There are only two categories of registration which apply to registrants working in a maintained school in Wales:

• school teacher
• school learning support worker

School teachers

Registration in the category of school teacher requires applicants to hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Applicants that do not have QTS but are working in a state-maintained school should register as school learning support workers.

Those who need to be registered in the school teacher category are, but not limited to:

• full-time, part-time, and supply school teachers who hold QTS
• peripatetic school teachers
• advisory school teachers who are qualified school teachers and who spend a proportion of their time in a teaching capacity, involving direct unsupervised pupil contact
• home tutors, employed by a local authority to teach children

As there is cross border working between Wales and England, employers should note that practitioners who have been awarded Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) are not recognised as Qualified School Teachers under legislation in Wales.

Qualified school teachers trained outside of the UK

School teachers trained overseas can apply for recognition as a school teacher eligible to practise in Wales.

School learning support workers

A school learning support worker means a person who is not employed as a qualified school teacher, but who provides or supports the provision of any of the following services by a school teacher:

• planning and preparing lessons and courses of study for pupils
• delivering lessons to pupils (includes via distance learning or computer aided techniques)
• assessing or reporting on the development, progress, and attainment of pupils

A person can only be employed as a school learning support worker to provide the above services if all the following requirements are met:

• they are registered with the EWC in the category of school learning support worker
• they provide the above services with direct interaction with learners to assist, or support the work of school teachers, or nominated teachers in the school
• they provide the services under the direction and supervision of school teachers, or nominated teachers in accordance with arrangements made by the head teacher of the school
• the head teacher is satisfied that they have the skills, expertise, and experience to provide the services

Examples of who needs to register as a school learning support worker

Employers should bear in mind that the requirement for registration relates to role the individual is undertaking, rather than their job title.

Those who need to register as a school learning support worker:

• teaching/classroom assistant
• learning support assistant/HLTA
• special/additional needs assistant
• pastoral/welfare assistant
• bilingual support assistant
• instructor
• cover supervisor
• foundation phase assistant
• technician
• learning coaches
• private sports and music contractors
• overseas trained teacher

Those who do not need to register:

• caretakers
• career advisor
• educational psychologist
• school nurse
• administrative/office staff
• catering staff
• attendance and inclusion officer
• lunchtime supervisors
• breakfast club supervisors
• finance controller
• data manager
• voluntary helpers (for example reading, after school clubs)