Renfrewshire Council to redeploy teachers to meet growing ASN demand

Trade unions are alarmed at Renfrewshire Council plans to redeploy teachers in early years settings to meet growing demand in additional support needs (ASN) education.

Concerns have been voiced that the change, which is due to affect nine teachers and comes into force from August, could impact the quality of provision in nurseries.

They believe this step is being taken in spite of educational arguments against it and would rather see a specific injection of staff into ASN where the need is acute.

A report prepared by EIS Renfrewshire Local Association, tabled at the joint negotiating committee for teaching staff on Tuesday, set out their objections.

It said: “Renfrewshire Council’s decision to remodel the staffing provision within their early years settings has led to the removal of GTCS-registered teachers from Renfrewshire nurseries, a decision that will deny children access to a GTCS-qualified teacher.

“EIS funded, independent research confirms the importance of maintaining a GTCS-registered teacher workforce in all pre-school settings for all children.

“The findings support the conclusions of previous research that employing the skills and leadership of qualified teachers remains the best way to ensure a quality educational experience in all nursery settings.

“Curriculum for Excellence supports a seamless curricular model spanning the three to 18 age range. It is crucial, therefore, that there is an appropriate level of teacher involvement in every nursery setting thereby providing continuity into primary school.

“GTCS-registered teachers make a distinctive contribution to the education of all children and to delivering the early interventions that are essential in minimising the impact of poverty on all children’s educational outcomes both within the early years and beyond.”

When contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council defended the new model and addressed worries expressed by the unions.

A spokesperson said: “The teachers in question are being redeployed to improve the way we support children with additional support needs at the early-learning stage. They will still be working with nursery-age children, as well as some primary ones.

“The changes were agreed after listening to feedback from our school and nursery heads around how best to meet the increasing demand for ASN support, which all councils are experiencing. The staff involved have been fully consulted on the changes.

“The new model will allow children who need extra support beyond that provided in their nursery to be given additional sessions in a flexible learning resource where they will get the specialist help they need.

“It also includes outreach where the same teachers will visit children in the nursery they already attend to work with them in an environment the child is familiar with.

“It also means we can target this support to the children who need it most, meaning there will be fairness and equity of access across Renfrewshire.”