§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 25 March (WA 27), what is the definition of "work of teaching nature"; and whether it would be possible for a classroom assistant, as envisaged under Clause 129 of the Education Bill, to carry out "work of a teaching nature" without a qualified teacher being present in the classroom. [HL3829]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandClause 129 provides for there to be regulation where teaching assistants, and others such as further education teachers who are not qualified as school teachers, carry out specified work, which could be described as "work of a teaching nature". The principal teaching duties will be outlined in the regulations following consultation. Regulations will also ensure that teaching assistants always operate under the supervision of a qualified teacher, where supervison may include a qualified teacher being present in the classroom. Any policy developments in relation to teaching assistants taking a full class on their own would first need to be the subject of a public consultation and the requirement that they operate under a qualified teacher's supervision would remain in place.