Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) adequacy of the level of experience of cover supervisors in schools and (b) potential impact of the use of cover supervisors on (i) student safety and (ii) educational outcomes.

Supply teachers perform a valuable role and make an important contribution to the smooth running of schools by filling posts on a temporary basis and by covering teacher absences.

The type of school a supply teacher works in determines the qualifications required. In local authority-maintained schools, maintained special schools and non-maintained special schools, anyone who teaches is legally required to hold qualified teacher status (QTS), subject to the following exceptions:

• Trainee teachers working towards QTS.
• Overseas trained teachers who have been in the UK less than four years.
• Instructors, where special qualifications and/or experience are required and teaching assistants (provided they are directed and supervised by a qualified teacher).

Academies, free schools and independent schools are not subject to these requirements and have the freedom to appoint teachers with alternative qualifications.

Headteachers are ultimately responsible for the educational performance in their schools and the governing body carries out certain checks on supply staff, and the department trusts them to take decisions about the right mix of qualifications, skills, and experience that they expect teachers in their schools to have.

In August 2018, in conjunction with the Crown Commercial Service, the department launched the agency supply deal. A link to the guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/deal-for-schools-hiring-supply-teachers-and-agency-workers. ​The deal supports schools to get value for money when hiring agency supply teachers and other temporary school staff.

The deal has established a list of preferred suppliers that schools can access, all of which:

• Will be transparent with schools about the rates they charge.
• Will agree to not charge finder’s fees for workers who have been in post for 12 weeks, when four weeks’ notice is given.
• Will conduct consistent, rigorous background screening checks in line with the statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’.
• Will be accredited by an approved accreditation body, that will audit suppliers for compliance with robust recruitment principles and the terms of the framework.

The department strongly recommends that schools consider using preferred suppliers first for their agency staffing needs.

Schools can learn more about the deal at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/deal-for-schools-hiring-supply-teachers-and-agency-workers.

The department commissioned a research project last year into the use of supply staff in schools. This research has surveyed and interviewed supply teachers and school leaders and will improve understanding of the supply market. Publication of the report is due in the summer.