Schools are being urged to ask ex-teachers to temporarily return to the classroom to help ease staffing shortages as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads across the country.
In an email to school and college leaders, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi told headteachers they could support an effort to boost the numbers of supply staff by encouraging former employees to “sign up”.
With record-breaking numbers of COVID cases in the UK, there are reports that schools are experiencing very low attendances among staff members as they self-isolate.
Some are also reported to have taken the decision to close early ahead of the Christmas holidays.
Mr Zahawi noted that there was a squeeze on the availability of temporary cover, adding in his email: “We know that in areas with high absence, a particular issue can be the availability of supply staff.
“We want to make sure that as many supply staff as possible are available to schools and colleges.
“That is why we are now looking at what steps and measures we can put in place to boost supply capacity.
“We will work with sector leaders and supply agencies over the coming days to offer advice to ex-teachers who want to provide support to schools and colleges.
“We will help them to register with supply agencies as the best way to boost the temporary workforce available to the sector.
“Senior Department for Education (DfE) officials have already begun to discuss this with key stakeholders.
“From now, you can support this effort by using your own professional and personal networks to encourage others to sign up to offer temporary help.”
Mr Zahawi also informed school and college leaders that the government’s workforce fund would continue until February half-term.
But both education unions and Labour claimed that the DfE’s actions were “a sticking plaster” as they warned of…
Source : skynews
