Addressing concerns caused by recurrent teacher absences

What was the issue addressed?

We have had to deal with recurrent staff absence which led to the initiation of disciplinary/competency proceeding. Balancing the wellbeing of staff against the needs of the children and the wider school community can be challenging. Dealing with HR and the red tape surrounding teacher competency can be frustrating, particularly when you feel the education of successive cohorts of children is being detrimentally affected.

What happened?

We took guidance from the LA on how to manage procedures effectively to ensure impartiality was maintained and that correct HR processes were observed. We worked with the headteacher to find and maintain a staffing structure and temporary roles to provide the best continuity and security for the children as possible. We supported the headteacher in addressing the concerns of staff and parents and with managing the return to work of the staff member involved.

Knowledge of governors with an educational professional background was useful, particularly around supply cover and contracts, as was knowledge from governors with HR experience. Our clerk to the governing body was also instrumental in making sure correct procedures were followed during meetings, that we remained impartial and that confidentiality was maintained.

What lessons were learnt?

As of the current point in time, the staff member has returned to work and appears to have settled well into a new role. The staff, parents and children seem happier.

Reflections…

Has your school had to apply disciplinary procedures against a teacher for recurrent absences or address a similar problem?  If so, how did the school handle this so as to ensure a good outcome?

What related issues may need to be considered and investigated if a member of staff is frequently off work with sickness or for other reasons?

Have your say…

Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?