MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Education: Supply teachers are an essential part of the workforce
and, along with partners, we are committed to ensure their
contribution is better recognised and rewarded. It is for schools
and governing bodies to source staff as appropriate, however the
Welsh Government has been taking a proactive approach to
developing a sustainable model for supply teaching, with fair
work at its heart. We are grateful to our Co-operation Agreement
partners for their part in this work during the Co-operation
Agreement period.
Most supply teachers in Wales are employed through agencies, so
we have strengthened the Supply Agency Framework to require
agencies to sign up to the ‘SaferJobs' network; strengthen
requirements for agencies to comply with statutory employment
requirements; and provide assurance that agencies work to support
the Professional Learning Entitlement. The Framework is well
utilised, 98% of the money spent on the provision of supply staff
across Wales is to those agencies appointed to the Framework.
However, we also know that supply teachers want to be able to
access alternative employment models, through which they are
employed in accordance with the School Teachers' Pay and
Conditions (Wales) Document (STPC(W)D) and have access to the
Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS). That is why, in 2023, we began an
initial roll out of a National Supply Pool within Ynys Môn. Under
this model, Ynys Môn has remained the employer, managing payroll
and ensuring access to the TPS. While the initial roll out took
place in a local authority which directly employs supply
teachers, work has been taking place with partners to consider
how such a model could be operated across Wales.
Officials held a summit in 2024 with key stakeholders, including
unions and local authorities, to discuss progress and next steps
for supporting supply teachers in Wales. In exploring options to
deliver the supply pool nationally, each option was found to
present significant challenges, reflecting the different
approaches to sourcing supply staff across different local
authorities. It is now clear that while the Supply Pool has
worked well in Anglesey it will not deliver the intended benefits
of STPC(W)D terms and conditions and access to TPS on a national
basis because of the different employment models across local
authorities. I have therefore decided to close the work on
developing a National Supply Pool for Wales. Officials will work
closely with Ynys Môn to support their transition over the coming
months. I would like to thank Ynys Môn for participating in the
initial roll out and Teacher Booker for the successful roll out
of the platform in Ynys Môn.
In January, I announced the development of a Strategic Education
Workforce Plan to ensure we are focusing clearly on delivery and
improvement for our education workforce. Further work to develop
a sustainable model for supply teaching, will now be taken
forward as part of the plan. Both the Independent Welsh Pay
Review Body and the Public Accounts and Public Administration
Committee have made a number of relevant recommendations which
will be considered as part of this work.
I will continue to keep the Senedd informed as this work
progresses.
