TENS of thousands of school and college workers in Wales have been spared a registration fee rise following a Unison campaign.

Since 2016, all 50,000 learning support workers in Wales must be be registered with the Education Workforce Council.

The certificate costs £45 a year but was subsidised by the Welsh government so learning support workers only paid £15.

This support was axed last year and the Education Workforce Council agreed to step in only for the current financial year.

Following Unison campaigning, the subsidy is to be paid in 2025/26, meaning learning support workers will only need to find £15 next year.

Unison Cymru/Wales schools lead Rosie Lewis said: “Registration should not come at a cost to low-paid staff who only get paid during term-time.

“Removal of the subsidy didn’t go down well at all with learning support workers.

“But thanks to Unison pressure, the Welsh government and the Education Workforce Council have found a way of paying the subsidy for another year.”