Plans to scrap financial support for schools to cover staff sickness absence have been condemned by school leadership union NAHT Cymru.

Some councils have told school leaders in Wales that from October 1 they can no longer claim from the Local Government Hardship Fund to pay for cover when staff are off sick due to Covid-19. The fund was set up by the Welsh government to cover a host of covid-related costs.

Laura Doel, director of school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru, said: “Schools have been close to buckling under financial pressures of Covid and more than a decade of austerity; they can’t absorb the cost of staff cover from existing budgets. There seems to be confusion between the LAs and the Welsh Government over the situation and we are urgently seeking clarification.

“Before the start of this term we aired our concerns to the Welsh Government about the contradictory and confusing framework for schools on Covid mitigation measures. We warned that a ‘business as usual’ approach was wishful thinking, and this has been proved by the rising number of cases in schools. The Welsh government hoped for the best but without a workable plan for rapidly reinstating safety measures when needed. School leaders feel that it is this approach that has contributed to staff absence and the need for cover staff is a problem of the government’s own making.

“But to remove the funding would add insult to injury.

“If the Welsh Government wants to keep teachers able to teach in classrooms and keep a continuity of learning for our children, they must continue to fund covid-related staff absence.

“We urge the government to pause any plans to cut funding, and rethink any plan that will have a detrimental impact on the delivery of education.”