• Participants claim for reimbursement of teacher sickness for absences of more than 20 working days continuously, or 30 working days in total within a financial year.

• Reimbursements are also made for the costs of maternity, paternity and adoption leave for teachers, with the reimbursement from the statutory maternity pay scheme being taken into account.

• Schools and academies participate over the period of the agreement.

• The original period was 2008 to 2011, but it has been extended to March 2012, and exceptionally, schools and academies can join for 2011/12 only.

• At the end of the participation period, the total value of reimbursements is compared with the total subscriptions received and any surplus is distributed to participants, or any deficit made good, by a supplementary contribution.

• Shares the risks of long-term sickness of teachers between schools and over the period of participation.

• Enables schools to plan maternity and adoption leave cover without facing a double financial burden.

• Makes it easier for schools to recruit and retain staff on the basis of gender equality.

• Simplifies financial planning, as school-level contingency not required for these items.

Charging for 2011/12 is based on an amount per pupil.

In the case of the County Council’s maintained schools, this rate reflects the amounts delegated plus a 20% supplement.

The charges are differentiated by phase of school but not otherwise.

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Customer feedback is used to improve and develop this service, in line with the Quality Assurance Framework for Services for Schools.

Mechanisms for collecting the views of customers include the annual satisfaction survey and complaints, compliments and comments.

Hampshire Schools Forum exercises an oversight of the operation of the scheme and receives an annual report thereon.