About Schools UK
Since 1997, Schools UK has supported schools, academies and trusts across the UK with bespoke staff absence insurance policies underwritten by AXA. Its policies include integrated wellbeing services—delivered in partnership with Sonder and Sparta Health—that cover all school staff and their families, whether listed on the policy or not.
Schools UK is proudly:
- Listed on the CPC Framework
- ISBL Approved Partners
- Partners of Schools North East
- Constellia Approved Providers
Learn more at: www.schoolsuk.com
How reactive support missed the mark
As the UK’s longest-established provider of staff absence insurance for schools, Schools UK understands the unique pressures facing the education sector. With rising stress claims and long-term absence becoming a critical issue, the team recognised that the traditional support model was no longer sufficient.
Previously relying on a standard Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), Schools UK received consistent feedback that help often came too late. The service was reactive, slow to engage, and limited.
Schools UK needed a partner capable of delivering 24/7, holistic, early-intervention support. They needed a solution that would empower staff to take control of their wellbeing before small issues escalated into long-term absence.
“I’m so excited to continue partnering with Schools UK to deliver proactive care to their members and clients. The Schools UK team embodies the values of Sonder, and it’s exactly why the impact our partnership is having on their wider team is as successful as it is.”
Senior Customer Success Manager at Sonder
Moving to a solution that focused on the whole person
In 2024, Schools UK partnered with Sonder to embed proactive care into its staff absence insurance offering. This collaboration moves beyond the traditional EAP by offering instant access to medical, mental health, and safety professionals via an easy-to-use app.
Key features of the partnership include:
- 24/7 clinical access: Immediate, confidential access to registered nurses and wellbeing professionals.
- True accessibility: Support fits around the school day, not within it.
- Data-driven empathy: Usage data revealed a spike in support requests on Mondays around 11 am, allowing for targeted support to help staff navigate the “Monday blues.”
- Whole-family support: Extending care to staff families to ease caregiver stress—providing reassurance for carers as well as educators.
How Sonder prevents absence before it starts
Note: The following scenario is illustrative, based on real-world examples. It has been adapted to ensure strict member confidentiality.
The scenario → A Year 6 teacher began experiencing acute anxiety on a Sunday evening ahead of a complex meeting with a parent. Overwhelmed by the “Sunday night scaries,” they were preparing to call in sick for the week to avoid the confrontation.
The intervention →Instead of waiting for office hours, the teacher tapped the “Chat now” button in the Sonder app at 8:30 pm. Within 30 seconds, they were connected to a mental health professional who provided immediate de-escalation techniques and helped structure a plan for the meeting.
The outcome → The teacher felt calm enough to attend work on Monday. The potential week-long stress leave was avoided entirely, and the staff member reported feeling “backed up” by their employer.
Lowered absence, higher engagement and a more positive outlook
After one year of partnership and with over 1,000 members activated, the data tells a clear story of prevention and recovery.
Tangible ROI in preventing absence
The partnership is successfully mitigating the cost of claims by keeping staff in work and healthy.
- 60% of users confirm their interaction directly prevented an absence.
- 88% credit the service with helping them avoid potential time off.
Closing the care gap
Sonder is capturing risks that traditional providers miss.
- 56% of users admitted they would not have sought help if Sonder hadn’t been available—preventing silent struggles from escalating.
- 56% of support was accessed outside of working hours, proving the necessity of a true 24/7 model.
Workforce impact
Immediate support is driving immediate results for staff performance.
- 100% of surveyed members reported improved productivity after accessing support.
- 70% felt immediately better after their first interaction.
- Unanimous control: 100% of users reported feeling more in control of their wellbeing, a key factor in reducing long-term stress claims.
“We have found working with Sonder to be great; their staff are always available and go above and beyond to help. Our clients have commented on how amazing their service is, and they love how easy it is to access… I would highly recommend working with Sonder.”
Head of Wellbeing at Schools UK
Looking ahead
For Schools UK, partnering with Sonder was a strategic move to both drive better commercial outcomes, as well as nurture the people who shape future generations. By combining their expertise with Sonder’s forward-thinking technology, Schools UK are building capability and resilience across school communities in the UK.
Ready to achieve similar results for your own organisation? If you are looking to move beyond reactive EAPs and explore a data-driven, proactive approach to staff wellbeing, Sonder is ready to help. Discover how our 24/7 care model can reduce absenteeism and improve outcomes for your organisation.
Speak with our wellbeing team now.
About Sonder
Sonder is redefining workplace wellbeing with 24/7, proactive support across physical health, mental health, and personal safety. Our integrated care model empowers people to take action early, leading to healthier teams, lower absenteeism, and improved organisational performance.
Discover more: sonder.io/uk
