This guidance should be read in conjunction with NASUWT’s guidance on class sizes, which can be found on class sizes on our health and safety guidance and guidance from an education perspective.

Determining what is a safe staffing level is a complex decision comprising of many factors, including the physical environment, the activities being undertaken, the nature of the pupils, such as age, ability, SEND needs, etc., safeguarding requirements, numbers of first-aiders and the weather conditions.

What constitutes a safe staffing level will be determined by undertaking a comprehensive risk assessment of the factors described above and any other relevant factors.

For the school site, it will be the responsibility of school leaders to determine minimum staffing levels, having consulted their health and safety adviser as appropriate.

Where safe staffing levels cannot be maintained, other control measures will need to be employed, such as sending pupils or groups of pupils home. Under no circumstances should schools continue to operate as normal if minimum staffing levels cannot be maintained.

In addition, cover for absent teachers should not breach the relevant contractual provisions, such as ‘rarely cover’ in England and Wales. Further details can be found on our Cover (England) and Cover (Wales) pages.

In particular, school leaders will have to consider the impact of adverse weather events, taking into account local circumstance. For example, a rural school is likely to be impacted by snowfall to a greater degree than an urban one.

Local circumstances could also impact in ways unrelated to weather. For example, if many staff travel to work via motorway and accident/closure could lead to attendance issues.

All schools should have a business continuity plan in place that has been consulted on with trade unions and addresses such issues.

It should also be remembered that minimum staffing levels do not necessarily mean minimum teacher levels. Provided support staff are not asked to work outside their contract, they can be part of any minimum staffing level.

If any NASUWT member has concerns regarding the staffing levels in their school/college, they should raise this with your NASUWT Representative or school/college leader in the first instance.

If your concerns are not addressed, contact NASUWT for further advice.