With more than 350,000 members, UNISON represents more education staff than any other trade union in the UK.
We campaign against inequality, challenge unfair pay and speak out on work issues and the quality of public services.
About
Education members include employees from schools and academies, further education colleges, universities, early years and children’s services, career services and more. Find out the issues we face and the benefits of being a UNISON member.
Key issues
This section is about the key issues affecting people employed in education services. Each key issue explains the facts behind the issue, what UNISON is doing and how you can get involved. You will also find news articles, useful resources and events.
Resources
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Cover supervision – guidance on when and how it should be used
9 April 2018
none -
2018 joint union higher education pay claim
27 March 2018
noneJoint higher education union pay claim for 2018/19 (submitted 21 March)
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UNISON in Colleges FE newsletter Spring 2018
7 February 2018
noneA colourful A4 newsletter aimed at informing and recruiting staff employed in further education.
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Guidance on lesson observations of teaching assistants in schools. UNISON guidance
30 January 2018
noneGuidance on lesson observations of teaching assistants in schools. How it should and should not be used and what to do if it is misused. Minimum order 10. Maximum 50 or email stockorders@unison.co.uk.Education
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College staff – how to recruit guide
23 January 2018
noneA guide for members looking to recruit in colleges. Includes preparation points and conversation tips
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Part of the college support staff team? Then it’s time to join UNISON (further education) – leaflet
30 October 2017
noneUNISON is the union for all support staff in further education colleges. This leaflet sets out why UNISON has support staff interests at its heart.
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Dealing with health needs in schools A5 leaflet.
16 October 2017
none -
The Living Wage: A briefing and implementation plan for academy, trust and free schools
10 October 2017
noneThe Living Wage: Briefing and implementation plan for academy, trust and free schools. A4 12 pages. Available as a download PDF only
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The Living Wage: A briefing and plan for implementation for Catholic schools
10 October 2017
noneThe Living Wage: Briefing and implementation plan for Catholic schools. A4 12 pages. Available as a download PDF only
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The Living Wage: A briefing and plan for implementation in Church of England schools
10 October 2017
noneThe Living Wage: A briefing and plan for implementation in Church of England schools. A4 12 pages. Available as a PDF only.
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UNISON in Schools newsletter. Autumn 2017.
23 August 2017
noneAll the latest news for school staff, including funding, pay, Stars, and UNISON’s learning opportunities for school staff.
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Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions poster
9 August 2017
noneSupporting pupils at school with medical conditions
Poster -
Organising and negotiating to address workload in schools – a guide.
3 August 2017
noneThis guidance gives practical advice on how to share and raise concerns about workload issues with colleagues and managers and what should be included in a workload agreement with employers.
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Branch advice on rarely cover arrangements for teachers and implications for support staff
21 July 2017
noneBranch advice on rarely cover arrangements for teachers and implications for support staff
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Building Better Organisation in Schools-UNISON Branch Advice
21 July 2017
noneThere are lots of new and imaginative ways of organising in schools as well as the traditional time-honoured method. This 16-page A4 booklet sets out the best of the new ways of organising being used in schools and will inspire you to get started today
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Providing support for children and young people with health needs in schools –
21 July 2017
none -
Tips for organising in schools
21 July 2017
noneHandy guide to organising in schools: for reps and organisers
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Many hands make lunch work
21 July 2017
noneUNISON guidance on changes to school food in England (2014).
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Preventing work-related mental health conditions: advice for school leaders
21 July 2017
noneThis guide has been drawn up by the NUT with contributions and guidance from UNISON. It has been written for the school leadership team and we would recommend that this is brought to their attention by the trade union health and safety stewards
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Leaflet. Part of the school support staff team? Then it’s time to join UNISON
21 July 2017
noneLeaflet setting out all the specialist and generic benefits to school support staff of belonging to UNISON.
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Stars In Our Schools 2017 poster
21 July 2017
noneStars In Our Schools 2017 poster.
Pdf only. -
Managing Difficult Behaviour in Schools: A practical guide
21 July 2017
noneManaging Difficult Behaviour in Schools: A practical guide
16-page A4 booklet with accessible, practical advice for all those working in education settings -
Join the experts – UNISON welcomes the whole support staff team – poster
13 July 2017
nonePoster setting out all the specialist and generic benefits to school support staff of belonging to UNISON.
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Stars In Our Schools 2017 Poster and letter for head teachers
13 July 2017
noneLetter/A4 poster for headteachers promoting the schools celebration day on 24 November. For individuals to use face-to-face only. Available as PDF only.
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University staff deserve a decent pay rise. HE pay campaign leaflet 2017
10 May 2017
noneHigher education pay is falling far behind. This leaflet encourages members to get involved in the campaign for better pay.
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Help us protect your school from cuts – Leaflet
17 March 2017
none8% cuts to schools. What can you do about it? Leaflet outlining the issue and how to involve the school and community in fighting the cuts.
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Are you in UNISON yet? EWC Wales professional registration leaflet WELSH & ENGLISH BILINGUAL
2 March 2017
noneLeaflet for school learning support staff in Wales setting out the benefits of UNISON following on from compulsory registration with the EWC. BILINGUAL.
Minimum order 30. -
Career Framework and Continuing Professional Development for Teaching Assistants
21 February 2017
noneCareer Framework and Continuing Professional Development for Teaching Assistants
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Does your school pay the Living Wage? A5 leaflet
13 February 2017
noneLeaflet to help members campaign for the Living Wage in their school.
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Why you deserve a decent pay rise – HE bilingual leaflet.
17 August 2016
noneBilingual Welsh/English version of the “Why you deserve a pay rise in higher education”. 2016 pay campaign. Pdf only
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Professional standards for teaching assistants
10 June 2016
noneAdvice for headteachers, teachers, teaching assistants, governing boards and employers.
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Higher education editable social media powerpoint slide
22 February 2016
noneHigher education editable POWERPOINT SLIDE “Invest in my university – invest in me”. Download and edit in Powerpoint to add your personal message to our bricks and mortar graphic, save as a jpg, and post on social media.
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Heart my workplace photo board
8 February 2016
noneHeart UNISON Heart my workplace photo boards – take photos and post them online to show you heart UNISON and your workplace. Download only
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UNISON fighting redundancies in local government: a branch guide
22 October 2014
noneGuidance in facing redundancy in local government – PDF download only
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Factsheet on the Bradford Factor (sickness leave)
1 October 2014
noneFactsheet on the Bradford Factor for use in the campaign to challenge sickness absence for UNISON college reps, branches and regions
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Credit union promo leaflet
14 April 2014
noneFor use in branches working with credit unions
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Promoting credit unions and campaigning around high cost credit – branch guide
14 April 2014
noneAdvice for branches about how they can promote credit unions and campaign on high cost credit.
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LGPS governance changes…your pension fund needs you
14 February 2014
noneLeaflet calling for LGPS member representatives for pension boards. For targeted use with potential board members. Order min 20 and max 100.
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UNISON Guide to Disability Leave and Disability related Issues November 2013 (1) docx
14 November 2013
noneThe guide contains advice and guidance on good practice including a model disability policy. The guide will be useful for branch secretaries,equality reps, stewards, regional reps and employers who want to put together a good disability policy and disability leave agreemenht
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NUS and UNISON Report Living Wage in Higher Education Executive Summary
5 November 2013
noneThe document contains information that can be used in campaigns on the living wage in Higher Education by branches, regional organisers
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Young workers – your wages your rights
22 October 2013
noneYoung workers and the minimum wage. A5 leaflet with information on the basic employment rights. Of particular use to UNISON members working with young people in schools, colleges, careers services, youth services, leisure centres and through social services. Updated October 2013.
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Higher Education Role Analysis and Grade Drift
24 September 2013
noneFrom branch secretaries, stewards, equality reps and regional organisers
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Disability Leave – Model Agreement
9 August 2013
noneDisabled workers face discrimination and disadvantage in the workplace and society. The skills and experience of disabled employees are highly valued and UNISON is committed to supporting disabled members by negotiating policies that remove barriers and tackle discrimination in the workplace
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Youth & community part-time working – time to know your rights at work factsheet
1 August 2013
noneThis factsheet explains how part-time youth and community workers have the same statutory employment rights as any other employee
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A guide to equality in UNISON
13 June 2013
noneUNISON’s equalities agenda: how UNISON works to build equality into everything we do
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Branch guide to Shared Services
6 June 2013
noneA4 branch guidance which sets out to highlight the key aspects of shared services and sets out actions that branches should take.
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Student complaints: Advice for higher education branches.
4 June 2013
noneThe document is aimed at branches/reps, and seeks to give them advice on how to deal with student complaints – of recruiting/organising around the issue, and working co-operatively with students’ unions.
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Free schools, UTCs and studio schools
4 June 2013
noneA briefing for UNISON activists and organisers.
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Academy chains
4 June 2013
noneMany academies are joining together in groups – this is a briefing on ‘academy chains’.
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What are Shared Services
4 June 2013
noneShared services are when a number of organisations agree to share the cost and delivery of service between them.
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Negotiating advice for trust schools
2 November 2009
noneA4 advice notes for local negotiators in trust schools. Updated November 2009