Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure pupils affected by staff sickness caused by covid-19 receive the support they need to learn.

The Department is focusing on recovering from the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic through an ambitious multi year programme and has made almost £5 billion available for recovery. This funding in education recovery includes £400 million for teacher training opportunities and up to £1.5 billion for tutoring. It also includes nearly £2 billion of direct funding for schools to deliver evidence based interventions based on pupil needs, and over £800 million for additional hours in 16-19 education.

This support is focused on helping the most disadvantaged, vulnerable, or those with least time left in education, wherever they live.

Head teachers are best placed to determine the workforce required to meet the needs of their pupils. In the case of staff absence, in the first instance schools should follow their usual process for covering absences so that they can continue to deliver face to face, high quality education to all pupils.

Some Local Authorities and multi academy trusts operate supply teacher pools, while other schools have found greater efficiency in working with private employment agencies.

Where schools choose to engage private agencies, the Department recommends they use the Agency Supply Framework, which is a commercial deal that supports schools with getting value for money when hiring agency supply teachers and other temporary staff. Further details are available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/deal-for-schools-hiring-supply-teachers-and-agency-workers.