Written question WQ92773

The information set out below on the ‘First Experiences’ programme has been provided by the National Music Service, for which the lead body is the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). The verified statistical data for Year 1 of the programme indicates that it had engaged with 70 per cent of primary schools and 18 per cent of primary school learners.

The National Music Service has established a baseline set of data, supplemented by annual data, to support monitoring systems. The figures set out in the tables below derive from:

• the Year 1 data return (full academic year 2022-23)

• the ‘mid-way’ data return (autumn and spring terms, academic year 2023-24)

The full data return for the full academic year 2023-24 is due in July 2024 and the verification process for this will be completed by October 2024.

National overview:

The figures below set out the number of engagements between the ‘First Experiences’ programme and schools and learners. Some schools and learners will have received support under the programme, in both academic years. Therefore, there will be some duplication in the schools and learners captured in the headline figures below, between academic years.

Schools

Learners

Wales

Yr. 1: 859

Yr. 2 (2 terms): 842

Total: 1,701

Yr.1: 48,019

Yr. 2: 33,111

Total: 81,130

Data per county:

Where music services cover more than one local authority area, the data below is combined.

Music service area

Schools

Learners

Anglesey and Gwynedd

Yr. 1: 31 Yr. 2: 40 Total: 71

Yr. 1: 0 Yr. 2: 911 Total: 911

Conwy

Yr. 1: 0 Yr. 2: 15 Total: 15

Yr. 1: 273 Yr. 2: 1,278 Total: 1,551

Denbighshire

Yr. 1: 57 Yr. 2: 61 Total: 118

Yr. 1: 1,450 Yr. 2: 1,992 Total: 3,442

Flintshire

Yr. 1: 54 Yr. 2: 62 Total: 116