Each year 2.7 million teaching days are lost through sickness and unauthorised absences. Last year 2,500 teachers took early retirement on grounds of ill health. An average secondary school with an average number of absences could face annual supply teacher costs of up to £150,000. Nationally, the cost is about £300 million of tax payers’ monies. More importantly, classes are disrupted, work programmes interrupted and the remaining staff are overloaded with additional workloads.
More than half of teachers took almost two weeks’ worth of sick leave last year citing stress, workload and pupil behaviour.
So what can be done to boost attendance?
And how do you sort the ill from the ill-intentioned?
Now I'm not a Teacher (and never have been), but I have managed over 300 staff and I know from experience that sometimes a small investment, on your part, can have a massive impact. I have offered a few suggestions below, but I'm sure many of you reading this can offer a lot more to this list.
Free Tea, Coffee and Water in the staffroom
Dedicating times when any sports facilities can be devoted to staff use
Start the day with staff t'ai chi or yoga
Set budgets for hiring supply teachers, with any unspent budgets used to incentivise staff attendance
Staff can take a "Family day" of paid leave, which allows them to attend family events or attend to family business
Seek out colleagues and tell them how well they have done
Invest in CPD. Pour your funding into training your colleagues to be the best they can be
Root out malingerers – (and there's little room for sentiment)
Use the LEA Well-Being Coordinators to full advantage
Encourage moments when staff unite in celebration
Remember you won't ever get it all right when it comes to looking after colleagues and you can only try your best in these austere times!
I would be remiss not to mention that my previous employers are notorious for their Staff Well-being and CPD; for all the right reasons! Our company specialise in ensuring the Well-being of both Colleagues and Students alike. Building emotional resilience, promoting mindfulness, providing sustainable methods to manage stress and anxiety at the same time as building staff cohesion and having FUN!
I wish you all well and good luck with your attainment levels this year!
Grant Stanley 2019
www.grantstanley.co.uk
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