Joint Consultative Committee (teachers) - 13/11/2001

At a MEETING of the JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE TEACHERS held at Dundee on 13th November, 2001.

Present:-

Councillors

Representing Management

Representing Trade Unions

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Lord Provost John LETFORD.

Councillor George de GERNIER in the Chair

I NEW MEMBER

The Convener welcomed Kevin Nolan from the EIS to his first JCC meeting.

II MINUTE OF MEETING HELD ON 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2001

The minute of the meeting held on 13th September, 2001 was received as a correct record after amendments to Item III were agreed as follows:-

Item III - Update on School Security Arrangements - Second sentence; amend to read:

"Following comment from the Trade Unions, the Committee agreed that the report did not provide the information which the Committee had sought on an assessment of the adequacy of those arrangements."

Sixth sentence (fourth paragraph); amend to read:

"It was agreed that consideration should be given to widening the reporting of violent incidents to include incidences of breaches of school security."

III MATTERS ARISING

(i) SCHOOL SECURITY

The Director of Education informed the Committee that the report on school security was not available for this meeting as the officer responsible was absent due to ill health however the Director reiterated that work on the report is ongoing and would be available for the next scheduled meeting.

After discussion, it was agreed that if necessary, a special JCC would be held in January/February 2002 to discuss this matter further.

IV SUPPORTING PUPILS WITH SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DIFFICULTIES

The Trade Unions felt that the report will fail to deliver what is required in dealing with pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and that the proposals should have been piloted before implementation. It was alleged that despite assurances on training and individual consideration of preferences of staff as to where they might like to work when the new proposals have been implemented appeared not to have happened.

The Convener appreciated the concerns raised but hoped that a spirit of co-operation could be gained from all those concerned. Jim Collins stated that, through consultation, a range of proposals had been agreed that would implement far reaching changes in dealing with children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Each child would be dealt with individually and this will be done in a manner that is conducive to each pupil. It is intended to thoroughly review the system after twelve months of operation.

The Trade Unions suggested a delay in implementing changes until further discussion/consultation can take place. The Department reiterated again that full and open consultation had been undertaken.

The Convener agreed that this is a complex problem to deal with and that offsite provision should be included in the report. It is a growing problem that required to be addressed and that the report is a positive way forward.

V DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, 19th March, 2002 at 9.15 am in Committee Room 3, 14 City Square, Dundee.