2. Will the First Minister make a statement on the role of teaching assistants in schools? OQ57082

Thank you very much for the question, Llywydd. Reforms in 2019 codified a set of national professional standards for teaching assistants, and these made it mandatory for teaching assistants to register with the Education Workforce Council. School governing bodies and local education authorities are responsible for fulfilling the responsibilities of the employer with regard to this important and integral aspect of the school workforce. 

Thank you for that response, First Minister. Well, teaching assistants are a crucial part of the education workforce of our nation. They prepare lessons for pupils, they take groups out to learn outdoors, provide one-to-one attention for pupils with additional needs, take lessons when teachers aren't available, among other things. As a former governor for many years, I saw the value of their contribution to children's education on a daily basis, and we thank them for their service. They work in very difficult circumstances and receive very low wages for their hard work. Indeed, unlike teachers, they aren't paid during school holidays. Isn't it time for the Government to ensure that the pay and conditions of our teaching assistants, as well as training opportunities, are put in place uniformly across Wales and that our assistants receive the recognition that they deserve for their work? 

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:

standardisation of roles, consistency in deployment, and moves to common pay scales across Wales.

So, what they're talking about, Llywydd, is a national framework, where the local responsibilities remain.   

Before I start, can I declare an interest, as my wife is employed as a teacher assistant? I'd like to take this opportunity to thank teaching assistants, as well as all school staff, in Monmouthshire and beyond for everything they have done to help children and young people with their learning throughout the pandemic. First Minister, the workload of teaching assistants has increased significantly during the pandemic. Many have had to step in to teach classes due to teacher absences and staff shortages, as well as supporting children with online learning, and this is on top of their usual classroom duties. These extra duties could have a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of many teaching assistants, and it's important that adequate support is on offer. Yet a recent survey carried out by the Education Workforce Council found that just 7.4 per cent of respondents had made use of well-being days, and 8.8 per cent had made use of well-being training courses provided by schools. First Minister, what is the Welsh Government doing to support the health and well-being of teachers' assistants, and what more can the Government and local education authorities do to promote the take-up of the services that are already available to staff? And I appreciate your answer just given.

I thank Peter Fox for that, Llywydd, and I agree with him about the contribution that teaching assistants and higher level teaching assistants make in the classroom, and the burden that responding to the pandemic has placed on them, alongside all the other people who work in our education service. Now, the Welsh Government provides funding to a UK charity. It's called Education Support, and it is an organisation dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of people in the classroom. And we have always been very clear from the Welsh Government that, by that, we mean all classroom staff and, indeed, all school staff here in Wales.  

The programmes of help offered by Education Support have had a new element of flexibility built into them in order to respond to the pandemic, and we are very keen indeed to make sure that that package of support is well advertised to staff here in Wales so that they are able to take advantage of it. Within that package of support, there is some additional and bespoke material that is particularly designed to reflect the experiences of teaching assistants. So, I agree very much with what Peter Fox said, that there is more that can be done locally and nationally to advertise the help that is available, to make sure that people know that it is there, to know that thought has been given to making sure that it is relevant to them and useable to them, and then to make sure that, as that resource is further developed, we take into account the experiences that people will report and have gone through in recent times.