Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I would like to start by taking this opportunity to once again thank our supply teachers for the work they do, and particularly for the essential support they provided to schools during the pandemic, which was an uncertain and unsettling time for all.

We know that supply teachers play a vital role in supporting our young people. Several independent reviews have highlighted the need for improvements to both the terms and conditions and working arrangements of supply teachers and supply teaching support staff. We have made good progress in recent years. However, it is clear to me that there is still more that should be done to ensure that supply teachers are appropriately rewarded, that all supply staff have greater choice over how they are employed, and that they're able to access the required support and professional learning opportunities to carry out their roles effectively.

Within the programme for government and the co-operation agreement, we have committed to developing a sustainable model for the employment of supply teachers with fair work at its heart. Today, I will set out how we will deliver against these commitments and introduce much-needed reforms to the education system. To ensure that all aspects of the commitment are addressed, I have indicated that a holistic approach is necessary, with the focus of reforms against three main areas, which are a new local authority employment model, further improvements to agency provision, and consideration of pay and conditions for supply teachers within the scope of statutory terms.

Headteachers and governing bodies are responsible for making decisions on how to staff their schools and which type of cover best meets their requirements. Schools are able to recruit supply staff directly, via their local authority, or via a supply agency. To address issues raised by supply teachers relating to employment via private agencies, the supply agency framework of the National Procurement Service was established in 2019, resulting in improved pay and conditions for agency staff, transparency over fees and greater agency regulation.