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Policy on Limited Authorities to Teach

Effective from 31 March 2006

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LIMITED AUTHORITY TO TEACH

Policy on Limited Authority to Teach

Purpose

1.0 The policy on Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) is underpinned by the principle of enhancing the quality of teaching and learning and the status of the teaching profession by ensuring that wherever possible only qualified, and registered teachers are employed in schools, kura and kindergartens.

2.0 A LAT is NOT a form of registration. It is an authority for a person to teach in a specified school/centre in a temporary capacity. LATs may be used for a variety of roles but should only be used in the case where a registered teacher cannot be found.

3.0 LATs are granted for people who will hold a prime responsibility for the planning, implementation, assessment, evaluation and reporting of a sequential programme with a student or group of students (over the period of the contract), within a particular school/centre. LATs are not intended for people working as teacher aides or day to day relief teachers

4.0 The Teachers Council may, however, use their discretion for LAT applications from schools / centres which are experiencing difficulty obtaining registered teachers for day to day relief. All other policy requirements for the use of LATs will apply to any exemptions granted. An exemption file will be maintained for schools / centres where approval is given to use LATs for day to day relievers. LATs for day to day relievers will be subject to the following criteria:

that these persons are not employed to work in sole charge schools
that these LATs are not issued for a period of more than three months.

5.0 The New Zealand Teachers Council Te Pouherenga Kaiako o Aotearoa (the Council) will only consider an application for a LAT when the application is supported by the professional leader of the school/centre intending to employ the applicant. A LAT is only granted for the duration of a fixed term of employment. Once a person finishes their term of employment the LAT will lapse.

Legislative Context

6.0 The Council is authorised to issue a LAT under section 130A of the Education Act 1989

Section 130A of the Education Act 1989 states that a LAT be granted:

"where any person has the skills and experience that are appropriate to advance the learning of a student or group of students in any particular institution, but who may not have a specific qualification normally associated with teaching".

7.0 Section 130B sets out the tests that a person applying for a LAT must meet before they will be granted a LAT, these being character, fit to be a teacher, and likely to be a satisfactory teacher.

8.0 Section 130C describes the five factors the Council shall take into account when considering applications for LATs, these being:

the purpose of the limited authority to teach as set out in section 130A of the Act;
the views of the professional leader of the institution at which the applicant is to be employed;
the views of the employer in cases where the applicant is also the professional leader of the institution;
the relevant skills and experiences of the applicant; and
any other relevant matters.

8. LATs cannot be used to circumvent the purposes of the Act or the registration requirements in the Act. Section 120A of the Education Act 1989 (the Act) states that:

"(1)(b) No employer shall appoint to any teaching position any person whose authorisation has been cancelled, and who has not since

(i) been granted an authorisation again: or

(ii) been registered as a teacher."

The Act also says, in subsection (2):

"No employer shall permanently appoint to any teaching position any person who does not hold a practising certificate."

9. LATs are only to be used on a temporary basis by schools/centres as LATs do not entitle a person to hold a practising certificate.

The Policy

10. An application for a LAT must be made by the person seeking to hold the LAT.

11. To be granted a LAT the Council must be satisfied that the applicant:

is of good character;
is fit to be a teacher;
is likely to be a satisfactory teacher; and
has provided a satisfactory police vet.

12. The application must be supported by evidence from the professional leader of the relevant institution that:

a registered teacher cannot be found for the position;
the intended role includes a specific programme of teaching and learning i.e. includes a prime responsibility for the planning, implementation, assessment, evaluation and reporting of a sequential programme with a student or group of students (over the period of their contract), which the employer has described in a suitable job description;
the applicant is suitable for the role; and
there are clear expectations about the intended role.

13. LAT applicants will need to meet the conditions of the policy on Language requirements for those teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand.

14. Applications made for a LAT to teach languages other than English or Māori, where they are not required to teach other subjects in English or Māori, will be considered on a case by case basis.

Forms

15. Applications are to be made using the appropriate form available from the Council (printable version on the Council web site).

Transferability

16. A LAT is not transferable. It can only be used within the school/centre for the position for which it was granted, except where the position involves an itinerating role. In such circumstances the LAT must be applied for at a designated 'home school/centre' and all other schools/centres at which the position applies must be listed on the application.

Duration

17. A LAT will be granted for the term of fixed employment required by the employer, up to a maximum of 12 months unless, in exceptional circumstances, the Council considers that the employer requires the LAT for a period longer than 12 months.

Fee

18. The fee for the issuing of a LAT is $40.00.

Review

19. The policy may be reviewed at any time as required by the Council.

Related Policy References

20. This policy should be read in conjunction with policies on:

i) Good Character & Fitness to Teach (draft 2006).

ii) Police Vetting.

iii) Language requirements for those teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Effective Date

21. The requirements apply from 31 March 2006.

Authorising Signature

Signed:

Date signed:

_______________________________

Chair New Zealand Teachers Council

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