The Government has “sincerely” apologised to parents of children at a special needs school for not providing them with a timely opportunity to meet with substitute teachers drafted in amid staff shortages.

The Department of Education said that Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy informed parents in December that there were staff shortages at the school and that some staff were “on leave”.

School resumed after the winter break for public school students and staff on January 6, and it was on January 20 that parents were introduced to the substitutes by way of a virtual PTA meeting.

A spokeswoman for the department said in a statement: “We are fully committed to prioritising our students’ safety, wellbeing and educational success.

“Substitute staff were introduced during the virtual PTA meeting on January 20 to keep parents informed.

“We acknowledge that parents would have preferred an earlier opportunity to meet the substitute staff following the winter break, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“Moving forward, we will work diligently to provide timely communication and regular family updates regarding staffing.

“We appreciate parents’ and guardians’ patience and the school community's support during this time.”

Asked the reasons for the staff shortages and teachers being on leave, the spokeswoman said: “While personnel matters remain confidential and cannot be publicly discussed, the department has taken steps to maintain the quality of education and care for every student.”

The department has said the substitute teachers drafted in are “qualified substitute staff with experience in supporting students with special needs to ensure continuity of service”.

The school closed for a day in October at short notice after teachers expressed concerns for the safety of the children. Children had already been dropped off at the school, and parents had to make last-minute arrangements to collect and care for them.

School staff wrote to parents urging them to call on the Ministry of Education to provide adequate resources to address the problem.

The ministry said then it would work swiftly to address any concerns, and would work with staff to improve internal and external communication.

It also said “any unauthorised actions” were to be reviewed in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The Bermuda Union of Teachers did not respond to questions on the matter.