Created on: 03 Aug 2021
If I need to self-isolate due to Covid-19 do I get access to sick pay?
I have been issued with a “cause for concern” and I don’t know why, who should I speak to and when?
I am having an issue with my school mentor, what should I do?
As a probationer on the flexible route, will I still be invited to local authority meetings?
There is an issue with social distancing in my school, what should I do?
I am feeling overwhelmed with workload /responsibilities, what should I do?
I am a primary school probationer and I have been given four classes to teach is this ok?
What kind of support would be provided to a probationer if they are bullied by a pupil?
What are the GTCS professional standards and how do they apply to my professional conduct.
1. If I need to self-isolate due to Covid-19 do I get access to sick pay?
Self-isolation for COVID symptoms is covered as an absence under SNCT, so you would receive sick pay if you are isolating due to your own symptoms or if you have been in contact with someone with Covid-19, eg notified by Test & Protect.
If you have to isolate because of someone in your home, then there should be some consideration within LNCT with regards to this. Contact your LA Secretary for more information on this.
2. What happens if you are a probationer supply teacher doing day to day cover in different schools and you get sick with Covid-19 or asked to self-isolate for a period? Will you still get a sick pay even without having a contract?
This is a similar situation as if you are in a school permanently. You should be paid for the days you would have been in school.
3. I have been issued with a “cause for concern” and I don’t know why, who should I speak to and when?
You should always know why you have been issued a “cause for concern”. There should be a communication process in place. They should not be a surprise. Contact your school rep or your LA secretary who will be able to support you in this.
4. I am having an issue with my school mentor, what should I do?
Speak to the principal teacher first if you can. Speak to the probationer support team at the local authority setting out the issues and how you are feeling about them.
Speak to your rep for support if you have one and if you do not have a rep then contact your Local Association Secretary. The workplace rep and LA Secretary can represent probationers in meetings where needs be.
5. As a probationer on the flexible route, will I still be invited to local authority meetings?
You have different entitlements with regards to time out of school. Check with your school rep or LA Secretary about what agreements are in place locally.
Make sure that your local authority knows that you are on the flexible route as well as the head in any school you work in to make sure that they know of the support they need to provide and can complete reports accordingly.
6. How long does free EIS membership last?
Probationers that did not join as student members can still join the EIS as full members. EIS membership continues to be FREE for up to 16 months from the start of your probation.
At the end of your free period of membership a further discount of 50% will be available for 9 months for those who complete a direct debit mandate prior to the end of their free period of membership.
No payment will be requested until the free period of membership has expired and we will write to you beforehand to advise you of the subscription payable.
The EIS is the largest and most influential teachers’ organisation in Scotland. With around 60,000 members it is the union of choice for over 80% of the profession.
7. There is an issue with social distancing in my school, what should I do?
When you started, you should have been issued with a copy if the schools risk assessment that outline exactly what the health and safety measures are. Public Health measures apply in school as they do outside, and you should be maintaining 2m social distancing from pupils and should not exceed 15 minutes accumulative within two metres throughout the teaching time.
If there are real breaches of this 2m distance mitigation, then you should speak to your EIS Rep in the first instance as soon as possible. If you do not have a Rep then speak to the PT or a member of senior management and get this recorded.
If you still feel that you are not getting a response you can contact your local association secretary.
8. Can my mentor or another Senior Manager in my school pop into my lessons, sit down and observe without giving me notice or telling me what they are looking at?
No, they cannot. As a probationer you will have an agreed number of observations that have to be done throughout the year and these are planned. You should sit down with your mentor and plan what aspects will be observed and when these take place. There will be an agreed number before your interim report in December then another agreed number before your final report.
You may be asked to schedule additional observations if you are issued with a cause for concern, but these will be discussed in advance and planned accordingly. If you need more advice speak to your mentor or your EIS Rep as soon as an issue arises.
9. I am feeling overwhelmed with workload /responsibilities, what should I do?
You should be having weekly meetings with your mentor so use this time to discuss all aspects of how your year is progressing. do not sit on feelings of stress in case they escalate, flag this up as soon possible. Your mentor is always the first person to chat to, but you can also reach out to your EIS Rep in your school.
10. I am a primary school probationer and I have been given four classes to teach is this ok?
No, this should not be happening. You should have one class where you will be for point eight of the time and the classroom teacher should be with you for the rest of the week. As the year goes on and you grow in confidence then you may get to Christmas and beyond Easter and decide that you want to be solely responsible for the class.
As a probationer you should certainly not be taking non class contact time for other teachers or be split across a variety of classes. If this is happening speak to your mentor or your EIS Rep for support.
11. What kind of support would be provided to a probationer if they are bullied by a pupil?
Speak to your mentor to find out what the reporting procedure is in the school and follow this. Follow the reporting procedure for violent and aggressive incidents. Note on the form that you are a member of the EIS.
Make sure that this is on the agenda for your next probationer- mentor meeting.
Speak to your school rep if you do not feel you are getting enough support. If you do not have a school rep, contact your LA secretary. The EIS website has a bank of resources on dealing with difficult and disruptive pupils.
12. What are the GTCS professional standards and how do they apply to my professional conduct.
Teaching is a professional job, therefore, always conduct yourself in a professional manner throughout the school day.
Outside of school it is best to prepare yourself that people in the community will know that you are a –teacher, therefore it is prudent to conduct yourself as a role-model, make your social media profiles private, not share any content that may show you in a bad light and never seek or accept friend requests pupils or parents.
The GTCS Code of Professionalism and Conduct (CoPaC) applies to both your work and private life.