14 March 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language
Our school essentials grant has made a huge difference to a number of low-income families across Wales, helping to reduce concerns about the purchase of uniform and kit, for example. Funding of £13.6 million will be available …
28 November 2023 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Update on the implementation of Additional Learning Needs reforms
… that, as again she said in her question, relates to the variation in approaches between local authorities and schools . I use the word 'variation', rather than 'inconsistency', because there is a level of variation in how arrangements are … place in different local authorities, and that is a perfectly legitimate thing. You would not expect to see uniformity . I think a level of variation is what you would expect to see, but I think that is different …
19 October 2021 , Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
… aren't paid during school holidays. Isn't it time for the Government to ensure that the pay and conditions of our teaching assistants, as well as training opportunities, are put in place uniformly across Wales and that …
10 November 2021 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Spiking
… the home, in schools and colleges and in the workplace. To help achieve this, we must invest and sustainably fund initiatives that aim to prevent violence against women, and support for all survivors uniformly throughout Wales. Education …
10 July 2023 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
The public health approach to preventing gender-based violence: evidence session 7
… the school liaison officers. So, there's an opportunity for us to be quite innovative in some of this as well, and not just deliver what might be described by some as stale messages from the uniformed officer …
6 June 2023 , Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
… are there to strengthen community resilience on the estate: the food pantry, the recycling of clothes and of uniforms , the foodbank, the cafe, the repair cafe, the library of things—all of those things supported through the Welsh … success, the work, day in, day out, of faith groups on the estate, the new Cardiff West high school in Ely, the new Welsh-medium school in Ely, needing to be expanded because of the success it has …
11 January 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
… not full equity; it's got opportunities, and there are opportunities, but, again, using the school essentials grant is effectively a cut to that grant, isn't it? Because if we're putting extra burden on that grant … away because they've used that grant, but, actually, that grant is there to pay for their uniform and their PE kit and so on. So, it's really important to look more fully. So, partially, I think …
12 November 2025 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of the Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2024 - 2025
… also their families. And this means that they very often don't have the means to get to school , because they can only afford the bus maybe three days out of the five days a week. It means … other. It means that their homes are not heated, they may not have enough money to buy the uniform they need. It's my job …
16 February 2022 , Plenary
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Local Government elections
… life. We should be talking up the role that locally elected individuals can have in running their schools , in ensuring those who are most vulnerable are supported and ensuring people have great access to fantastic open spaces. Inspiring … about some of the contradiction in today's motion, because part of the motion does call for a uniform national system to elect members. That already exists. There's a uniform national system we have for electing councillors …
22 May 2024 , Plenary
Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal: A Bill for political education
… Dirprwy Lywydd, quote what they both told me. Leaola Roberts-Biggs said: 'Young people should not be left uniformed about politics and Welsh democracy. A young person wouldn’t be expected to choose a qualification...a job … Heledd. And then, Rhys Rowlandson said: 'I believe this bill is critical, because it is the crossover between school and the real world.' And we talk a lot about that here, don't we? 'It is a logical …
12 May 2025 , Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Minister for Children and Social Care
Yes, and obviously, the home- schooling that COVID provided shone an additional spotlight on this and raised it once again. But just a quick point, Minister Bowden, you mentioned the Welsh Government is struggling to deliver … that joint scrutiny could be happening concurrently at the same time across the border, so that there was uniformity , so that there were no gaps in provision between England and Wales, but then there was afforded an opportunity …
23 May 2023 , Plenary
Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: Update on Bus Services
… are the priority routes. We particularly want to make sure that, when schools return in September, there are school buses there for them, so that they are able to continue without interruptions—that has beeen a key focus … there's a patchwork of arrangements. That's why I think going to franchising creates a far more uniform pattern that we can have the same degree of consistency across Wales on. On the timetable for the work …
12 November 2025 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Remembrance and the armed forces community
… end to veterans' homelessness. It is a national disgrace that men and women who wore the country's uniform , who stood ready to risk everything for our freedoms and protections, are sleeping rough or are stuck in insecure … now. Secondly, we call for greater support for our service children. These young people face unique challenges: moving school repeatedly as parents are posted, coping with long absences as parents are away, and carrying worries that most children …
23 May 2023 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: Cost of Living
… seen that at Baobab Bach, and also through the very inspiring Big Bocs Bwyd initiative, which schools are embracing, which is also having an impact on the curriculum in terms of pupils engaging and learning about food … where we are in 2023, in this situation. Period dignity, obviously, we're funding those products, baby banks, uniform banks, and I have heard of such good schemes—we've heard about them today—where there is sharing …
8 May 2024 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms: evidence session
… that with statutory guidance. That is something that is available to all children and young people in the schools where it's working well. And I have met lots of children and young people who have really benefited … teaching that is geared towards their needs, and just because something is universal doesn’t mean it’s uniform . It is about responding to the needs of children and the curriculum is all about that. But where children …
11 November 2025 , Plenary
Debate: Remembrance
… the home of the Royal Navy in Wales. In my own constituency in Brecon, the Infantry Battle School prepares soldiers for the harsh realities of modern conflict. Its instructors, its staff and its trainees demonstrate professionalism of the … who support them. Their work—quiet, patient and often unseen—ensures that no-one who has worn the uniform is left to face their struggles alone. In a world marked by uncertainty, the call within this motion …
16 March 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
… commitment to free school meals—to really provide that level playing field and ensure that all our primary school children get a decent meal every day. Lots of financial support to our communities, led by the Minister for … being, healthy diets and personal dignity. You'll be aware that we've also encouraged baby banks and uniform banks, two things that I think really help families save money at this very difficult time. And I know …
10 February 2022 , Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Peer-on-peer sexual harassment among learners—Evidence session 1
… the young people we talked to talked about was about not being able also to feel themselves in school because of some of those incidents that are happening. I thought it was interesting in the coverage on the … pressure they felt. We talk about that in all kinds of ways in the report from comments about uniform through to how they're expected to behave with partners, and things like that. So, there are a lot …
7 December 2022 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Economy
… learnt is—and it builds on previous work—the earlier we can intervene, the better. So, work in schools before people get to 16 is really important to identify people with a real prospect of ending up not … into different sectors of the economy. As I say, you have this picture of—. It isn't a uniform picture where every area is shedding jobs. You've still got areas where people want people with skills and …