edapt

1. Who can subscribe to edapt?

edapt provides support and protection for school teachers and teaching assistants in state schools and independent schools in England and Wales, including supply teachers. We do not currently offer the service to teachers in Scotland or Northern Ireland, or teachers in British schools outside of England and Wales.

We do not currently support school administrative or support staff, however this may be an area we will support in future.  Please register and we will keep you informed.

2. I am a union member, can I subscribe to edapt aswell?

Yes, absolutely, although be aware that instructing edapt may limit the advice a union can give and instructing your union may limit the advice we can give.  We advise you to check the terms of membership of your union, or contact them directly.  Feel free to also contact us on info@edapt.org.uk if you need more information.

We have a range of subscribers: Some are existing union members, some have chosen to leave their union after subscribing to edapt, and some were not a union member in the first place.

3. I am part-time, do you do a reduced rate?

Currently not, we run special offers from time to time which can reduce subscription by upto 50%.  We may introduce tiered pricing for part-time teachers in future, so please get in touch to discuss and if we can be flexible at that time, we will be.

4. As a teacher, am I secure with edapt?

Yes.  As well as the expert legal advice, by subscribing to edapt you will be eligible for up to £50,000 of legal costs per case.  In a legal case we will support you every step of the way, even potentially covering your loss of earnings whilst absent during the proceedings. Click here to see the more information about the terms and conditions.

5. I'm not a subscriber, but I need support.  Can you help?

Like unions, we cannot fully support existing cases and circumstances that arose prior to subscription.  However, we will do all we can to provide assistance to you over the phone or via email.  If you would like support for an existing case, please subscribe first then email support@edapt.org.uk with details.

In any event support will be limited to telephone and email.  We will not be able to assistant you in person.

6. Are you a trade union?

No. edapt is an independent limited company, registered in England: 7830046.  We work according to the Companies Act and English law. We provide a service which includes support and protection for employment in schools, educational policy opportunities and access to our development fund.

7. What is your position on trade unions?

There is undoubtedly a place for trade unions; they are highly valued by many of their members and have been instrumental in the establishment of rights for teachers.  However, we know that there are a significant number of teachers who do not feel their views are represented by their union or would prefer to source legal support elsewehere.  In fact some of our subscribers are also union members.

Teachers told us that the primary reason they join teaching trade unions is for legal support and protection.  Teaching trade unions have many functions in addition to their legal support, including political campaigning.  Edapt does not aim to provide all these additional functions, but focusses on independent legal support when it is needed.

There are a significant number of teachers who are not union members and would like legal support, as well as those who would prefer a choice in sourcing legal support from an alternative type of orgnisation.  Edapt exists to provide that choice.

8. Why are you endorsed by Michael Gove?

Michael Gove MP described us as a "marvellous organisation" in a Spectator interview in Dec '12.  Of course, we'd like to think we are a marvellous organisation, and Michael Gove and any other politician is entitled to say whatever they like about us.  However as an apolitical organisation, we don't ask for endorsements or support from any specific politician - but we can't stop them passing comment good or bad.

We're committed to being apolitical and our primary concern is providing the best level of individual and independent legal advice and support to teachers who choose,  and are choosing,  to subscribe to our service.  If you want to see some endorsements from our teachers then there's some available here.

9. Are you lawyers?

No, we work with selected legal partners to provide legal support, advice and representation.

10. Do you lobby on behalf of teachers?

No, edapt does not have a political agenda.  We do sometimes provide opportunities for individual teachers to contribute to education policy discussions, and work to ensure that a full range of opinions are represented.  See ‘Have your say’ for more information.

11. Do you get involved in industrial action?

No, edapt does not get involved in industrial action.  Nearly 40% of surveyed teachers told us that the right to strike is not important to them.

12. Do you collectively bargain?

No, edapt represents teachers as individuals in each case and does not engage in collective bargaining. 

13. Do you regulate teachers

No, edapt does not regulate the teaching profesion.

14. How are you funded?

As a social enterprise, we aim to maintain sustainability through selling services while keeping the social purpose – the support and protection of teachers – as our core purpose. Initial funding has come from individual entrepreneurs motivated by this social purpose, most of whom are teachers by profession.  We invest 1% of revenues into a development fund, which provides grants for projects that improve professional development for teachers.

15. How are my legal rights affected by signing up to edapt's services?

Industrial action: We are not a trade union, and therefore we do not organise, or take part in, strike action or action short of strike action.  For 38% of teachers surveyed in the LKMco report, the right to industrial action was not important to them.  Should you wish to engage in industrial action we would advise you to join a trade union. 

Employment advice and representation:  Under the Employment Relations Act 1999 (Chapter 26) you have the right to be accompanied in internal disciplinary and grievance hearings by a trade union employee, an official of a trade union or a fellow employee. Evidence suggests that the majority of employees in the UK choose a fellow employee or no accompaniment. 

The ERA 1999 is a minimum legal entitlement and in cases where the head teacher or governing body allows, one of our team will accompany you in meetings and/or hearings.  In all edapt's cases so far we have been able to accompany teachers as schools have recognised that good accompaniment is of benefit to all sides.

In cases where an employer refuses we will advise on a case by case basis and our team of qualified experts and employment lawyers will provide support and advice to ensure you are equipped to have the best outcome.  If your internal hearing may ultimately affect your right to teach in future, through leading to a hearing at the Teaching Agency, we would in most cases be able to accompany you.

16. Can I claim tax back on my subscription?

Not currently, however it can be cheaper overall subscribing to edapt, even after taking into account the tax rebate!  And you won't have to go through the process of claiming it back.

If you have further questions about edapt, please email info@edapt.org.uk