What assessment has the Cabinet Secretary made of the costs to the Welsh Government and local authorities of increasing guaranteed planning, preparation and assessment time for teachers to a) 15 per cent and b) 20 per cent, including any staffing implications?
Increasing planning, preparation and assessment time, alongside other alternative models for supporting practitioner workload and wellbeing, has been raised during discussions with practitioners and our key partners on the development of the Strategic Education Workforce Plan.
Following a period of engagement with practitioners, we are working with local authorities, the education workforce unions and our partners to agree the high-level commitments that will be included in the plan. I also want to ensure that the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s report on teacher recruitment and retention, which I’m expecting in the New Year, can inform the plan.
Following publication of the plan, it is important to note that some actions will require further scoping and consultation with our social partners and through established forums and mechanisms, for example the Schools Social Partnership Forum, the Pay Partnership Forum and the Independent Wales Pay Review Body before they can be implemented.