Teaching Assistants

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:45 pm on 19 October 2021.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 1:45, 19 October 2021

(Translated)

Thank you very much to Mabon ap Gwynfor for that additional question. I agree with everything that he said about the vital role that those who work in this field contribute to the education of children across Wales. At the end of the day, it's the governing body and local authorities that are responsible for employing those people who work as teaching assistants. But we do have a group, associated with the schools forum that we have—so, it's a sub-group that was established back in the previous term. The group was chaired by the Unison union until February of this year. Now, the head of one of the schools in Blaenau Gwent chairs that group, and they have looked into a number of the issues that could raise standards in this field, and to acknowledge the contribution that people are making in this area. They have published a paper back in July, and the intention is for the Minister to make a statement to the Senedd next month. In English, because the report is here in English, it focused on three things: