Consultation on the new School Support Staff Negotiating Body
Following last week’s update on the Employment Rights Bill, the government consultation on the re-introduction of the new School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) is now open.
The Employment Rights Bill will implement the new SSSNB. We encourage school leaders and senior staff within schools and academy trusts to actively participate in the consultation process. Your insights and expertise are vital and could greatly influence the shaping of the SSSNB.
Background and purpose of the SSSNB
Since the abolition of the SSSNB back in 2010, there has been no dedicated national body to negotiate the employment terms of support staff who are employed in state funded schools.
Most school support staff are employed on NJC “Green Book” terms and conditions and negotiations for pay and conditions are currently handled at the local level with significant variation across different regions.
Once the SSSNB is operational, it will be tasked with negotiating aspects such as pay, working hours, and other employment conditions for school support staff. The SSSNB will be responsible for negotiating on behalf of support staff working in all state funded schools, including academies.
The government says that, by focusing exclusively on school support staff, the SSSNB will be better able to respond to the specific needs of the sector.
Consultation process
The consultation invites feedback from various stakeholders, including educational institutions, local authorities and unions. The government is seeking to gather evidence and views on the following:
1. How to define 'school support staff' – to confirm which staff are within the SSSNB's remit.
2. Current pay and conditions arrangements.
3. Whether to include agency workers in the scope of the SSSNB in future legislation
How to participate
Schools and academies can participate in the consultation by accessing the details and submission guidelines on the DfE website.
The consultation is open for responses until 18th July 2025 and can be accessed here: Setting up the SSSNB - Department for Education - Citizen Space
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