Educational Outcomes in the South Wales Valleys

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Education – in the Senedd at 1:38 pm on 5 June 2019.

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Photo of Kirsty Williams Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrat 1:38, 5 June 2019

Well, as the Member will be aware, we have a reform programme with regard to the practices of supply teacher agencies. The new framework will be on stream before the start of the new academic year, which will provide for minimum rates of pay for those staff employed by those agencies, better employment rights, guaranteed access to training. The Member makes a very good point with regard to continuity. Continuity of supply staff in schools is beneficial not only to those individual members of staff, but, crucially, to the pupils that they teach. And this is one of the benefits that we have been able to quantify as a result of our cluster supply model that we have constituted over the last two years, and we will continue to do what we can to ensure that, when supply is needed—and the Member is right; from time to time, it is needed—those that are providing that are well trained, well qualified and supported, and are able to deliver impactful lessons to students.