SSSC Annual Report published

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) have published their their 2019 – 2020 Annual Report. This report is the final annual report of our 2017-2020 strategy and sets out our achievements against our four strategic outcomes.

SSSC Chief Executive, Lorraine Gray said: ‘This year has seen a focus on concluding the final Register parts, support workers in care at home and housing support. We now have 216,000 entries on our Register. We continue to work hard to improve our customer’s experience to serve our expanded Register by developing our online registration platform MySSSC.  

 ‘Our achievements in 2019-20 in support of a safe and skilled workforce include publishing revised Standards in Social Work Education and piloting new approaches to a supported year for newly qualified social workers. These will improve the learning experience of the workforce and protect the people who use social services. We also laid the foundation for the final part of the registration phase which would see all groups set out in legislation registered by 30 September 2020. 

‘Although this report is for our work in 2019-2020, we can’t help but reflect on the impact of COVID-19 on this sector and the people they care for and support. The pandemic has highlighted the passion and dedication of people working across social care, social work and early years and also concerns with the way our society values both the work that they do and the people they support. We await the outcome of the review of adult social care in the new year and will continue to work with our partners across the UK to influence the discussions on the future for this sector. 

‘Our staff worked tirelessly throughout the year to make sure that people who use services can count on skilled and safe people to provide support and care.  As an organisation our business transformation continued throughout 2019-2020 and allowed us to immediately offer the same service to our registrants from our kitchen tables and spare rooms the minute we went into lockdown in March.’   

Highlights from our 2019-2020 Annual Report: 

  • In December 2019 we reached the milestone for our final group, support workers in care at home and housing support services to submit their applications for registration. During 2019-2020 the number of registrations and renewals granted increased in line with our forecast, with 77,507 applications registered, and 13,219 renewals processed.   
  • We continue to focus on the learning and development of the social service workforce. During 2019-2020 we assessed 678 qualifications for registration. Our Open Badges web platform continues to be a success with 5,342 Open Badges awarded during 2019-2020 compared with 4,000 in 2018-2019.  
  • We received 4,122 fitness to practise referrals in 2019-2020 compared to 3,617 the previous year. This increase reflects the rapid expansion to the Register over the period. We launched a dedicated case management system to manage fitness to practise referrals. We recruited more staff to our intake and engagement team and designed new processes to complete preliminary investigations before opening a case, allowing us to close 1,848 concerns at the screening stage.  
Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2019-2020Download

Heart Research UK Healthy tip – Healthy Christmas

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion and Education at Heart Research UK

TIPS FOR A HEALTHIER CHRISTMAS

Christmas is a time when we can be tempted to overindulge, but it is possible to enjoy the festive period without it impacting on our health and waistline. Wherever you are spending Christmas this year, we can help you make it a healthy and happy one.  

  • Don’t let food become the main focus this Christmas. Instead of spending days in the kitchen baking cakes, biscuits and puddings, why not invest your time in preparing fun games to play on Christmas day, decorating the house, getting in touch with people who are spending Christmas alone or planning a Christmas Day walk.
  • Instead of buying gifts that are high in calories, such as chocolates, jams, sweets, biscuits and alcohol, choose non-edible gifts instead. How about buying the kids things that will get them active, such as a football, skipping rope, skateboard, bike, hula hoop or trampoline.
  • It can be difficult to avoid the consumerism that has taken over Christmas and you can easily buy too much food and drink for the festive season. Having too much can encourage overindulgence and lead to unnecessary waste. Try to be realistic about how much people will eat and drink and avoid overdoing it when you are shopping and cooking. This will also help you to save on your shopping bill!
  • Watch your alcohol consumption at Christmas. It is fine to enjoy a drink, but try not to have too much. Alcoholic drinks can be high in calories, which can lead to weight-gain. During the Christmas period, it can be tempting to start drinking earlier in the day, which can result in you drinking more. Try to plan in advance how much you will drink and try to stay off the alcohol until later in the day. You can get support with your drinking by visiting the Drinkaware website: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/tools/self-assessment 
  • Try not to spend too long sitting in front of the TV this Christmas. Wrap up warm and head out for a brisk walk to burn off some calories and get your heart rate up. Why not get out in the fresh air with any new outdoor gifts, such as a football, frisbee or bike. 
  • Look after your mental health this Christmas. Christmas can be a time of stress, anxiety and loneliness for many people. This year, people may struggle more with mental health problems due to the pandemic. Mind provides information and support for people experiencing mental health issues https://www.mind.org.uk/

National Express increases services to meet holiday demand

National Express will be running extra coach services on its UK-wide network in the run up to Christmas to ensure people can get home safely during the festive season (18 December 2020 – 4 January 2021).

The UK’s largest coach operator will be increasing the frequency of over 35 routes, introducing 13 new direct services and adding more locations to its timetable – starting from 18 December and running every day, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day. 

Supported by the Department for Transport, they will initially be doubling the mileage of the network, making nearly 250,000 seats available over the festive period*; and will further increase the number in response to demand – all with covid-secure measures in place.

Tickets are on sale now with more availability being released as soon as possible. Customers are being advised to plan their journey and book in advance as demand has been strong.

Chris Hardy, managing director of National Express Coach: “Trains won’t be running on Christmas Day and there are limited services on others, plus the planned engineering works on the railways.

“We’re happy to step up to help the UK public get home safely this Christmas, when it’s more important than ever. 

“This is also good news for the network of local coach companies who operate services on our behalf, at the end of what has been a challenging year.”

Increased frequency routes:
Bristol<>LondonSouth Coast<>HeathrowManchester <>London
Birmingham<>ManchesterEast Mids<>HeathrowSheffield <>London
Cardiff<>LondonBath<>LondonHalifax <>London
Birmingham<>LondonAberystwyth<>LondonLeeds <>London
London<>DoverNorth-West<>LondonThanet<>London
Brighton<>LondonLeicester<>LondonBirmingham<>Heathrow
Southampton<>LondonGloucester<>LondonBirmingham<>Bradford
Bournemouth<>LondonNottingham<>LondonSouth Wales<>Heathrow
Bristol<>BirminghamYorkshire<>LondonLiverpool<>London
Coventry<>LondonNorwich <>LondonBirmingham<>Nottingham
Nottingham<>BradfordPlymouth <>LondonSwansea <>London
Birmingham<>LeicesterPortsmouth<>LondonNorth Devon<>London
Haverford West<>London  
New direct services:
Tyneside<>LondonTeeside<>LondonHull<>London
Edinburgh<>LondonGlasgow<>LondonLondon<>York (via Leeds)
South Wales<>BirminghamCambridge<>LondonBirmingham<>Hull
Cornwall<>LondonLeeds<>ManchesterLeed<>Manchester<>Liverpool
East Mids<>West Yorkshire  
New locations on festive timetable:
HullPeterboroughCambridge
ChesterSunderlandNewquay
PenzanceFalmouthLincoln
SwindonWeston-super-MareTruro

All National Express coaches have significant covid-secure measures in place including enhanced cleaning, reduced capacity, wearing of face coverings, temperature screening and additional air conditioning filters.

Anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 so is unable to travel, can request a full refund or amend their ticket. Passengers who no longer wish to or are unable to travel as planned will also be eligible for a free ticket amendment*.

FORT KINNAIRD LAUNCHES GIANT GIVING BOX TO RAISE FUNDS FOR LOCAL FAMILIES

Fort Kinnaird has installed a giant giving box to help give back to those most impacted by the pandemic in the local community.

Located outside Tony Macaroni, visitors can use contactless payment to easily donate £3, £5 or £10 to Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids Mission Christmas campaign. The giving box will flash in response and say a special thank you following any donation it receives.

Cash for Kids Mission Christmas supports underprivileged children in Edinburgh, from birth right up to the age of 18, by ensuring they wake up to a gift on Christmas morning.

The campaign is a lifeline to families living in poverty, for who Christmas is a luxury they just can’t afford. While it won’t change their circumstances, it helps to make Christmas Day feel that little more special in a year that has been especially hard for them.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “This festive season, it seems only right to focus on supporting the people and charities who are going above and beyond to help the people most in need in our community.

“We’ve designed the Giving Box to allow our shoppers to choose the amount they want to donate and have used a contactless payment option to ensure our customers feel as safe as possible. We hope our customers will enjoy reversing the role of Santa and giving back to this amazing initiative that helps make a real difference to children and families across Edinburgh and the Lothians.”

The centre has also launched a competition to reward someone who has gone out of their way to support the local community this year with £250 to spend on themselves at Fort Kinnaird as a small ‘thank you’ for all their hard work.

Victoria Hendry, Charity Manager of Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids Mission, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Fort Kinnaird have selected Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids as their charity partner this Christmas. The Giving Box is a fantastic, innovative way of fundraising and we are thrilled to be involved.

“Our Mission Christmas campaign sees thousands of applications for disadvantaged children living across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife & Falkirk. At this time of year we appreciate the support from corporates and local businesses but this year more so than ever as we face the challenges of Covid. We thank the colleagues at British Land and Fort Kinnaird for their on-going support and look forward to seeing how successful the Giving Box is this winter.”

To nominate someone special you’ll need to fill out a simple entry form on Fort Kinnaird’s website to explain why you think they deserve to win: https://www.fortkinnaird.com/christmas/community-heroes

Throughout December Fort Kinnaird’s core opening hours will be from 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm on Saturday, and 10am – 6pm on Sunday. Many retailers will be offering extended opening hours which can be viewed on individual shop’s websites. Free parking is available as usual and shoppers are being encouraged to visit outside of peak times if they can.

For more information about planning a trip to Fort Kinnaird, please visit: https://www.fortkinnaird.com/christmas/planning-your-visit

Planning Approval for 126 low-carbon homes in Corstorphine

 Artisan Real Estate commits to further investment in the Capital with homes designed for ‘Post-Covid Living’

 ‘Ambitious’ proposals for 126 new energy-efficient homes on the site of a former care home in Corstorphine have been given the go ahead by the City of Edinburgh Council.

Artisan Real Estate’s Rowanbank Gardens site brings together a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments on the site of the former Gylemuir Care Home, overlooking Gyle Park, close to the main A8 access route into the city. The development has been heralded as a blueprint for post-Covid living, bringing together smart energy-efficient design geared to achieving low to zero carbon ratings whilst responding to the rapidly changing requirements of home buyers and the wider community following lockdown.  

Apartments have been designed around an internal courtyard garden filled with fruit trees and communal planting and growing beds, as well as a children’s play park, a natural woodland area and formal lawns.

The homes are designed for open-plan living with most having easy access to a private courtyard or large balcony overlooking the gardens, while innovations such as green roofs ensure benefits of surface water retention, improved insulation and ecology.  

Welcoming the planning approval, Artisan’s Regional Sales Team Leader, Christie Turner, said: “This is part of a £90 million investment commitment to raise the standards of sustainable living at prime city centre brownfield sites across Edinburgh. 

“Rowanbank Gardens is a significant planning application providing much-needed new homes in a popular and accessible part of the city. The site is ideally located between a large public open space and a major retail park, with superb transport links in and out of the city.  

“At its heart is a sustainable design which reflects the demands of modern life, with buildings designed to minimise carbon footprint and maximise daylight. Significant emphasis is placed on the quality of internal space and light to create enjoyable home-working environments, whilst accessible gardens and landscaping promote health and well-being by making nature and well-designed outdoor space integral to the day-to-day living experience. 

“The site fits in well with Artisan’s approach of regenerating brownfield sites with good public transport links and is well set to meet the Council’s stated requirement for well designed, high density living whilst providing spacious communal areas and well-established public transport links ensuring low car ownership. There are also all-electric charging points for the provided car parking, City Car Club membership and generous secure cycle parking.” 

She added: “The planning application follows a period of consultation with local people and community groups earlier this year, and we received a lot of feedback which we incorporated into our final proposal.  

“There has been strong interest in the development from Corstorphine residents, many of whom wanted to downsize and stay in the area and from families looking for more space. We are now looking forward to getting on site and progressing with the development, continuing with our ongoing investment to get the city living again following lockdown.” 

Artisan is perhaps best known in Scotland for large-scale urban regeneration projects like the award-winning New Waverley at the heart of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town.

Its Queen Elizabeth House office development, now a flagship UK Government hub, was recently awarded the Innovation Award at the 2020 British Council Offices Awards, recognising the building design which includes a variety of low-energy techniques. 

The developer is now applying the same values, resource and design philosophy to its residential developments which is quickly setting it apart from other major homebuilders in Scotland.

Other city projects include Canonmills Garden comprising 180 luxury apartments and colony properties overlooking the Water of Leith in Canonmills, to the north of the city centre, with the first phase dues for completion in spring 2021.  

For more information on Rowanbank Gardens, visit www.rowanbankgardens.com. 

Lord Provost’s Christmas message

On behalf of the City of Edinburgh, I extend my heartfelt and warm wishes this Christmas to the citizens of Edinburgh.

Christmas is traditionally an occasion for getting together with friends, family and loved ones and celebrating. This year we have to do this in different ways – either in our “Christmas bubbles” or by fully embracing technology that will allow us to be together even when we can’t gather in person.

Undoubtably, it is disappointing that we’ll be missing out on many of our customs this year, but there are still many things to be thankful for – our family and friends, our NHS, those who work tirelessly to keep us safe and provide vital services and, of course, science and vaccines.

It has been an unsettling and uncertain time for us all and I send my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones this year, and my best wishes to all who are currently fighting the virus.   

We know the coronavirus pandemic has had far-reaching consequences beyond the spread of the disease and efforts to quarantine it. As we prepare to enter a new year, please know that the Council remains focussed on how we respond to the ongoing pandemic. We’re doing everything we can to keep services running and residents informed and supported. We will continue to explore further ways to support businesses as we hopefully see a return to normal.  

Like other cities and towns across the world this has been an incredibly difficult year for Edinburgh. The pandemic brought with it widespread, unexpected and sudden change which affected every resident. We’ve faced dark days, but we’ve faced them together, as one city. I’d like to thank every household and business across Edinburgh for following the rules. Let’s keep going and keep the case numbers down.

As Lord Provost, I’ve always been proud to represent our diverse and vibrant city. I’ve never been prouder than this year. The pandemic has brought out the very best in our community. This city has adapted and come together in our battle to beat the virus. In my role I have had the privilege of meeting (mostly virtually) many exceptional people as well as organisations who have worked tirelessly to support residents who have been disadvantaged and vulnerable throughout the pandemic.

On behalf of the city I would like to acknowledge and thank the outstanding commitment and care demonstrated by our NHS and emergency services, by all those working in schools caring for our children and their futures, by Council staff who ensure our services are maintained, and by all those reaching out to help the vulnerable members of our community.  

As 2020 comes to a close and the roll out of the vaccine has begun, we can look more positively towards 2021. But please don’t stop, please keep following the guidance: wear face coverings, avoid crowded places, clean your hands regularly, keep a two-metre distance and self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms. 

All my best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happier new year. 

Six ways to have a virtual Xmas

Almost half of older people say they’ll spend the season alone

Many older people are set to ignore the Government’s easing of coronavirus restrictions over the festive season and spend this Christmas alone, according to a new survey.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have announced that lockdown restrictions will be eased between December 23rd and 27th to allow up to three households to mix over the Christmas period.

However, in a survey of 1,000 people by retailer Chums, 46% of Brits aged 55+ said they will ignore this lift in the coronavirus restrictions and spend Christmas with only their household.

This news comes after SAGE warned that the UK could see a massive spike in COVID-19 cases in January if Christmas festivities carried on as normal this year.

A further 24% of older Brits surveyed said they are “less likely” to spend Christmas with another household due to the coronavirus pandemic. Only one-fifth of people (21%) said that they would carry on as usual this year.

Coronavirus is known to disproportionately affect older people and for many older Brits this is precisely the reason why they are choosing not to mix this Christmas.

One third of the older people surveyed by Chums (33%) said they were worried about theirs and members of their household’s health over the festive season.

Josh Rubin, managing director at Chums, said: “After such a challenging year, we are pleased to see that restrictions will be eased for Christmas to allow many older people to celebrate with their loved ones.

“However, coronavirus won’t be taking a Christmas holiday. It is still a very real and present threat to older people in the United Kingdom.”

“Our study has found that a lot of older Brits are not prepared to take this risk, especially since social distancing guidelines are still in effect which may be difficult for many households to accommodate.”

Have yourself a virtual Christmas

Chums has also created a list of six festive activities you can do over Zoom if your family cannot be together this season:

  1. Christmas jumper contest

Who will turn up wearing the wackiest Christmas jumper? In the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, each family member could be tasked to hunt down the loudest, funniest and downright tackiest jumper they can find. Every participant could also contribute a small amount of money to purchase a fun gift for whomever is voted the winner.

  1. Create and exchange your own ecards

A fun, environmentally friendly way to exchange Christmas cards this year could begin with designing your own online. These can be exchanged via email to see who has the funniest or most creative Christmas card. The more technologically advanced may want to make something on Photoshop, but there are also plenty of websites where the average Joe can easily design their own Ecard free online.

  1. Virtual Secret Santa

Secret Santa is a fun tradition for many families in the United Kingdom and there’s no reason this has to change because of coronavirus. Draw Names has created an online Secret Santa tool, for instance, where families can take part. Set a monetary value, find a great gift online and mail it to your loved one before doing a virtual unwrapping via Zoom.

  1. The ultimate Christmas playlist

No Christmas party is complete without the perfect playlist to match, and families who are unable to spend the season together can collaborate on one from home. Spotify allows multiple users to add songs to a playlist, which can then be streamed on your video call to liven up the party.

  1. Christmas scavenger hunt

Teams can scour their respective households for seasonal clues in a virtual Christmas scavenger hunt. Furthermore, there are many options for unique hints that can extend the game online. Who can find the funniest dressed-up pet via Google search? Or who can find the worst Santa impersonator?

6. Gingerbread house project

Whether they decide to hold a decorating competition via video or just enjoy the festive treats while watching a Christmas movie over Zoom, making gingerbread houses online is a fun way to champion togetherness and combat loneliness this yuletide.

Chums has even launched a competition where bakers who do this can share snaps of their gingerbread houses on Chums’s Facebook post and the most creative entrant will win a festive hamper worth £100. 

Revised closing date for Development Officer post

Granton Castle Walled Garden Development Officer (one year)

N.B. REVISED CLOSING DATE 8/1/2021

Are you interested in working with local volunteers and community groups to help protect and develop a late medieval walled garden in North West Edinburgh?

The Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden are looking for a Development Officer to coordinate plans for work in the garden and in the community over the coming year, a time when we will all hope to see a different world emerging.

£15 ph for an average of 24hpw on a self-employed basis.

Under the oversight of the Trustees, duties would include:

Developing our website, communications and social media with regular updates and monthly newsletters;

Reorganising our database to update our contacts, volunteers, members/friends and associates while ensuring GDPR compliance;

Fundraising for our strategic plan including future funding for administrator, gardener, green gym, Victorian greenhouse re-build, workshops and events, utilities etc.;

Coordinating volunteers, special interest groups and working parties, especially for gardening, workshops and events;

Strengthening links with educational and community groups and increase participation of local residents;Updating policies: eg H & S, Safeguarding, Volunteer Induction;

Exploring feasibility of installation of electricity and water.

Hours of work will vary due to garden seasonality, events, workshops, meetings and when volunteers are available and will include some weekend working.

Formal qualifications are not essential, but experience of communicating and networking with Council and community groups, good MS Office and fund-raising skills and expertise in social media and database development, preferably within an historic, horticultural environment, required.

Interviews will be held in January 2021 to start in March 2021.

For more information please see https://www.facebook.com/GrantonCastleGarden/

If interested, apply with CV and names and email addresses of 2 referees to:

grantongarden@gmail.com

OR

Chair, Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden,

23 West Shore Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1QB.

REVISED CLOSING DATE: Friday, 8th January 2021

Hours of fun for the under 5s

Taking care of your child’s physical and mental health has never been more important. With coaching opportunities city-wide, Edinburgh Leisure offers so many choices for getting your child active for life by starting them young.

With a wide range of coaching and courses for babies to pre-schoolers and beyond, physical activity can help a child build fitness, confidence, and resilience, develop coordination skills and teaches them how to socialise.

Release their inner ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’ with Edinburgh Leisure’s dance classes or help them develop motor skills, balance and agility with ‘Gym Nippers’.

From 18 months to 3 years, you can even join in all the fun too. To comply with the current Covid-19 restrictions, Edinburgh Leisure has measures in place to ensure the safety of everyone, including the need for a parent/guardian to accompany pre-school aged children for Gym Nippers, who can physically support them in class, with instruction from the coach.

Children can join in their football classes from 3 years, where they will l develop confidence, spatial awareness and teamwork. For children who like to be airborne, their trampolining classes deliver balance, co-ordination, cardio fitness and self-confidence, whilst their swimming lessons will improve your child’s water confidence in and out of water, with an emphasis on fun and progression.

Swimming coaching can start from as young as 3 months or even younger, giving parent and baby a great opportunity to bond. And for budding Andy Murrays or Johanna Kontas, Edinburgh Leisure’s Tots Tennis offers a fun introduction to the sport allowing parents or helpers to be on court with them.

Things may be a little different now but Edinburgh Leisure’s coaching sessions still remain as popular as ever, with the emphasis on fun, safety, with dedicated, experienced staff ensuring everyone receives a warm welcome and gets the most from their classes.

To find our more about more about spaces available and the coaching timetable, visit: www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/activities/coaching

Headteachers and Deputes placed under huge pressure throughout COVID pandemic

The EIS has published a new briefing paper which highlights the views of Headteachers (HTs) and Deputes (DHTs) on the pressures of working in schools during the pandemic.

The EIS recently surveyed members across Scotland on a wide range of COVID-related issues and is publishing a series of themed briefings. Today’s report is based on comments received from HTs and DHTs in response to the national survey.

Key issues identified include:

  • Senior leaders highlighted that they are doing their best to implement the guidance to keep their schools safe, but there are just too many pupils in classrooms and in communal areas.
  • Some members suggested that the transmission within their school is not being reported.
  • There was widespread concern over the wellbeing of school staff who feel under pressure with their workload and are anxious about teaching with so many pupils in class full time.

EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said, “Headteachers and Deputes have been under immense pressure throughout the pandemic.

“Many Headteachers and Deputes worked through the summer holidays to prepare schools for return after the lockdown, and have continued to work extremely long hours ever since.

“Added to this, HTs and DHTs have been compelled to take on responsibility for contact tracing in their schools, with little or no additional support. With some school buildings set to remain open right up to Christmas, many HTs and DHTs will be expected to handle track and trace calls throughout the festive period.”

A sample of comments from HTs and DHTs who responded to the survey is included below:

  • “The amount of additional pressure and workload on head teachers is disgraceful. Now working 7 days a week as on call constantly with no time back or recognition. Schools are not safe.”
  • “Quite concerned about the way in which the public health team is dealing with confirmed cases in school. Parent can report that child has tested positive before 9am yet it takes until 3pm for any decision to be made about the class/staff isolating.”
  • “All staff are working in a very stressful environment due to working within guidance and are exhausted.  Many feel vulnerable and would have appreciated being offered the flu vaccine as some protection against illness this winter.  Many are also feeling undervalued as it’s fine for them to work with 30 different families but not for them to visit their own.”
  • “My desire would be that schools remain open and that our pupils get the service they long for. If the public health situation is severe enough for a level 4 lockdown and all non-essential shops are closed, then serious consideration must be given to risk of staff and pupils in schools. I believe that blended learning is a half-way house and pupils would get a better deal by staff being fully committed to remote learning. The remote learning offer is now far better than what it was in April to June.”
  • “We are finding staffing incredibly challenging.  I currently have 50% of my teachers off and while we are able to cover, the lack of supply teachers available is very concerning.  I am concerned about the impact on the staff who are in and the impact long term staff absence is having on our children.”
  • Staff are exhausted and anxious. There may be a limit to how long they can continue under such pressure.”

Today’s briefing (below) on Headteachers and Deputes is the latest publication to support the EIS campaign #NotAtAllCosts, which argues against the government plan to keep schools physically open ‘at all costs’ even in areas with high rates of COVID infection.

EIS-HTs-and-DHTsDownload

The EIS is continuing to share members’ comments online and urges individual teachers to do the same using the hashtag #NotAtAllCosts and tagging the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in their posts.

Today’s briefing and further information on the #NotAtAllCosts campaign can be accessed via the EIS website at www.eis.org.uk/Coronavirus/NotAtAllCosts