ha anyone on here got and professional knowledge of the ins and outs of redundancy please ?
I have been told this week that my job is one of a number of cutbacks that are happening due to a restructuring. Actually date will not be until the next academic year so have about 6 months pay plus a small amount of redundancy pay ( tbc) and probably the option to take my small pension as I am over 55 and under the termsof the local council pension scheme that should be the case.
I am going to take advice from the union and have no reason to believe the school are not doing it all correctly but there are one or two things that I am unsure about and would be interested to pick someones brains
thank you

Contact ACAS. You can either search their website for many Questions and Answers or phone them on; 08457 474747. I was made redundant last July and I used ACAS for independant advice on all my questions that I needed to ask, all of which was given free of charge. You will not be left guessing what next! or is that actually right! But you will get actual facts and good independant free advice! GOOD LUCK :)

Thanks wee man I had completley forgotten about ACAS will get on to that on monday. How useful  that it is halfterm next week 

If you are a teacher, your NUT rep will be the best person to know of your entitlements. A horrid situation  for you. I hope it turns out for the best.

Yes will get 1 2 1 meeting with union next week. I am actually feeling quite relaxed about it althouigh difficult financially it is time to look at other challenges so has given me kick I need

take the pension it will be useful and it wont stop you getting another job should you wish to, I got made redundant from local government a few years ago, just before they increased the pensionable age from 50 to 55 so I got my pension and it's meant I could take a low paid job to pay my bills, as most of the equivalent jobs were also lost...

I have been on both ends of  redundancy procedures so ask away if you have any questions. I take it you've been told the post is at risk--you should have a 90 day consultation period if more than 20 staff are involved.

furriefriends. Please only contact and take the advice of ACAS. I see that we are already getting conflicting information here.
"Consultation should begin in good time and must begin; at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes place if between 20 - 99 are to be made redundant at one establishment over a period of 90 days"       !!
My company made 70+ redundant and we had a 30 day consultation period, we were all made redundant at togeather at the shortest time allowed which was the 30 days.

yes so far I have no concerns that things are being done other than correctly and I will take the redundancy and small pension but do have other questions and will ring acas .As you say its easy to get conflicting advice abd that is allready happening between colleagues
thank you for your advice

As Weeman says use ACAS  You can download the relevant stuff from their website  and take it along with you
Even the unions dont always get things right as I know from experience

Had email from HR I understand what they are saying but not happy. They are implying that I could be offered a job of less days on same grade or job of lower grade ( protected for  a year ) of more days. Neither scenarios will suit me. So now concerned that I may have to accept something and if I say no I wont get redundancy which is better for me.
Have meeting with unions but will double check with ACAS . Now this is getting stressful :(