What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that agencies who have signed up to the National Supply Teacher Framework, pay teachers a minimum salary of M1 on the pay scale?
The Supply Teacher Framework has been created by the National Procurement Service (NPS) on behalf of local authorities in an attempt to address and improve supply teachers’ pay and working conditions. The changes offer supply teachers clarity in terms of a minimum daily pay rate and schools transparency in the level of daily fees charged by agencies, so that they can make the best use of their delegated staffing budgets.
From the outset of this academic year (2019/20), any agency appointed to the current Framework supplying qualified teachers to a school will be expected to pay, as a minimum, the current rate according to the statutory published teachers’ pay rates. All appointed agencies have been informed that they should not actively promote an option of a reduced rate of pay, either to individuals or schools. If a Framework agency is understood to be consistently attempting to subvert the Framework rules, including that relating to the rate of pay, it is appropriate for the NPS to take action.
Agencies on the Framework have to be compliant with the terms of the contract. Framework agencies are required to make arrangements with schools to pay a daily rate of at least the minimum on the statutory school teachers’ pay scale. Contract guidance has been issued to appointed agencies requiring them to report situations of perceived non-compliance, so that the NPS is able to monitor this as well as the Framework’s uptake and effectiveness. However, it is important to recognise that the current Framework arrangements only became operational from the start of September and it is appropriate to allow the arrangements time to settle in.
The benefits of using Framework agencies is being communicated alongside the potential risks involved should schools choose to commission supply off Framework. Framework providers are also required to sign up to our Code of Practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chains to support our Fair Work and social partnership principles.