The legal and contractual position relating to cover for absent colleagues is set out in TNC 2024-2 Workload Agreemeent.pdf
The key points of this agreement can be summarised as:
- The legal and contractual position regarding cover is set out in sections 6 and 7 of TNC 2024-2 Workload Agreemeent.pdf
- Cover must not place a teacher in breach of 23.5 / 25 hours contact time.
- Should be distributed fairly and equitably.
- All schools MUST have a ‘Cover Policy’ in place and available to staff - sample copy available in TNC 2024-2 Workload Agreemeent.pdf
- Cover must be accounted for within an agreed directed time budget and individual teacher timetable as provided at the beginning of any given academic year.
- Should comply with the Teachers’ (Terms and Conditions of employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, as amended by the Teachers’ (Terms and Conditions of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988.
- INTO take the view that the use of cover should be limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am a primary school teacher. Do I have to provide cover for colleagues who are given time out for planning or other duties?
Full time teachers in primary schools can be required to teach up to 25 hours per week. This includes registration, your class time and cover for absent colleagues. Work should be shared equitably.
Therefore, cover for colleagues to carry out planning and other activities is permissible within the 25 hours maximum teaching time that you can be required to teach.
Can I be used for cover when my exam classes are on study leave?
Any allocation of cover, at any time of the school year and in all circumstances, must be compliant with the Teachers’ (Terms and Conditions of employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, as amended by the Teachers’ (Terms and Conditions of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 and with the Workload Agreement TNC 2024/2
It is reasonable to be asked to cover for absent colleagues instead of teaching your normal timetabled classes, however, as well as a requirement for legal and contractual compliance, any cover should also be allocated fairly and equitably.
