BREAKING: Woodfield Special school strikes paused while negotiations take place

 The NEU has paused the long-running strikes at Woodfield Special School in Kingsbury as the dispute goes to ACAS. The strike pause is in exchange for the academy trust  pausing the staffing restructure while negotiations take  place.

Spirits remain high and solidarity firm as ever as NEU General Secretary joins Woodfield School picket line on 12th strike day

 

 

I visited the picket line at Woodfield Special School on its 12th strike day and found spirits and energy high (just watch that dance!) and solidarity as strong as ever. They are school support staff whose support for each as well as pupils is incredibly strong.

It was clear that these school staff were not going to let the Academy Trust get away with cutting their colleagues' hours and thus their pay while they have £3m in reserves and highly paid executives.

A meeting of staff and parents has been scheduled to discuss the strike and Dawn Butler, the local MP will be contacted by NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede to gain her support.

The strikers were joined on the picket line by supportive members of Brent TUC, Brent Green Party and Your Party. 

'Strong & inspiring' Woodfield School strikers vote unanimously for further strike action after 'paltry' offer

 What do you do on a wintery picket line? Dance - naturally!

 

NEU members at Woodfield Special School in Kingsbury attended an online meeting in high numbers and voted unanimously to reject a 'paltry' offer from the Trust that runs the school.

Their strike is over wage cuts and the management offer was a pay cut of 2-1/2 hours instead pf 3-1/2.

There have already been 6 days of strike action and members  voted unaminously to continue with 3 days strike next week and another 3 days  when schools return after the winter break.

 NEU leaders described the NEU members as strong and the most inspiring ever.

Messages of solidarity are very much appreciated please send to jennifer.cooper@neu.org.uk and lucy.cox@neu.org.uk 

Educators say No! sent a solidarity message to the strikers:

Solidarity Statement for Woodfield School Workers

We stand in full solidarity with the staff at Woodfield School, who provide essential care and education for children with special needs. These pupils rely on consistent, skilled adult support, yet the Trust is proposing cuts to some of the lowest-paid and most vital workers. Staff have raised serious concerns about financial transparency and reported irregularities in the budget, demonstrating real courage and a commitment to protecting their school community.

At the same time, an inflated CEO salary highlights misplaced priorities that undermine confidence in the Trust’s decisions. Workers are right to defend both their livelihoods and the quality of education their students deserve.

The picket lines at Woodfield have been vibrant, united, and determined, with members electing an additional rep and voting for further action. Their strength and solidarity reflect a deep commitment to their students.

We stand with Woodfield staff—your fight is just, and you are not alone.

 

Peter Murry, Brent Green Party Trade Union Liaison Officer sent a solidarity message to the NEU strikers: 

Brent Green Party sends its support to National Education Union members at Woodfield Special School who have taken six days strike action and propose to take a further three days strike before the holiday, against the insufficient offer being made to them by the school's management trust. We call on the Trust to agree to the strikers'  reasonable and fair demands and  restore a full SEND education service to the communities that Woodfield school serves.

 

Copland teachers striking for democracy on Tuesday

Teaching staff at Copland Community School, Wembley, will be mounting pickets lines from 7.30am on Tuesday morning as they strike once again to try and win a democratic ballot, independently run, on the proposed academy conversion. They also stipulate the Interim Executive Board, imposed on the school by Brent Council, should take the ballot result into account.

At present Ark appears to be the only academy sponsor option despite the fact that Cllr Michael Pavey, lead member for children and families, told a public meeting before Christmas that it 'wasn't a done deal' and another sponsor was possible.

Despite requests Ark has still not provided a breakdown of the ehtnic background of its teaching force at the Wembley Park site. See LINK

Staff at Woodfield Special School are also reported to be opposed to plans by their governing body for academy conversion. LINK

Council consults on new travel policy for children with SEN

Readers will remember that Brent Council was forced to apologise when the West London Alliance transport system for children with Special Educational Needs left some abandoned in September last year LINK.  The Council is now consulting on a new travel policy. The notice is published below:

Parents, carers and schools are being asked for their views on a new travel policy being proposed for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

We have a legal duty to make sure suitable travel arrangements are in place for eligible children and young people to attend schools and colleges. The West London Alliance (WLA), which includes Brent, Hounslow, Ealing and Harrow councils, agreed jointly to ensure the most consistent, efficient and effective service is achieved with the resources available.

Consultation is taking place in the boroughs simultaneously until 10 February 2013.

• View the school travel consultation here

The proposals are also being presented at two meetings taking place at Brent Town Hall on:

• 22 January 3pm - 5pm in Committee Rooms 1, 2 and 3
• 24 January 7pm - 9pm in the Council Chamber.

Light refreshments will be available.

Comments and views from the meetings will be included in the WLA's final SEN travel policy report, which will be presented to the council's Executive for a decision in April.

If adopted, the new policy will continue to provide transport support for those pupils who need it and have no other reasonable alternative, but will also offer assistance to those pupils who want to travel independently and are potentially capable of doing so.  

This support will be through an accredited travel training scheme to enable pupils to safely develop the necessary skills needed for them to travel independently.

A full-time travel trainer, based at Woodfield Special School, currently trains over 20 pupils from the school to travel on their own every year.

In Brent, over 700 parents and carers as well as special schools and voluntary organisations have been contacted and invited to have their say on the new travel policy.