Professional Guidance: Review of Teaching Staff Leave Policy
- Published: 10 January 2024
At the start of the new calendar year, it is timely that all school Boards of Management and School Staff consult on a review or the development of a new Leave Policy in preparation for 2024 applications.
This highly important school policy is governed by the regulations and procedures set out in circular 0054/2019, which covers all types of leave available to teaching staff with approved contracts. Employers - or Boards of Management - are charged with implementing the said regulations and procedures and, along with teachers, must agree to the terms and conditions as stated within the circular.
Many types of leave are covered within the policy, including Sick Leave, Maternity Leave, Adoptive Leave, Paternity Leave, Parental Leave, Carers’ Leave, Career-Break, Job-Sharing and the Temporary Re-Assignment Scheme.
Each Board of Management must develop and maintain a policy on teacher leave. The welfare and education of the pupils must take precedence over all other considerations.
Due regard must be given by the school Board to the capacity of the school to meet its obligations to its pupils. Therefore, it may apply a limit to the number of teaching staff that may avail of leave - career-break and job-sharing in particular - at any one time. This must be considered in the context of the availability of qualified teachers as a teacher supply crisis continues.
Important dates:
- Applications by Feb 1st
- Board written decision no later than March 1st
- Applications can be withdrawn by April 14th.
A Board decision is final. A refusal decision must include grounds for refusal.
