Mr B Slater

01603 223300

Dear Headteacher

Following my earlier letter concerning the difficulties that schools are facing in relation to the availability of supply teachers, I am now pleased to be in a position to announce the introduction of an enhanced provision from Education Personnel Services.

As outlined previously, this service will operate to support schools needing supply teachers, but having exhausted their normal sources of recruitment.

The service will operate in the following manner. Education Personnel staff will provide additional telephone cover from 7.00 am to 9.00 am each weekday morning and from 5.30 pm until 8.30 pm each weekday evening. On Sundays, telephone cover will be provided from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm.

Schools wishing for help in finding supply teachers can call on (01603) 222313 anytime, either during office hours, or at the times detailed above, letting us know their requirements.

The revised hours of operation will mean that, as well as providing greater availability for schools seeking help, there is more likelihood of contacting supply teachers in the early morning or early evening.

As indicated earlier, it will be necessary to introduce a charge for this service to cover the additional costs incurred.

There will be an initial £15 charge made for undertaking the search on behalf of schools.

If the search is unsuccessful no further fee would be made. However, if the search was successful, an additional fee of £25 would be levied.

It is hoped that this additional support will remove from Headteachers the burden of making numerous telephone calls to find supply cover.

This service will come into operation immediately after half term i.e. from 5.00 p.m. on Sunday 25th February, and run on a pilot basis until the end of the Spring Term. It would be greatly appreciated if staff operating the service could be contacted as early as possible when the need for cover becomes apparent.

At that time an evaluation will be made of the effectiveness of the service, and the take-up by schools, before decisions are made as to its viability in the longer term.

I hope that this enhanced provision will be seen as a positive move to help schools at this difficult time for teacher recruitment.

If you have any queries about this service please contact any of the following people in EPS:-

Glynis Ballard (01603) 222522

James Myhill (01603) 222363

Jane Mortimer (01603) 222313

 Yours sincerely