Official attendance figures published on Tuesday (January 11) are concerning (DfE, 2022). They show that 4.9 per cent of teachers and school leaders – around 25,000 colleagues – were off due to Covid (infections and self-isolation) on January 6.
This is up from three per cent just before Christmas and includes around 20,000 with a confirmed case.
Furthermore, five per cent of teaching assistants and other support staff – around 35,000 colleagues – were also off on January 6 (up from 2.3 per cent pre-Christmas). This includes 27,000 or so (3.9 per cent) with a confirmed case.
Further evidence of the staffing crisis emerged from two snapshot surveys from the NASUWT and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT).
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