Staff absence is an issue that affects every school in the UK. Recent reports indicate that, during 2009, the number of days of teacher absence recorded by schools in England alone was 2,234,840. Not only does this affect schools financially, but it also impacts on the standard of education that children receive.

For over 10 years SAS has worked with leading National Bodies and schools to develop their award winning policy COVER & CARE. COVER & CARE is a policy that allows Schools to tailor all aspects of the policy to their own needs. Thus ensuring schools have the level of cover they require.

COVER & CARE is succeeding in minimising staff absence and proving invaluable to schools, staff and pupils alike. COVER& CARE fosters a proactive approach towards staff well being. With COVER & CARE prevention is encouraged rather than long term absenteeism. Year upon year, the policy continues to develop, providing new benefits for schools and staff members alike.

All COVER & CARE policies include the Private Medical Care and Well-being Cover Benefits.

Cover & Care

COVER & CARE is the Award Winning product developed by SAS along with National Bodies and Schools nationwide. COVER & CARE is a policy that minimises staff absence by offering schools and staff a range of proactive solutions that increase year on year. Thus ensuring the impact of staff absence is minimised. All aspects of the policy can be tailored to the needs of the school. The staff absence benefits of COVER & CARE are detailed below:

New for 2011 :

• Stranded Staff Cover
• Full Range of Stress Cover
• Up to £250 Daily Benefit
• Maternity Cover
• Paternity and Adoption Cover
• Suspension Cover
• Jury Service Benefit
• 0,1,2,3,5,10,20 Excess Day Options
• Care for Others
• Option for No Exclusions
• Award winning in house claims service
• Cover for all staff members

" Our previous provider quote was £9,229, SAS provided a quote for 2010/11 for £4620, this was a saving
of more than £4,000 with more staff and the extra benefits. In a year when we were making urgent and significant savings to take action in relation to our deficit. "

Paula Richardson, Head Teacher, Carville Primary School.

COVER & CARE offers each member of staff up to £100,000 of Private Medical Cover. Operations and Procedures are arranged at local Private Hospitals. Dates can be arranged to the benefit and convenience of staff members. Facilitating in minimising lengthy absence from school.

New for 2011 :

• Operation cover increased to 150 conditions
• £100,000 worth of cover per staff member
• Bowel cancer screening
• Prostate cancer screening
• Use of Private Hospital
• Fast Track Treatment
• Covers Surgeon/Physician/Anesthetist Fees
• GP Helpline - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Serious Illness Cover
• Cancer Support
• After Care Expense
• In-patient or Day Care Cover
• Peace of Mind

Included in the Private Medical Cover is the Serious Illness Service which is offered to all staff members and their families. This service is provided by expertly trained and experienced professionals to ensure that all aspects of a serious illness are understood and the effects managed.

Serious Illness Service

• Oncology Nurse
• Nurse Visitation Service
• All Family Members Covered
• Counselling Service Available

" Please accept my sincere thanks for the recent medical procedure I was able to access through SAS. I was diagnosed with developing cataracts in both eye following a routine eye appointment. Having consulted the cover & care policy details I made a phone call to SAS who facilitated surgery at a local hospital on a date to suit me. My eye problems were sorted in record time meaning I did not need time off and long term this problem will not reoccur. Thanks SAS. "

Tom Gittins, Head Teacher, Hartburn Primary Redcar

Well Being Cover has been developed to provide members of staff with the individual care/support that they may need to minimise absence. COVER & CARE continues to offer ever increasing benefits which form part of the policy detailed below.

New for 2011:

• Emergency Dental Cover
• Physiotherapy
• One to one stress counselling service
• A personal health management system

SAS now provides schools with the facility to give staff members lifestyle screening sessions. This is provided via our new in house nursing team. Details of lifestyle screening are give below.

Lifestyle screening benefits :

• Lifestyle personal & family history questionnaire
• Health status review, cancer awareness
  & early detection
• Height, weight and body mass index
• Blood pressure, resting heart rate & cholesterol
• Urinalysis for diabetes & kidney disease
• Coronary risk score

" A member of staff sadly lost a member of the family not so long ago and they were able to access counselling which meant they could stay at work but also have additional support from ourselves and Schools Advisory Service which meant they had a better work life balance for that period of time.

On top of that we also used the physiotherapy that's on offer. Two members of our team who had injuries last year were able to keep working because they had regular physiotherapy. "

Paul Rickeard, Head Teacher, Wallsend St Peters CE Primary School