NUTBucks

Monday, June 12, 2006

PLANNING PREPARATION ASSESSMENT

PPA,

All teachers employed under School Teachers Pay and Conditions are legally entitled to a minimum of 10% PPA time. This must be provided in units of not less than half an hour and should take place during the taught pupil day - not during play time, assembly etc. Part time teachers are included in this entitlement.

A teacher teaching for 10 hours a week is entitled to 1 hour for PPA. Teaching for 22 hours entitles a teacher to a minimum of 2.2 hours. (2 hours 12 minutes) PPA should be a regular weekly entitlement and should be clearly indicated on the timetable. Teachers cannot be required to do cover during PPA time. It is down to the individual teacher to decide how to use the time and they cannot be directed to carry out set tasks, or attend meetings during PPA time. Where PPA is carried out is down to discretion of the Head Teacher. In many Primary Schools there are no suitable work spaces or access tothe internet so many Head teachers allow teachers to work off site.

Teachers employed to teach covering PPA time are similarly entitled to a minimum of 10% for their own PPA.

Part time teachers should not be treated less favourably than full time teachers.

PPA is a guaranteed entitlement of teachers to a minimum of 10 percent of the timetable as time to plan, prepare and assess (PPA). The NUT will support members where:
* PPA is not provided for teachers or is provided at less than the guaranteed proportion of timetable;
or
* the arrangements to provide PPA use, in ways that are not acceptable, persons who are not qualified to teach.

Contact your local NUT secretary if there are difficukties in your school over PPA.