Lost PPA

[TheJuggleIsReal]

Hi all,

Just looking for opinions regarding cancelled PPA. We have very tight staffing and no budget for supply staff, which means if the PPA teacher is off (Or someone else is off and the PPA cover teacher needs to be in their class) 50% of our weekly PPA is pulled. I have read the guidance but a lot of it seems to apply to being asked to cover other classes during PPA rather than having to remain in class (primary) due to no cover being available.
We are told repayment of PPA is impossible due to staffing - this does not seem right but they seem to say it comes under the 'unforeseeable circumstances'. Essentially, before I make a fuss does anyone know where we stand on this? We are into our second week of PPA being pulled this half term alone.

Thanks,
Tired and stressed of primary classroom

They're saying they have no budget for supply so must utilise the PPA teacher for short term cover and there will be no cover in the absence of the PPA teacher. Employers generally accept that employees might be absent. So, while they're right that they can't forsee a specific absence, they can't argue that absence itself is an unforeseeable circumstance. It's probably best to raise this but with the support of colleagues and your union.

If you work in a maintained school, you have a contractual right to guaranteed PPA time of at least 10% of your timetabled teaching time.

The cover provisions are relevant because you are being asked to cover. You are covering the person who is timetabled to teach your class at the time that you are timetabled to have your PPA time.

That shouldn’t be necessary. Someone being off sick is hardly an unforeseeable circumstance! And of course any genuine need to cover does not override your right to PPA time, so that should be made up (to at least 10% of timetabled teaching time).

It doesn’t sound like the school has a leg to stand on and you should definitely ask your union to take it up with the head.

If you work in an Academy your contractual rights might well be different. If so, the above might not apply.

When it adds up to one full day, call in sick.

Thank you for these replies, they are very helpful it was I thought that would be the case but I was doubting myself as the response from SLT, who are also teaching, is always essentially we are all in the same boat and theres nothing that can be done. We are a maintained school rather than academy.

We have a similar set-up in my school: if there is absence elsewhere, PPA cover is needed to teach classes with no teacher. When that happens, we are asked to choose a morning to be out of class when our regular TA is able to cover for us.

As long as you accept it, it will continue to happen.

SLT are paid extra money to slove these problems. Do they get leadership.time?