Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has a programme to encourage former teachers to return to that profession; and if she will make a statement.

Our Returners Engagement Programme (REP) pilot provides funding to schools in the North West and South East to support and employ returning maths, physics and languages teachers. Many returning teachers wish to teach on a part-time, flexible or job share basis, and this has shown to be one of the most significant barriers for teachers wanting to return to the profession. Consequently, the pilot is open to schools that are willing to support and employ returning teachers who wish to work on a part-time or flexible basis.

Participating teachers are given a bespoke programme of support to help overcome the barriers that have prevented them from returning to teaching, such as recent classroom experience. They are also eligible for a bursary to contribute towards any increased requirement of childcare provision, travel costs or time off work.

The REP pilot complements the wider national package of support from the dedicated Return to Teaching Adviser service. Through this, returning teachers benefit from

one to one support, including help in assessing their readiness in returning to teaching, and resources to help secure that readiness.