Bryan Slater Director of Education	Distribution
	Headteachers of all Norfolk schools

This document needs your action as detailed below:

ACTION	Title	School Workforce Remodelling Support staff structures and job descriptions
	Summary of contents	letter and two sets of structure charts and support staff job descriptions
	Associated documents	MI 212/03, MI 217/03, 244/03, 250/03
	Date	23^rd April, 2004
	Summary of action required	To read the attached letter and, where practicable, take action as detailed.
	To be completed by	As detailed.
	LEA Contact	Your school’s Personnel Consultant or Personnel Assistant Peter Simmonds, Project Leader	(	as previously notified 01603 638092
	E-mail address	peter.simmonds@norfolk.gov.uk virginia.wakely@norfolk.gov.uk
	Norfolk Self Review reference	1. How well is the school led and managed? 2. How well does the school use its resources?
	Document reference	MI 91-04

School Workforce Remodelling

Support staff structures and job descriptions

Further to the training sessions for Headteachers on Remodelling the School Workforce, the review of staff structures, job descriptions and grades has been largely completed. As you know, this follows detailed consultation with Headteacher representatives and Unison, as well as discussions with Teacher Associations.

Structures and job descriptions

The following structure of posts and job descriptions are completed:-

Teaching and Classroom Assistants (General)

Curriculum/Resource support staff

Administrative and Organisational staff.

The following is still subject to further consultations with Headteacher representatives and Unison and particularly for Special schools and LEA Services for schools (e.g. Sensory Support and Psychological Service):-

Teaching and Classroom Assistants (SEN, Behaviour, Guidance).

However, if there are any Primary or Secondary schools that would like to use job descriptions in this structure, then please note that the Scale 1/2 and Scale 3 job descriptions are the same as for the Teaching and Classroom Assistants (General) structure so these can be used. The Scale 4, 5, 6 job descriptions can be used but only

on a provisional basis. The aim is to complete the consultations on this structure in the summer term.

Two full sets of all four structure charts and job description are enclosed and I would suggest that your school support staff should be given access to one set.

The completed structure charts and job descriptions will be incorporated as an Annex to Appendix G, Section 1, of the Schools Personnel Handbook, in Word format. If you require the password for accessing the Handbook on esinet or documents via e-mail, please contact the School Workforce Remodelling Project Officer, Virginia Wakely, on 01603 638092 or via e-mail at virginia.wakely@norfolk.gov.uk.

Although most of the job descriptions are now complete, any further comments would be welcome in terms of omission of whole job descriptions or any amendments and these will be considered early in the Autumn Term 2004.

Review of support staff

As was discussed at the recent round of Headteacher training sessions, there are a number of approaches that could be adopted in reviewing your support staff structures. This could vary from a thorough review of all teaching and support staff structures to making a few changes. The minimum the LEA would advise you to undertake for support staff is to review your support staff job descriptions against the exemplars enclosed and make adjustments to job descriptions and grades where necessary.

However, the extent of progress will need to be balanced against other competing budget demands in this financial year. Schools will need to consider carefully what can be done but carry out the review as soon as is practicable both in terms of your medium term curriculum and organisational needs, your available financial resources and the remodelling programme. Support staff who are trade union members should be encouraged to contact their representatives when implementation is not straightforward.

I would also ask you to reflect on another point that was raised at the Headteacher sessions. Staff should only be required to work to the job description which equates to the grade that they are being paid for. It is realised that some support staff want to work at a higher level than their grade for reasons of eventual advancement or because of loyalty to the pupils and the school. However, the consensus of Heads at the training sessions was that what the Head and school requires of support staff should be made clear in an appropriately graded job description and this was the only fair basis on which to proceed.

Conditions of service for support staff

I should like to remind you that the principle under which most support staff are employed is on the basis that a full-time salary equates to a 37-hour working week and all year round employment. If schools employ support staff for less than this either in terms of hours per week and/or mainly/only term time, then the salary will be a proportion of the full-time salary. Your school’s Personnel Assistant will be able to advise you on the exact salary. However, there are still some staff protected on a 32^1/2 hour working week salary basis and your school’s Personnel Assistant can advise on these individual cases.

Advice and support

Ø If you require advice and support on the application of the new job descriptions in your own specific school situation, you should contact your school’s Personnel Consultant.

Ø For general advice, assistance and support on Remodelling, please contact the Norfolk Project Leader, Peter Simmonds, on 01603 638092 or via e-mail at peter.simmonds@norfolk.gov.uk.

Yours sincerely,

Bryan Slater

Director of Education

Encs: two sets of structure charts and job descriptions as detailed in letter.