Hi I had a TIA/CVA two years ago aged 60. I was active, enjoyed a range of activities and largely optimistic. The stroke has left me with mobility issues, a weakened left hand side, meaning I need a stick to get around. I suffer from visual disturbances, find it difficult to find the right words, plus it is a challenge to process what people are saying. I have a PFO, which I have just been told by me consultant will not be closed because of blood results and other factors (I am now 62) I have been signed off sick for two years. I did try to put together evidence to get early retirement, but my NEU caseworker has told me I need more. For financial reasons I now have returned to work on a phased return, currently on .4 (2 days a week). This will go up to .6 and then back to my contractual hours of .8. HR is pushing me to do cover, which I have tried to explain is one of the more stressful jobs in a secondary school environment, in that I will have a class I don’t know and a subject and lesson plan I am not familiar with. The OLH report commissioned by the school and agreed to by them, explained that I would have to sit down for most a lesson and as part of reasonable adjustments should be working with small groups or SEND whilst I get used to being back in the classroom. I have offered to support other teachers in class, do SEND or help small groups of students especially A Level who are struggling or, conversely, are aiming to read history/politics at university. HR have said no to this. The school has now said that they are going to cut my pay. Has anyone navigated a return to school? I would be grateful for any experiences other have had. I am in the NEU and have a caseworker and so I do have help, but hearing about how other teachers have coped, been treated either fairly or unfairly would be great to hear from
@Rocky1 just popping by to say hi & welcome to the community. Sorry to hear of your stroke.
Well done on getting back to work. I know how difficult that is as I did it too. I work as a civil servant & am not a teacher so can’t advise on your specific query. I found it hard enough going back to a desk job do can only imagine how difficult it is for you returning as a teacher.
You could try contacting ACAS for advice too.
Hopefully someone will be along soon who can help further.
Best wishes
Ann
Hi @Rocky1 sorry to hear of your stroke but welcome to our community, I hope you will find this a useful place to be.
Well done for even considering returning to work especially in a secondary school, quite stressful at the best of times I would imagine 
. Sadly I have not recovered sufficiently to even thinking of a return to work, so have no personal experience of your situation.
A few of the contributors on here have returned to work and I’m sure someone will be along to share their experience and advice.
I hope you are able to reach an agreement that suits both you and your employer.
Good luck, look forward to hearing how you get on.
Regards Sue
Hello @Rocky1 - this is to welcome you to the community which I hope you will find helpful. I am unable to offer you anything other than moral support as I am neither a stroke survivor, nor a teacher.
Wishing you all the best.
Namaste|
Welcome @Rocky1. My wife is a secondary school teacher so I have some insight into what a demanding job it is. Given the challenges you face I’m quite surprised that the NEU caseworker says you don’t have grounds for early retirement yet. Have you talked to the Stroke Association helpline? They have undoubtedly seen cases like yours before and might be able to give you some advice.
Hi Rocky1, not a school teacher but work in children’s homes so know how challenging young people can be. I am looking at my second return this year after a little hiccup along the way.
I assume you are employed by a local authority/ council as a teacher, from experience my dad suffered similarly to you having a stroke a number of years ago and was employed by a local authority: due to his visual loss the deemed him a suitable candidate for early retirement at 60. I did have some issues in securing this as at the time he could not self - advocate I met with a union rep from main local office as knew the local authority one had done little- he was also employed by same local authority so somewhat partial to siding with them. I got his case settled as they hadn’t done paperwork gave him a good early send off and topped up his retirement with a bonus as an apology due to their delay incurring my parents some financial issues.
Myself I have just sent the most recent I could find ACAS update on disabled workers or working/ policies to my HR officer its from Sept 24 - 10th I think it is. I learned a little about the Equality Act 2010 in 2015 when my manager at the time foolishly in writing threatened me with dismissal for being dyslexic at my year end review, he didn’t do the next 
.
I’m sue under the EA 2010 there would be a reasonable adjustment then if not capable an amicable discussion should be had to allow you to retire early with full benefits. Good luck and good to have you here, please update on how you get on.
Thank you for reaching out - it is much appreciated
Thank you so much for responding. I must admit I am surprised and am still working o building up the necessary evidence. One barrier is that my consultant is quite difficult to get hold of and a number of my test results have been lost and so I am repeating many of them. Just have to keep going. Thanks again.
Thanks Sue, it is good of you to contact me. I am hoping to hear from stroke survivors who have had to negotiate reasonable adjustments and a phased return etc. Thanks again and I wish you well with your health.
Hi @Rocky1
Welcome to the community, I’m sorry to hear about your stroke and the difficulties you’re facing with returning to work. This can be such a challenge so it’s vital to make sure you’ve got the right adjustments in place to make this work for you.
I would suggest as @harimanjaro has to give our Stroke Support Helpline:0303 3033 100 a call, they should be able to offer some good advice on next steps whilst you’re waiting on any of our other members to reply.
I hope you’ll find this community useful for your recovery and any questions you may have. If you need anything whilst you’re using the Online Community, please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username.
Anna
Thank you so much Anna that is very helpful advice and so will do. Best wishes
Hi thank you so much for your post which is really interesting and helpful. I am trying to get my head round the Equality Act and then will contact Stroke Association as well as ACAS. The bar seems to be very high re early retirement despite having two OH reports saying I am unfit for work. I will certainly keep you posted and thanks so much again.
Hi Rocky,
Sorry to hear about your experiences with returning to teaching at school after your stroke. I took had a stroke aged 60 ,( early 2024) but have managed to retire from teaching on ill health. I taught part time in a FE college. I used my GP to provide evidence as difficult getting hold of consultant. He charged ÂŁ50 which I paid but the college reimbursed me. I also put a statement together for the form.
You mention you have two OH reports that say you shouldn’t be working so you could send them too.
my advice would be to think about how the stroke affects you physically, cognitively and psychologically.
Think about safety/safeguarding… delays in cognitive reasoning might mean you can’t think in time to meet student needs or safely manage a classroom environment. Do you have the speed of thought to deal with student arguments, challenging behaviour or student health needs. You mention visual difficulties. Can you keep students safe?
Other potential issues to think about.. confusion, memory, anxiety/stress. Fatigue, speech, inability to multitask… writing - I had to relearn how to write and although I can now use a keyboard it’s very slow and not quick enough for school/college work - marking, performance reports, lesson plans, producing resources…
Hopefully this is useful and good luck getting the required evidence.
Ps id also make sure through teachers pensions that your employer contributions are up-to-date and service history is correct.
Great advice @Rob6 I am sure many of us wouldn’t think about a lot of your points.
I too was a teacher. I just took my pension early. To return to teach after having a brain haemorrhage and walking with a stick (right side affected and left knee area), was just a non-starter. The job is just too tiring and near-fatigue can make it difficult.
Thanks for the response and it is true, teaching is very demanding, I hope you are able to enjoy your retirement
Thank you so much for this, it is really helpful. My GP has filled in a TPA Teacher Pension form, which is evidence but apparently not conclusive. I am now back and am very tired and also do worry about all raised. I am hoping that I will be able to gain sufficient evidence to get early retirement. This is really useful, thank you again.
Hi Rocky1, I have a telephone consultation tomorrow - 22nd with my employers occupational health to do an assessment. They have advised at HR the first question is do you feel you should be retired in health grounds?
A wee bit strange as I’m just looking to go part time for a bit to allow some more recovery time, made me think hmm I’m still as sharp as my colleagues but get a bit tired at times that’s all. Hope you are feeling ok just now.
Hi - Sorry just o computer so just read this and probably too late to advise bit if not. can you contact HR to ask them why they are asking such a closed and directed question rather than an open one? I would say to OH that you are taping the consultation if they do not mind and if they do then I would go back to HR? Have you union representation? Any hope all goes well and work supports you.
Best wishes
Hi , seems it’s a standard question from OH provided by my employer. Done the interview and have the report, recommendations are in line roughly with what I needed- not exact but close enough.
Strangely it opines that physically I’m not disabled but legally cannot comment on this despite quoting the Equality Act 2010. Report is with HR and they know my desire is to return so will wait and see the outcome, thankfully in a strong trade union as well just in case.