A HEADTEACHER has called for former teachers to return to the profession in an effort to tackle Tendring’s teacher shortage.

Julia Hunt, headteacher of Brightlingsea Infant School, said recruitment had become a major issue in schools across Tendring and Colchester and was a barrier to raising standards.

In an attempt to tackle the problem, the new Return to Teaching Programme has been launched to attract teachers back to the profession.

Mrs Hunt said: “It is becoming increasingly difficult to find quality teachers, in particular finding teachers to fill vacancies that arise in the summer term.

“Last year, for the first time, all Tendring Hundred SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training) students had received job offers by Easter, leaving a shortage of suitable teachers for September.

“At the same time, it is difficult to recruit experienced teachers to balance out teachers who may have less experience within the school team and also replace teachers who are retiring.”

Mrs Hunt said the Coast2Coast Teaching School Alliance had launched the new programme, through Brightlingsea Infant School, to work with Tendring Hundred Primary SCITT to create an innovative update training package aimed at attracting teachers back to teaching after taking time out of education.

She added: “We know that when teachers take time out from teaching their confidence can drop, they can feel that teaching has ‘moved on’ and they may feel deskilled.

“They may be thinking of coming back to teaching, but need some continued professional development and school experience to feel more confident.

“We believe that these teachers are an untapped resource and with a little updated training, they will be more confident to come back and teach and play a crucial role in our schools.

“With this in mind, we have put together a free update package which combines sessions of continued professional development and also some school-based experience during the summer term.

“It is the intention that these teachers will then be available to teach in our schools in the autumn term.”

Teachers who are interested in returning to teaching should contact Mrs Hunt on 01206 302719 or e-mail julia.hunt@brightlingseainf.essex.sch.uk