Strike Action

Dear Parents and Carers

I am mindful that you will be concerned about the recent vote for strike action for teachers within the National Education Union (NEU).

Although 7 days have been identified across the country, each Local Authority will not have any more than 4 days where teachers will be on strike. The dates that Lancashire have published are:

• Wednesday 1^st February
• Tuesday 28^th February
• Wednesday 15^th March
• Thursday 16^th March

The headlines in the media indicate that the strike is down to pay. However, they are also striking for wider reasons, including:

• Rising vacancies in teaching and support staff posts. Recruiting to empty jobs is becoming more difficult thus affecting the quality of education provided by schools
• Limited school budgets due to rising costs, so things are becoming unaffordable

This is creating difficulties across the country and staff are concerned that eventually the quality of education offered will drop and the children will suffer. Teachers feel strongly about this, as do others in the public sector facing similar challenges. They feel that they need to stand up and be counted.

I do know that making the decision to strike is an extremely difficult one. Staff who undertake this action will not be paid for those days.

We have a number of staff in the NEU and we also have staff who may be affected at their own children’s schools. I know that several classes will have to close on these days. Therefore, I advise you to make plans for your child/ren, just in case we are not in a position to open your child’s class on those days, due to a lack of staff, to ensure that your child is safe. Some staff are waiting to hear from their child’s school about the plans for those days so the information below could still change.

Classes closed on Wednesday 1^st February are:

• Reception
• Year 1
• Year 3
• Year 5

Classes closed on Tuesday 28^th February are:

• Reception
• Year 1
• Year 5

Classes closed on Wednesday 15^th March are:

• Reception
• Year 1
• Year 3
• Year 5

Classes closed on Thursday 16^th March are:

• Reception
• Year 1
• Year 5
• Year 6

I recognise that this will be difficult for families (including my own). It’s the first time in my role as Head Teacher that strike action has affected school.