Recognising the additional burden on education staff, particularly following the pandemic, and to support the professional learning entitlement, I am consulting on extending the provision of an additional in-service training day for the next three academic years, and I would encourage everyone with an interest to respond to the consultation.

To strengthen professional learning and support we have made improvements to statutory induction, following a public consultation in the spring. From this term, we are providing funding for trained mentors to support all newly qualified teachers throughout induction. A national programme of professional learning has also been developed, regardless of whether NQTs are working on a contract or supply basis.

On curriculum implementation, we provided flexibility to secondary schools to commence in either 2022 or 2023. My officials continue to share early plans with teaching unions, addressing their concerns where possible, and in some cases, adjusting plans in response to wider workload considerations. Research on the early experiences of curriculum realisation will begin this term, allowing us to understand what is working well and what lessons we can learn moving forward to help us best support practitioners.

Similarly, I have continued to listen to concerns raised about the pressures facing the workforce to meet the timeline for moving children to the new additional learning needs system. Last spring, I announced an extra year to move the first group of children. With strong commitment across Wales to deliver improved outcomes for children and young people with additional learning needs, we continue to support the sector with £21 million annually over the next two years to boost capacity and implementation support. It is heartening to learn that families are reporting positively on their experiences so far.

The devolution of teachers' pay, terms and conditions presented Wales with an opportunity to forge a new path to support our workforce, and that is what we have done. We have taken a social partnership approach, working with the teaching profession to help provide higher salaries and allowances for both new and experienced teachers when compared, for example, to England. We will work with stakeholders on a comprehensive review of the structure of teachers' pay and conditions, providing further opportunities to develop a more distinct national system, not only improving and enhancing the system, but making it fairer and more transparent.

For too long supply teachers have not felt supported enough. Working with Plaid Cymru, we are taking action to address that. Over the coming months, I will be setting out significant reforms that will look at the system as a whole, and ensure that supply staff are fairly rewarded for the work that they do. Teaching assistants are also an integral part of our education workforce, which is why I have already set out a number of actions that we will take to support them, including addressing their specific workforce issues and professional learning.

As I've said, well-being support is vital, Dirprwy Lywydd. In the spring, I announced increased funding to support the mental health and well-being of the education workforce, with funding of £1.2 million this financial year, rising to £3 million by 2024-25. We continue to fund the charity Education Support, who provide bespoke, tailored support for mental health and well-being to the education workforce. Wider well-being support is also being scoped, working with stakeholders, employers and unions.

Dirprwy Lywydd, as a Government, we remain wholly committed to supporting the education workforce. We have made strong progress over the last year, and I am determined to keep up this momentum so that we continue to support our workforce in helping them to raise standards and aspirations in our classrooms.