Decision details

That the Long Term Sickness Scheme be renewed for a further three year period.

For a number of years the Local Authority has operated an “in house” Long Term Sickness Scheme for primary and special schools.  This scheme provides an insurance to schools by allowing them to claim for any long term sickness absence following a lead?in period of 15 days.  Schools are then reimbursed for the cost of staff cover for these absences.

In March 2011, following a full consultation exercise with schools, it was agreed that the 2008/09-2010/11 Long Term Sickness Scheme be extended for an additional year.  Schools were then consulted on the possibility of setting up a new scheme to run for a further three year period from 2012/13.  The Long Term Sickness Scheme runs as a ‘mutual’ scheme with all costs being borne by the participating schools, therefore there is no financial cost to the Local Authority other than the administration of the scheme.  In the new scheme, a proportion of the cost of administration of the scheme will be covered by an additional charge to be paid by academies, and academies will need to recognise that reimbursement rates will be based on Local Authority pay scales and will not reflect any changes to pay or terms and conditions that individual academies may make.