, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
I have strengthened ALN, neurodiversity and inclusive education training across education in Wales. Dysgu are already developing a national professional learning ALN programme for local authority staff, leaders, ALN co-ordinators, specialist staff and all…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you very much, Llyr, for that supplementary. As I said in previous answers, challenges with recruitment and retention are worldwide. They're not just in Wales. Actually, the recent data does show a slight improvement. Unofficial data shows that overall…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
I’m grateful to Estyn for highlighting this issue. We are already working on this as part of developing our strategic education workforce plan for schools. The plan will set out the actions we will be taking to address recruitment and retention challenges and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you, James. Well, the protections that Kirsty Williams brought in when she was Minister were around rural schools rather than small schools, and as I just said in response to Adam Price, the provision for small schools is set out in primary legislation…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you, Samuel, for that question. I have not personally had any discussions with the local authority about the school. My officials may have, but I haven't. School closure proposals are a matter for local authorities, and you'll be aware that, in certain…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you very much, Adam, for that question. I'm aware that Carmarthenshire County Council have taken the decision on Ysgol Llansteffan today. It is quite a complex situation, because the legislation governing small schools is in primary legislation. So, if…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
I know how important schools are to small and rural communities. The school organisation code sets out the processes local authorities must follow when making proposals to alter, close or open a school. This includes small and rural schools.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you very much, John. I know that you're very enthusiastic about physical activity, and I think the points you make about active travel are really important. We know that, in lots of cases, people do live very close to the school but don't choose…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
But if I can just say to you on the issue of violence in schools, I want all our schools to be safe places for our learners—[Interruption.] Are you going to listen, because maybe if you listened, you would actually learn—[Interruption.] If you listened, you…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you, Laura. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you are not up to date with our work in this space, given that, when you were the sole Reform Member, you declined the opportunity to serve on the Children, Young People and Education Committee, so…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Across South Wales East, we are working with local authorities to improve outcomes through sustained capital investment, the Curriculum for Wales, additional learning needs reform and high-quality teaching. We are directing funding to strengthen literacy and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
You mentioned a range of issues there, Natasha. If I can just pick up on a few of those, recruitment and retention is not a problem that is unique to Wales. It is a worldwide challenge in terms of recruiting and retaining teachers. We are taking a myriad…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Well, I'm not going to agree to be put in an exam by you, Natasha. [Laughter.] I just want to be clear about that. I have set out in my answer to Cefin that there is more work that we need to do, but there are really strong signs of progress in terms of…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you very much, Natasha. You'll have heard me talk many times, not just in this Chamber, but in committee, about societal issues that are landing in schools. Schools are carrying the baby on lots and lots of issues that they didn't have to deal with…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you, Cefin. You started so nicely there—[Laughter.] I hope that the Llywydd will forgive me for saying 'thank you' to Cefin for his kind words. [Interruption.] I know, but we were all raised that way, to be polite, weren't we? [Interruption.] I'm not…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you very much, Cefin. Just to confirm that the strategic education workforce plan for schools will be published on 18 March. This is to coincide with our teaching awards, but was also timed to coincide with the Children, Young People and Education…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you very much, Cefin, for that question. Obviously, I would want to remind you that the PISA results, which were disappointing, were in 2022. Young people have just sat a new round of PISA in the autumn very recently, and we will see the results of…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Supportive and Inclusive Education for a Brighter Future
Thanks, Jenny, and thank you for your kind words. It's those at year 6 and above that are able to access the counselling, although we do have initiatives for younger children, but it's less of a sort of—. Counselling is a model that relies on agency, so it's…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Supportive and Inclusive Education for a Brighter Future
Yes. I was very open with the children's committee that I was keen to do this, but the budget that was passed did not allow sufficient funding to do that. I hope it's something that we can continue to look at. I was at Whitmore High School a few months ago…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Supportive and Inclusive Education for a Brighter Future
Thank you very much, Sioned, for those points, and thank you for opening your comments by referring to the UNCRC. I think it's important that we always see these things in a context of children's rights. And I wanted to say as well to you that, when I talk…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Supportive and Inclusive Education for a Brighter Future
There's nothing simple or easy about these issues. Issues with attendance are happening across the world now, but we are taking action. We've also introduced enrichment activities in schools, so things that children can come in and enjoy after school, so that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Supportive and Inclusive Education for a Brighter Future
Thank you, Natasha. I suppose it was a vain hope on my part that this could be a constructive engagement around the substance of my statement. Instead, you repeated lots of trite points, which suggests to me that you haven't, in fact, listened to very much…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Supportive and Inclusive Education for a Brighter Future
But engagement is not only about attendance; it is also about feeling safe. We have heard the concerns of practitioners and parents about escalating levels of disruptive and sometimes violent behaviour. In response, we set out five immediate actions to give…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Supportive and Inclusive Education for a Brighter Future
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. They say that time flies when you’re having fun. And while the last two years have had their challenges, they have certainly flown by. When I began this role, I set out a clear ambition: to improve standards, to raise attainment and…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
I see it as a bit like a Swiss cheese thing, you know, to make sure that we cover off everything in this space.
