After school clubs and sporting activities can resume after more than a year.

The move came after the NASUWT teaching union agreed to put its industrial action on hold.

Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson said there would be a phased return of lunchtime and after school activities.

He said: ’The NASUWT have suspended their action short of strike and are engaging with the other education unions in discussions with the Department for Education, Sport and Culture on a range of policy issues, workload issues and remuneration.

’Head teachers are actively working with their staff and union representatives to enable the staged resumption of after school activities and lunchtime activities whilst recognising the contribution teachers make to enhancing their students’ education.’

Teachers in the island began industrial action short of a strike back in January last year in a dispute over pay and conditions.

The NASUWT’s action targeted activities which it said were ’unnecessarily driving up teachers’ workloads and diverting them from focusing on their core role of teaching and managing pupils’ learning.’

This included after schoolsclubs and sporting events.

The various unions suspended their action during the last lockdown when schools were closed except for vulnerable children and those of keyworkers.

Three other unions, the NAHT, NEU and ASCL, have voted in support of a pay offer from the DESC.

But the deal has been rejected by the NASUWT, the island’s largest teaching union, whose general secretary Dr Patrick Roach described it as ’derisory and unacceptable’.

Last month, however, the union said it was suspending its industrial action while talks continue with the DESC over members’ pay, conditions and workload.

The NASUWT has 476 members in the state schools and 47 at University College Isle of Man.

It says the DESC offer addressed school heads’ concerns over 2018-19’s differential pay award.

But it said in contrast, its trade dispute was about historical pay erosion, conditions of services and pensions.

The government’s pay offer includes a one-off lump sum of £2,850 for senior leaders and £1,850 for those on the upper pay range. This will be funded by £1.5m of new money.

NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: ’While our members remain concerned about pay and workload, they also remain committed to doing everything possible to support pupils’ education during the pandemic.

’They have also expressed commitment to supporting ongoing discussions between the union and the DESC.’