News

While it’s unusual, yes, permanent employees can transition to fixed-term contracts. Both employers and employees can agree to modify employment terms whenever required. However, this change can only be made with the explicit consent of the employee. Though legally permissible, such a shift doesn’t happen frequently due to the complexities tied to continuity of service … Read more

Updated resources to support  the education staff wellbeing charter were released on 8th May 2024. The education staff wellbeing charter is a declaration of support for, and a set of commitments, to the wellbeing and mental health of everyone working in education. The charter is for education staff in England. This includes temporary and support staff. … Read more

The EYFS statutory framework sets out the requirements for staff:child ratios in settings delivering the EYFS and the qualification levels practitioners must hold to be included within those requirements. To be included in the staff:child ratios at level 2, level 3 or level 6, staff must hold a qualification that is recognised by the Department … Read more

On 19th April 2024 the DfE updated the guidance ‘Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services’ to provide more clarity on the use of consent and the legal frameworks needed to support the sharing of information. This advice is for: The Guidance sets out seven golden rules for sharing information, including personal information which are … Read more

On 1st April 2024 the Department for Business and Trade updated their guidance on holiday entitlement and holiday pay following the implementation of the Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/1426).  The guidance is rather optimistically titled ‘Simplifying holiday entitlement and holiday pay calculations.’ It provides guidance on calculating holiday entitlement and … Read more

The Maternity Leave, Adoption Leave and Shared Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/264) (MASPA Regulations) were made on 28 February 2024. The current position is an employee on maternity leave is protected in a redundancy situation and must be offered suitable alternative employment first.From 6th April this is extended to:- This applies to those taking … Read more

On 19th March 2024, the DfE released an update to the School Teachers Pay and Conditions document 2023 to include annex 5 which lists administrative tasks teachers should not ordinarily be expected to do. These are as follows:1. Managing data and transferring data about pupils into school management systems (e.g. Question Level Analysis) or printing … Read more

The Carer’s Leave Regulations 2024 will introduce a new statutory right to unpaid carer’s leave for employees in England, Wales and Scotland, from 6 April 2024. The regulations provide that an employee who has a dependant with a long-term care need (defined in section 80J(2) of the Employment Rights Act 1996) may take one week’s unpaid … Read more

An Employment Tribunal has ruled that a Headteacher who was dismissed after tapping her son’s hand was unfairly dismissed.  Facts  The Claimant was the headteacher at one of the schools in the Arbor Academy Trust.  On 17 January 2022 the Claimant was working late in her office. And her two children who attended the School … Read more

New guidance on menopause in the workplace, setting out employer’s legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010, was issued today by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Many women report experiencing negative impacts of menopausal symptoms in the workplace, with some even feeling compelled to leave their jobs as a result. Research shows that … Read more