16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Yes. So, as I say, it's £28 million. We're still working through—. That's for sustainable communities for learning. We're trying to focus on pressure areas highlighted by delivery partners. Obviously we're working through the detail, but just to let the…
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
No, the £20 million—. It's £35 million in-year for capital funding; £20 million of that is to help with school repairs and maintenance, and the £15 million is for some capital costs associated with the contracts around Hwb, but then the money for this year is…
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Thanks, Vaughan. Well, I am really passionate about children's rights. That's something that's endured in me since I was Chair of the committee and, as you're aware, the Government's current practice is to undertake a strategic integrated impact assessment…
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
For this year, yes.
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
I'm very happy to provide a note, because it also depends on how you do it, and there are quite significant variations in the amounts, depending on how you do it.
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Well, I'm not aware that we've had any discussions about moving free school meals, et cetera, to the social justice MEG because it is a matter for education. And I take a really holistic approach to education. I think you can see that with what I've said…
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Thanks, Jenny, and obviously I agree with the finance Secretary that this is a budget for the worst off, and I think you have to always remember that the clearest route out of poverty for everyone is through education. Our standards—I've been really clear—are…
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
I think the OECD are taking a rounded approach to these things, and certainly the meeting that I had with the head of education last week was very focused on well-being. They were very much on the same page, and I've been clear since coming into post that we…
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
And we've got a peer learning event that we've established with the OECD. They're coming here to Wales to spend a chunk of time with us, looking at what we're doing, looking at best practice and working together to try to make sure that we get these things…
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Sorry.
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Georgina wants to—
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Okay. Well, prioritisation has been really important for the sector as well really, because schools constantly tell us that we're asking them to do lots and lots of things, so I hope that it's been helpful to be clear about the priorities of literacy and…
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Well, obviously, the extra money that we got as a result of the UK Labour Government's budget was incredibly welcome—really, really good news—and we were delighted with it, but we have to be clear with the committee that it's not going to address all the…
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Thanks, Vaughan. Well, I think that I've been pretty consistent, really, since coming into post, that we've got to raise school standards. As part of that work, literacy and numeracy are absolutely critical. That’s why some of that extra money is going to…
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Okay. Just to go back to something else that you said, where you said that we were planning on a cash-flat basis, but obviously we were also making the case for our priorities, and it’s been a clear priority for the Government to raise attainment and…
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Can I just—?
16 January 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26 - evidence session 2
Okay. Thanks, Vaughan. It's good to be here with the committee. Setting the budget was an iterative process and, obviously, as you'll be aware, it involved working closely with Cabinet colleagues, in particular the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for…
13 November 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The First Minister's first 100 days
Gareth, I'm wondering if you really need, with some of your colleagues, to start listening a bit more. I've addressed these issues, repeatedly, in the Chamber, made repeated statements about priorities. You know, please, keep up.
13 November 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: The First Minister's first 100 days
Will you give way?
13 November 2024 , Plenary
Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report, 'Do disabled children and young people have equal access to education and childcare?'
I want the legislative framework to be clear and consistently understood. In response to evidence and concerns, including from the committee, that some parts are complex and unclear, I've already announced a review of the legislative framework. I confirm to…
13 November 2024 , Plenary
Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report, 'Do disabled children and young people have equal access to education and childcare?'
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank the Children, Young People and Education Committee for their hard work over the course of this major inquiry? We all share the goal of ensuring the best start in life for our children. I want to particularly thank the…
12 November 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Anti-bullying Week: The mental health and well-being of learners
Thank you very much, Jenny, and thank you for the kind words. I’m really glad you had the opportunity to visit the Hangout. I know of it and I’ve heard really great things about it. I haven’t had the opportunity to go there myself yet, but organisations like…
12 November 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Anti-bullying Week: The mental health and well-being of learners
Thank you very much. And well done on your odd socks—I'm glad that you listened to your four-year-old; they're obviously a very wise four-year-old you've got in your house. So, yes, absolutely, and what the odd socks thing shows is it's about difference, and…
12 November 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Anti-bullying Week: The mental health and well-being of learners
Can I thank Laura Anne Jones for those comments? I'm really sorry to hear about your constituent. Nobody wants to hear of children and young people being in that situation. Our guidance on bullying is statutory, and we expect all schools to have plans in…
12 November 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Anti-bullying Week: The mental health and well-being of learners
Thank you very much, Carolyn, for those comments. I really welcome the fact that the Petitions Committee is looking at these issues. The issues around mobile phones are complicated, I think. All schools currently are able to ban mobile phones in schools if…
