TEACHERS have been increasingly exposed to verbal abuse and relentless contact from parents via social media and emails during lockdown, according to Scotland’s teaching union.

Members of NASUWT warn that teachers are coming under more pressure to provide 24-hour support to their pupils via digital technology, and in some cases have been berated by frustrated parents.

At the union’s conference today, members will call for greater action by schools and national guidance on parental contact.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT general secretary (above), said while parents’ engagement with learning is important in children’s progress, contact between parents and schools must be “proportionate and respectful”.

“Schools need to be absolutely clear about the kind of behaviour expectations that they have both for pupils, but also for parents,” he said. “The response of too many schools when teachers report inappropriate contact or behaviour from parents is to shrug their shoulders and tell teachers to get on with it.”

He added that schools are expected to “take seriously their duty of care to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of staff”.