, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Additional learning needs
I am entirely convinced that the quality of an education system depends entirely on the quality of its workforce. I am very proud of the committed workforce that we have here in Wales and its commitment to continue to learn and improve. We've developed a…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Additional learning needs
I thank Mark Isherwood for that intervention. We are currently looking at that particular issue of teacher workload, particularly among ALN co-ordinators. I don't know which union made these comments, but I'm certain that they will be involved with that work…
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Additional learning needs
Yes.
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Additional learning needs
Thank you, Llywydd. Alongside the Curriculum for Wales, the intention of our ALN system is to ensure that every learner that needs additional learning provision has support that is planned appropriately, and that this is consistent across Wales. I can give…
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Additional learning needs
Formally.
, Plenary
Debate on Children, Young People and Education Committee Report—'Mental Health support in Higher Education'
The committee's report expressed concerns that students were not accessing everything they are entitled to financially. Earlier this year, we announced an additional £2.3 million to support universities' health and well-being strategies. We all know how…
, Plenary
Debate on Children, Young People and Education Committee Report—'Mental Health support in Higher Education'
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I'd like to thank the committee for bringing forward this important debate and for the contribution of the young people to the inquiry. The committee is entirely right that we must ensure that students have the support that they…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, the Member makes an important point, and congratulations to Laura Santiago for the work that she's doing in Trebannws school. There is good practice in many schools in Wales—that's what we heard when we consulted on the school uniform guidance recently…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Our school essentials grant has made a big difference to many lower income families across Wales, helping to reduce the worry surrounding the purchase of school uniform and equipment. Funding of £13.6 million has been made available for this grant in 2023-24.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
That's a really important question. Thank you to Vikki Howells for raising it. I was recently in an FE college in north Wales actually when we made the announcement of the further investment, and it's clear to me that colleges are very creatively looking for…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
May I wish the Member a happy birthday as well? Since 2019, over £17 million has been allocated to the further education sector to fund initiatives and projects to support the mental health and well-being of both learners and staff. In 2023-24, a further…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
As the Member will know, the system we have in Wales is based on the fact that it's local authorities that fund schools directly. But, to provide the financial support to ensure that that is possible, of course, the Welsh Government, last year, had…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, particularly in financially challenging times, it is vital that all communication channels are used and are active. I engage closely with local government on budget issues and I meet leaders, through the finance sub-group and other groups, as…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, as the Member will know, the Learner Travel Measure (Wales) 2008 provides certain minimum standards for transport requirements, and there is a review of that under way at the moment. The Member will also know about the work the Deputy Minister is doing…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
We've invested £2.5 million in the education welfare service this year, to enable the service to provide earlier support, before issues escalate, and more intensive support to learners with high absence levels. In addition, draft attendance guidance to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, it's important to ensure that schools are supported with resources and materials to deliver the curriculum, and, as the Member knows, every school that teaches the curriculum now teaches a proportion of their classes through the medium of Welsh, and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
We work closely with local authorities to support them in the implementation of their Welsh in education strategic plans to ensure that all learners in Wales have access to quality Welsh-medium education, and we have plans in place to ensure that that happens.
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Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, the Member makes an important point at the end there that it's not solely about teachers in the Welsh-medium sector; it's also about teachers teaching Welsh in English-medium schools as well. I think we need to be clear that there's a range of need…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, the encouraging news is that every authority has bid for some of this funding, and a certain amount has been provided to every authority. But the truth is that every part of Wales is in a different place in terms of its journey in providing late…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
I've committed £6.6 million over the reminder of this Senedd term to expand immersion provision across Wales. Almost £1 million is being invested over a three-year period to establish new provisions in Rhondda Cynon Taf and in the Vale of Glamorgan, and to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Well, I hope the answer that I just gave to Jack Sargeant provides some reassurance to the Member that I will ask my officials to work with the WLGA to support schools specifically, to understand what the particular barriers are and how best they can be…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
I'm happy to do that, Llywydd. Generally speaking, where a school is interested in running a holiday club, they will contact their local authority in the first instance, and then local authorities can put them in contact with other providers who might be…
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Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The Welsh Government continues to grow the school holiday enrichment programme, SHEP, and £4.85 million has been allocated for the programme for this year. The Deputy Minister for Social Services and I work closely to ensure alignment between SHEP and the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
The Member makes a very important point, and more powerfully so for having been based on his own experience of it, of course. He's right to say I don't have direct powers in relation to it, but the reason I launched this work programme over a year ago is…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
We had a discussion yesterday, in fact, at the meeting that I referred to yesterday in relation to the progress that is being made by that group, and it's very much got teaching assistants at the heart of it and leading some aspects of it, which I think is a…
