Amy Jane Cunniffe - 16 January 2024
Published: 24 January 2024
A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 16 January 2024, has found allegations of unacceptable professional conduct and a relevant offence proved against school learning support worker, Amy Jane Cunniffe.
The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that:
- whilst employed as a teaching assistant, Miss Cunniffe, on 31 October 2022, drove a car under the influence of alcohol which put others at risk
- on 15 November 2022, Miss Cunniffe was convicted of failing to provide a specimen for analysis (driving or attempting to drive) on 31 October 2022, contrary to section 7(6) of the Road Traffic Act 1988. As a consequence of this offence, she was sentenced to a community order for 12 months with an unpaid work requirement, a rehabilitation activity requirement and disqualified from driving obligatory 36 months.
The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Suspension Order (without conditions) upon Miss Cunniffe’s registration as a school learning support worker for a period of 12 months (from 16 January 2024 until 16 January 2025). As such, Miss Cunniffe will not be able to work as a registered person (school learning support worker) in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales for the period of the Suspension Order.
Miss Cunniffe has the right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.