Rates of staff sickness in schools are reducing gradually in Pembrokeshire, according to the latest figures.

Members of the schools overview and scrutiny committee were told that the county sat “mid-table” compared to the 22 Welsh local authorities with an average of 12 days sick per teacher.

At its meeting on Tuesday (April 2) councillors heard this had reduced from 17 days in 2015 and 13 days in 2016.

Members of the committee had requested for data on all school staff sickness absences, not just teachers, which was explained at the meeting by employee relations manager Catherine Evans.

In 2016-17 there were 8.73 days lost by primary school teachers due to sickness and 11.16 by support staff, dropping to 6.49 and 9.10 respectively in 2017-18.

In secondary schools teachers were sick for 8.71 days in 2016-17, reducing slightly to 7.17 in 2017-18, while support staff absence was “stalled” at 9.92 in 2016-17 and 9.76 in 2017-18.

Clr. Mike Evans highlighted “disruption” to pupils as the “most frustrating” aspect for parents and young people.

He added that strategies focusing on staff well-being and workplace issues had resulted in a “dramatic impact on the percentage rate of absences” at Greenhill School, in Tenby which had seen a “transformational change within the school”.

Other strategies outlined in the report to committee include welcome back to work interviews, absence alerts, focusing on short term “sporadic” absences, access to occupational health and more work around mental health.

A further update will be provided in 12 months.