To ask the Scottish Executive what communication it has had with local authorities to ensure that teacher supply lists are open to everyone to apply.
The Code of Practice on the Use of Temporary Contracts for Teachers, developed by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, of which the Scottish Government is a member, states that employees on temporary contracts should not be treated any less favourably than those on permanent contracts. The Code takes into account the Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended by the Employment Relations Act 1999 and Employment Act 2002, as well as the Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) and Fixed Term Workers Regulations (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) 2002.
In addition two of the recommendations of the Teacher Employment Working Group report published last year referred to post probationers and supply work. These are:
Recommendation 4: Local authority employers should wherever possible use post-probation teachers to fill supply vacancies
Recommendation 5: Local authorities should consider making more use of permanent supply pools to ensure stable employment opportunities are available to post-probation teachers.
The purpose of these recommendations is to help to develop more opportunities for those newly qualified by reducing the use of retired teachers in supply. The recommendations on supply are for local authorities as the employers of teachers to take forward while bearing in mind both employment and age legislation.