Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has called on school leaders to encourage ex-teachers to “sign up” to help with Covid-19 staff shortages.
In an email to heads, Mr Zahawi said the government was looking at what measures to put in place “to boost supply capacity”, including “offering advice to ex-teachers who are keen to support schools” and helping to register with supply agencies.
However, members of the shadow cabinet and school and college leaders’ union say this advice may be too late and suggest extra precautions, such as ventilation in schools, are necessary to curb the staff shortages.
It comes after Robert Halfon, chair of the Commons Education Select Committee, asked the government why there was not an “army of retired teachers” ready to support schools during the pandemic.
In an urgent question in the House of Commons yesterday (Wednesday 15 December) he said that “despite government assurances, it seems to me we are moving sadly towards de facto school closures”.
In an email to heads today, Mr Zahawi said: “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.”
Mr Zahawi also told school leaders to encourage those in their networks to sign up.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed the government’s focus on staff shortages due to the “very uncertain time” facing schools amid the spread of the Omicron variant.
However, he said it may be too late to help address the situation “which is already critical”.
“The initiative will need to be well publicised, promoted and supported in order to have any degree of success,” said Mr Barton.
“The government does need to do much more in terms of supporting control measures, such as testing and ventilation, in order to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus.”
Stephen Morgan MP, shadow schools minister, called the advice to schools “a sticking plaster” and said much more is needed.
He said: “The government’s failure to get a proper workforce plan in place leaves staff, children and parents relying on goodwill from retired staff and volunteers, many of whom face additional risks themselves.
“Ministers continue to fall short on delivering basic Covid protections in schools. They should adopt Labour’s Christmas vaccine guarantee to ensure all eligible children can get their jab during the holidays.
“Government must also implement proper ventilation measures in schools, open windows and cold classrooms aren’t good enough for our children.”
Bridget Phillipson, shadow education secretary, wrote to Mr Zahawi last week asking him to urge the Department for Health and Social Care to drive up vaccination rates among children, including a campaign to promote vaccinations and access to walk-in clinics.
