Staff shortage plan
Akureyri has a plan for when staff ratio in schools isn‘t met. Meaning, number of children is too high in comparison to number of staff. The purpose of this policy is to ensure safety of children and also the safety of staff members. If circumstanses make it so that many personnel cannot come to work and supervisor deems the situation so that the safety of children cannot be ensured they‘ll have to take action.
Reasons for schools being understaffed can be various but few of the reasons are:
- Illness of a staff member
- Illness of a family member
- School closing because of an epidemic
Actions:
In some cases supervisors have to decide to send children home from school and will use the following number-of-children-per-staff-member-criteria. Akureyrarbær made this criteria when they made their financial plans for the schools. The number of children that will be sent home is based on how many staff members are in house, it is also based on the childrens age. The number-of-children-per-staff-member-criteria is:
Children 1-2 years old: 4 children per staff member (4:1)
Children 2 years old: 5 children per staff member (5:1)
Children 3 years old: 6 children per staff member (6:1)
Children 4 years old: 8 children per staff member (8:1)
Children 5 years old: 10 children per staff member (10:1)
Communications with parents:
Every parent that will have to take their child/ren home will be called. If they do not answer a message will be sent through Karellen. Head teacher or their substitute will make those calls.
We will try to ask parents to take siblings home on the same day.
Communications with the Department of Education at Akureyrarbær:
Head teacher or their substitute will make sure to be in contact with the Department of Education to report the action.
