Minimum Service Levels in schools consultation

The government has launched a consultation to introduce new protections for children and young people’s education during any future strike action.

Minimum service levels will ensure that in the event of any future strike action, children and young people can continue to receive education and do not miss out on any vital learning. The legislation would bring this country in line with countries like France, Italy and Spain where public services reliably continue in times of industrial action.

The consultation invites views on a number of proposals. These include priority attendance for vulnerable children and young people, exam groups, children of critical workers and primary school pupils, as well as the use of rotas for strikes lasting five days or more. The consultation closes on 30^th January 2024.

While talks with the education unions were reported as constructive, not enough progress was made to ensure protections for children and young people would be in place for the next academic year. The government has therefore taken the step to open the nine-week consultation to hear the views of parents, young people and the education sector on how best to ensure minimum service levels in schools, colleges as well higher education institutions to ensure the groups who need face-to-face education the most can continue to access education on strike days.