Written question WQ84560

To equip all schools to realise the new curriculum, over £12 million has been invested in a national Curriculum for Wales Development Programme. This programme has been developed and delivered by regional consortia and local authority partnerships. The nationally agreed approach to support the new curriculum provides scope for some variation in delivery to meet bespoke requirements at a local level. Regional consortia and local authority partnerships are also developing networks and providing bespoke support for schools to grow practitioner confidence.

There are ongoing challenges to professional learning due to the pandemic; however the mix of live and asynchronous support has been well received by the profession. Although Covid is still having a significant impact on schools, regions/partnerships have reflected the strong appetite for professional learning for the new curriculum, with positive engagement, where schools are in a position to do so.

Work is underway to refresh the National Approach to Professional Learning, through our commitment to introduce a National Professional Learning Entitlement. The Entitlement will ensure that professional learning provision is easier to navigate and access, with clearer signposting aligned to the National Approach.

Since 2020, we have funded three additional national professional learning INSET days to accelerate support for schools in the lead up to the new curriculum. Based on release time/cover costs, this additional investment equates to circa £10.5 million, providing much needed time and space for practitioners to work together to prepare for the new curriculum.

During 2021-22, there has been a further £12 million investment in professional learning, awarded directly to schools with a further £3 million awarded to the regions to support professional learning network schools. This funding has supported a broad range of professional learning developments including coaching and leadership development, with practitioners working within their own settings and across clusters.

For 2022, we have again secured an opportunity for our education professionals to access the 2022 World Education Summit to further support their professional learning. As well as live access to this four-day event next month, practitioners will again also be able to draw on conference resources for 12 months after the event to support ongoing professional learning.