Please can all staff refer to Kirsty’s email with regards to adding a current/favourite book to their email signature.   Although it’s a small thing, it helps to show our students reading role models from all across the school and continues to promote reading as being at the forefront of everything we do.

Ros’ brother has set up a memorial fundraiser for Pancreatic Cancer UK, please see the below link:

Just Giving Page

Support Staff Local Government Pay Award 2024 – Agreement Reached

The National Joint Council and representative trade unions have reached an agreement on the level of the local government pay award for 2024.

Effective from 1 April 2024
• An increase of £1,290 (pro-rata for part-time employees) up to point 43

The new rates, along with arrears from 01 April 2024, will be implemented as per the following schedule:-

KM (Monthly payroll) – pay day 13.12.2024

NB. In order to process the pay award in time for December pay across multiple payrolls, the changes to pay details are being made over the next few days. This means unfortunately due to time constraints we are unable to make arrangements to stagger the backpay.

Negotiations at a national level should now commence for the 2025 pay award, which should be applicable from 01 April 2025. Further details of the 2025 negotiations will be issued in due course.

Teachers Pay Award 2024 Update

The timescales for the STPCD 2024 to become final are as follows;

18 October 2024: STPCD 2024 Teachers Pay Order was laid in Parliament
18 October – 8 November 2024: 21-day praying period (this allows MPs to raise any objections on the Teachers’ Pay Order)
8 November 2024: the Praying period ends in Parliament, which is the formal end of the process

Once the formal process has ceased and the Pay Order comes into force, a revised Teachers Pay Policy will be circulated via Governor Services for schools to adopt with details of when all uplifts will be applied to salaries, backdated to 01 September 2024.

**update ** Hopefully January 2025 pay for Teaching Staff

Some further positive feedback from a colleague who has used our new SAS wellbeing – GP consultation service.

A timely video appointment and prescription were received through SAS before an appointment would have been secured with the colleague’s usual GP practice.

Please do note however that if you are usually exempt from paying prescriptions, through the SAS GP you do have to pay for prescriptions.

Wellbeing newsletter EHC Nov 2024

School employees who qualify, can access Specsavers VDU Eyecare Scheme which includes a free eye examination. A designated DSE user for work purposes would be someone who, for example normally use DSE for continuous or near-continuous spells of an hour or more at a time; and use DSE in this way more or less daily; and have to transfer information quickly to or from the DSE.

A VDU voucher will be issued to you by Employee Healthcare (either by email or via the post). All you need to do is book your eye examination with your chosen Specsavers optician and let Lindsay know so that a referral can be done for a voucher.  **Please book your appointment a few weeks ahead to allow time for the referral to be processed**

You can find your nearest Specsavers optician by telephoning the following freephone number 0800 0680 241 which will also give you the option to be put through to your chosen store. You can also find your nearest store by visiting the Specsavers website and there is the option to book your appointment online.

With over 800 Specsavers opticians it is easy to find a location close to your home or work.

When you go for your eye examination you simply need to present the voucher to the store staff at the beginning of the process or show them the voucher on your smart device.

Entitlements with the VDU e Voucher
The voucher entitles you to a full examination at any Specsavers store.

If you are found to require glasses solely and specifically for VDU use you will then be entitled to a pair of single vision glasses from the £49 range. If you wish, you can upgrade to a higher price range and use the voucher as a £49 contribution towards a pair of glasses.

Any employee requiring glasses whether for VDU use, or for any other reason, is entitled to use the Premium Club element of the voucher. This entitles you to £20 off a pair of glasses if chosen from the £99 range or above in store. This discount applies to most in-store offers, such as the 2 for 1 offer, but it cannot be used in conjunction with over 60s discount, the student discount, the sale, contact lenses or easycare.

Importance of eye examinations
An eye examination is a vital health check for your eyes because it can pick up early signs of eye conditions before you are even aware of any symptoms. And it is not just eyes, other health issues can be identified during an eye examination including: diabetes, high cholesterol, glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration.

(Huddersfield Specsavers 01484 544566 / Dewsbury Specsavers 01924 469565).

Reminder to please park considerately in the school car parks; we’ve had reports of cars being scuffed by the opening of doors onto other staff vehicles.

All school staff can now apply for a blue light card.  https://www.bluelightcard.co.uk/index.php

We’re home of a range of official discounts from large national retailers to local businesses in a wide range of categories including holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones and much more!

Due to the incredible response in opening Blue Light Card up to the teaching community, we have temporarily paused sign-ups. Please join our waiting list to secure your spot, and we’ll notify you as soon as registrations reopen. We’re excited to have you join the Blue Light Card community soon!

Pension Awareness Week is an annual five-day engagement event, aiming to empower members to better understand and value their pension, and help them plan for their financial future.

Looking towards retirement is an important part of financial planning, and starting to save as early as possible can help you get ahead of the curve. This Pension Awareness Week, take the time to understand both the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and how additional benefits can help keep pensions on your radar this September and beyond.

Pension awareness is vital for helping people who want to achieve a secure retirement. By understanding your TPS and LGPS benefits and breaking down common myths, you can be one step closer to a financially stable future. Start focusing on your pension today – your future self will thank you for it!

Throughout this week, Teachers’ Pensions, West Yorkshire Pension Fund and My Money Matters are running a series of webinars to aid employees in a getting a better understanding of how their pension scheme works and options to save for a better retirement.

Book onto one of the webinars taking place week commencing 9th September:

Local Government Pension Scheme members

My Money Matters – My Money Matters (my-money-matters.co.uk)

West Yorkshire Pension Fund –PAD24 (wypf.org.uk)

Teachers’ Pension Scheme members

Member Presentations – Booking by Bookwhen