, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
Well, that is not what I said. I was talking about—
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
Yes. I won't repeat what I said to the committee earlier this week or what I've just said to you, but there is a much broader approach to outdoor learning and outdoor education, which the curriculum requires and supports schools to deliver. But, on the…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
From my reading of the letter this morning, there is a sense, I think, in the letter, that our approach to this is contradictory, but there isn't a contradiction. Let me try and spell it out in this way, Chair, if I may: if the intention of the Bill is to…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
Well, I think in the way that I've just said, Chair. The Bill obviously imposes on the Welsh Government an obligation to fund, but there are implications for families that go beyond that, so I think that needs to be taken into account. The other thing to say…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
I have reflected considerably on that. As I said to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee earlier this week, I am very enthusiastic myself about outdoor learning and the potential that brings. I think, beyond doubt, that is a positive experience…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
The underpinning principle in the curriculum reforms was that the content itself wouldn't be on the face of the Bill—that that would articulate the key knowledge and skills and experiences and then provide schools with the flexibility to choose how to meet…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
No, we haven't, but my officials and I have had two meetings with the Member in charge to discuss the Bill and its aims. I've also made an offer to the Member in the Chamber, but outside the Chamber as well, to work together to seek to deliver the aims of the…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill - evidence session 8
No, Chair, I'm happy to take any questions as we go through them. If it's helpful, I'm happy to provide a written response to the committee as well.
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
Well, can I just echo the point that John Griffiths has made? It was a fantastic way to start the day at Maindee primary, seeing the work of the young interpreters, who are an incredibly passionate group of young people, who interpret school guidance for…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
Well, I thank Jenny Rathbone for those three questions. In relation to the school holiday enrichment programme, I should have responded to Heledd Fychan with this figure—apologies. Last year, the 175 schemes that ran were able to offer just over 11,000 places…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
I thank Heledd Fychan for those questions. I agree with almost every point that she made. The questions are fair ones. So, what are we doing in terms of school uniforms? That can be a barrier, as we know. So, it's a combination of extending the essentials…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
Well, I think I agreed with the Member up until the end of the first paragraph of her question. There were a number of statements with which I disagree fundamentally. I'll limit my response to a few of the key examples. In relation to the attainment gap, she…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
Dirprwy Lywydd dros dro, to support children to grow, aspire and thrive we need to ensure that they are rooted in a strong learning environment, with affirmation at school, at home and in their community. Our ambition is for all schools to be community…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
Thank you, acting Deputy Presiding Officer. Tackling the impact of poverty on educational attainment is central to our national mission in education. We have made progress, and I want to put on record my thanks to the education workforce for all their work…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
Thank you very much. Diolch yn fawr.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
Yes. Indeed.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
It certainly is.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
No, I don't think so, Chair. I did want to make the point, which you allowed me to make earlier, about distinguishing our support for outdoor education on the one hand from our reservations on this particular Bill on the other. And I'm also conscious, not…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
Certainly, yes.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
Not on the compulsory side of things. But if the question is how do we make sure that schools in Wales are providing more outdoor education for pupils as a core part of the curriculum, making that a real experience in the lives of increasing numbers of…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
Well, there are some things we've touched on already today. I guess the two things that are most significant, I think—. The EM talks about duties on local authorities, the Bill imposes duties on the Welsh Government and there are obligations on schools. I…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
Sure, sure. The fixed point here—I'll give you a 'yes' or 'no' answer in a second—just to give you context, is what the guidance is asking Ministers to do. So, that's the start of the analysis, and the guidance is asking Ministers to do things that guidance…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
The fixed point here is—.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
I think that the mechanism proposed in the Bill is the right mechanism. The point that I was making to Adam was that the guidance seeks to do more than guidance can, really.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Residential Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session
Well, the question that I'm trying to answer is what mandatory is. There isn't a definition currently of what we are talking about here. I wouldn't argue that it's a sensible thing to have an element of residential provision that is mandatory in the…
