, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
I'm sure the committee will be really interested when that evaluation is done.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
There is.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
That's something that I wanted to take up in the next question, about how much this is about a parental view on the importance of attending school and the impact the pandemic has had. Because there is this marked difference in absence rates, but particularly…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
Now, you were clear, I think, when you became the education Secretary, about your priorities: the curriculum implementation, ALN—. So, you've then got three A's: ALN, achievement and attendance. And it's been a focus for you, but we haven't seen—. There's…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
General scrutiny session with the Welsh Government - Education
Thank you, Chair. Apologies for being late. I managed to go to the other side of the building. That is my fault and no-one else's. Although that links into my question, which is about improving attendance. [Laughter.] See what I did there?
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Thank you, First Minister, for highlighting the current value of the nuclear supply chain at both Hinkley and Sizewell. The nuclear supply chain in Wales comprises 345 different business organisations. When you spoke earlier about wanting to grow the economy…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the value of the nuclear supply chain to the economy of Wales? OQ63803
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Yes. We have considered this petition previously. Since then, we wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, and we've had a response back from her. Again, I think there's an element of disagreement between the Government and the petitioner, and there's a…
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Yes. Look, I don't have a problem with forwarding the petitioner's comments on, but I do agree with Joel that we should close the petition. I think this is one of those issues where we need to recognise there's a straightforward disagreement between what the…
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Thank you. I've met Mark Fisher, and I draw Members' attention to my declaration of interest, confirming my membership of a range of trade unions, including Unison, the union, although not the Neath Port Talbot branch. This petitioner has drawn to our…
, Petitions Committee
Updates to previous petitions
Yes—
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
I would like to indicate that for this item I won't be taking part. I know the petitioner; I am also aware of some of the issues, particularly on Cosmeston, which is in my constituency. I've undertaken a range of casework on the issue, and I don't think it…
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
Chair—
, Petitions Committee
New Petitions
The subject committee, the Equality and Social Justice Committee, has within this Senedd term published two reports on childcare, in 2022 and then in 2024 as well. So, there's been lots of consideration from the main subject committee. The petition highlights…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Annual Scrutiny of Medr
Right. I'll pause there, Chair, and I think there are other people who ought to ask questions.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Annual Scrutiny of Medr
I think that would be helpful. And just finally, there's this point about apprenticeships and a course of study over a period of time, and the flexibility to go into the world of work and be part of that as well. That's really attractive for a number of…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Annual Scrutiny of Medr
I want to come on to the numbers and the scale of the provision. Now, obviously, we've had real challenges within this Senedd term with the budget that's been available. We're now in a position where I think we're on track to deliver 100,000 starts; there'll…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Annual Scrutiny of Medr
That might be something for a future Senedd to want to look at: what that new programme looks like and the needs of the economy that are being anticipated as well as exist at that point in time as well, because we're, as ever, living through a period of…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Annual Scrutiny of Medr
So, it might be useful to give an example of whether you're able to do some of that in the courses as they're being delivered now, but also what that might mean. So, fabulous news yesterday that Awel y Môr and Erebus have got approval in the allocation round…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Annual Scrutiny of Medr
I think the difference is there's a great deal more clarity about those other areas. There's a strategic case for them being made, being made publicly alongside policy, and not surfacing during a budget in this way. So, it is still strikingly unusual. Can I…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Annual Scrutiny of Medr
And actually, the message for the rest of the sector about how that's come about I think is a difficult one. I appreciate this may be beyond your remit in Medr, but there is a real issue about one institution being able to make the case. And it's not gone…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Annual Scrutiny of Medr
So, it's not quite arm's length in this instance, because it's a direct award from the Government.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Annual Scrutiny of Medr
Before I move on to the next questions, I just want to run through part of the issues in higher education, and, in particular, the point that Natasha raised around the pressures that exist in the sector—they're sector-wide—and in particular for those…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Annual Scrutiny of Medr
I know Carolyn Thomas wants to come in.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Annual Scrutiny of Medr
What does that mean in terms of timescale and planning? Because there's a financial year, and then there's an academic year. At what point would colleges need to set out their proposals and what would that mean for learners and for staff? Are we talking about…
