Cwestiwn ysgrifenedig WQ97378

The Welsh Government introduced a National Supply Pool for Wales in May 2023 to explore the option for schools to source and book supply staff directly and for supply teachers to be able to access School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document terms and conditions and the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS). Initial roll out took place within Ynys Môn where the local authority remained the employer, managing payroll and ensuring access to the TPS. In considering how such a model could be operated across Wales, significant challenges were identified. After further work with our partners it became clear the supply pool would not deliver the intended benefits to all of Wales because of the different employment models across local authorities. On 3 April 2025, I made a Written Statement about supply teaching, including my decision to close the work on developing a National Supply Pool for Wales. Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn are being supported by Welsh Government during the transition period until June 2026.

Further work to develop a sustainable model for supply teaching, will now be taken forward as part of the Strategic Education Workforce Plan which I updated Members on by means of a Written Statement on 3 September. The details of the plan will continue to be developed with partners over the coming months.

The below table provides data on how many teachers and support staff have signed up to Teacher Booker, who have been delivering the National Supply Pool for Wales, broken down by month since its inception.

Year-Month

Sign-Ups

2023-06

109

2023-07

74

2023-08

168

2023-09

115

2023-10

243

2023-11

294

2023-12

192

2024-01

316

2024-02

282

2024-03

232

2024-04

189

2024-05

301

2024-06

113

2024-07

98