Advise for teachers from Musicians Union:

Teaching is often a major part of any musicians’ portfolio career. Instrumental teaching in schools has changed enormously with government initiatives such as Wider Opportunities - which entitles all Key Stage 2 children to learn a musical instrument in school - and the Music Manifesto reports. Instrumental teachers increasingly have to teach large groups and support classroom teachers in delivering elements of the National Curriculum.

The life of an instrumental teacher can be somewhat maligned. It is often an isolated profession, even if working for a music service, the pay and conditions are sometimes poor and the rooms where teaching is expected to take place can be inadequate. Instrumental teachers working with individual or small groups of pupils are also vulnerable to their actions being misinterpreted or even to malicious allegations.

The MU is developing its support services to instrumental teachers in the hope of raising these issues to the relevant authorities. The MU is the recognised union for instrumental teachers by all three of the main teaching unions; namely the NUT, the ATL and the NASAWT.

Whatever teaching you do make sure you have a contract with the local authority, school, parents etc. Use the standard MU contacts if you are not offered an alternative.

Remember we are here to support and advise you as teachers. Contact your Regional Office or Diane Baxter, National Organiser for Live Performance and Teaching at diane.baxter@musiciansunion.org.uk for more information.

The fact sheets that are available include:

■    Professional Advice to Instrumental Teachers

■    Health and Safety Advice to Instrumental Teachers

■    Instrumental Teachers and the Disclosure register

The services the MU offers to its teaching members include:

■ An arrangement with an umbrella organisation to provide CRB disclosure

■ Continual Professional Development training

■ Child protection training

■ A teaching diploma

■ A teaching section on the website

■ A ‘find an instrumental teacher’ service on the website

■ Support material including lesson plans & practice diaries

■ Teaching contracts for private teaching and teaching in independent/maintained schools.

Advice to teachers

Instrumental teachers working with individual or small groups of pupils may find themselves in vulnerable situations where their professional conduct is questioned. The following advice will hopefully avoid such situations.

Physical contact with pupils

Any physical contact with pupils can be potentially subject to misinterpretation or even malicious allegations. The best advice for instrumental teachers is to avoid physical contact with their pupils altogether.

Telephone contact

Be aware of the issues when exchanging mobile phone numbers with your pupils. Texting, phoning, emailing, instant messaging with pupils for any other reason except to organise a lesson is to be avoided. Do not develop a social relationship with your pupil.

Appropriate language

Refrain from making unnecessary comments to and about pupils. Refrain from using insensitive or disparaging remarks which could be misinterpreted.

Child protection

If a pupil shares any information with you regarding bullying, abuse, personal problems or you suspect such problems, then you should report this to the school, parent/guardian or relevant authority at your earliest opportunity. You should not try and resolve the problem yourself.

Transport

Lifts in a teacher’s car should only be given with the express approval of the parent/guardian.

Violent or disruptive pupils

If a teacher feels their professional or personal safety is at risk, then inform a member of staff at the school. Teachers are authorised to use reasonable force to control or restrain pupils as clarified by the DfES circular 10/98.

Procedures and training

All teachers should have access to accepted policy within the school regarding Child Protection, Special Educational Needs and dealing with difficult pupils. Contact the Regional Office regarding training in these areas.

Be professional

Approach your teaching as a professional and remember you are the responsible adult. If an incident happens in the lesson report it immediately to the school or the parent/guardian. If any allegation is made against you then contact the Regional Office immediately for advice and support.

Teaching contracts

There are two standard contracts, T1 Private teaching and T2 Teaching in independent/maintained schools, that are specially designed for use in almost all teaching engagements. For your information these documents are available in printed format from your MU Regional Office. Remember that if you don’t have a written contract you will find it hard to recover any unpaid fees