sufficient support staff available in class to assist with children with special needs etc and the particular demands of nursery and Key Stage 1.Emergency hazards will not be dealt with appropriately, such as broken glass, spillages and hygiene issues such as cleaning of toilets and dealing with vomit and other bodily fluids.
The representatives of the professional associations have asked me to write to parents informing you of why this action is being undertaken.
Following joint meetings and discussions with the government, the professional associations believe that the proposed changes to pension schemes are unfair and unnecessary. They believe that the proposed changes will seriously damage motivation and morale, exacerbating the already serious problems of recruitment and retention of school leaders.
First and foremost, school leaders see the attacks on pensions as an attack on pupils. This is because they fear that any cuts to terms and conditions such as pensions could have a profound effect on the recruitment and retention of talented staff. Heads fear that high calibre graduates may be discouraged from entering the profession and force gifted younger staff to re-think staying on.
Teachers have already accepted their part in helping to bring the nation’s debt under control by accepting a two-year pay freeze and tighter budgets. It is also why they have made sure that the teachers’ pension scheme – which was significantly amended in 2007 - is sustainable and affordable, a fact with which the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee concur. We are extremely concerned that school closures will disrupt the lives of working parents and regret that it may come to that. However, we hope parents and the wider community understand that school leaders believe passionately in the value of a good education and do not see why it should be put at risk to pay for the mistakes of others.
Please will you make alternative arrangements for your children on this day as the school will not be open to receive any pupils. School will recommence for all pupils on Thursday with Breakfast Club opening at 8.00 a.m.