, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you very much, Siân, and can I say I think this is a really important issue? From my previous job, I think psychologists play an incredibly important role. I'm really pleased that we've invested over £2.6 million between 2022 and 2024-25, to train new…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Educational psychologists play an important role in schools in north Wales. We are investing £2.6 million to train and retain new educational psychologists. We are in discussion today with Gwynedd local authority to listen to their proposal to train…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you very much, Buffy, and I think you're right to highlight that we have seen a change in behaviour since COVID. We're seeing a lot of societal problems coming into school, we're seeing children and young people with much more complex needs, children…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you, Janet. Your contribution there also highlighted how complex the issues are around attendance. So, you referred to things like additional learning needs. There are lots of reasons why children aren't attending school, and it is absolutely vital that…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
As you rightly highlight, there are multiple reasons why children don't attend school, and one of them is linked to poverty. We know that attendance rates are poorer, much poorer, for children who are on free school meals. I think, as a Government, we have…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Diolch. We continue to work with the national attendance taskforce to identify actions we can take to improve attendance. Areas of focus include the role of youth workers, peer-to-peer learning and networking, communication and engagement, and data analysis.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you, Heledd, for those further questions. You packed a lot in there, really, for one question, but I'll do my best. In terms of behaviour and the concerns that schools have about the climate that they're operating in, those are really important issues…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Diolch, Heledd. Can I just, first of all, take the opportunity to place on record my heartfelt thanks to everyone working in our schools? I recognise we are asking a lot of schools at the moment. They're implementing major reforms at the same time as…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you for that final question, and can I say that I do believe the First Minister has given all the information he was required to to the COVID inquiry? He's made absolutely clear he's very willing to continue answering questions from the COVID inquiry. I…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Well, I think this is a bit desperate, I've got to say that, Tom. And I am a little bit disappointed, really, that you haven't used your questions for something that is more directly related to education. This was four years ago. I was a backbencher and a…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you for that question. I am really concerned about the way a message, which was basically a chat after a group meeting, has been blown up into the thing that it has been blown up into. I do actually remember the group meeting. I was Chair of the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you very much, Paul. Can I just assure you that we do indeed recognise the unique value of outdoor learning and the benefit it brings for children and young people, including supporting the development of healthy and active lifestyles, developing…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
The benefits of outdoor learning are promoted through the Curriculum for Wales. We know it is a key enabler for children to explore, practise and enhance their skills whilst supporting their social, emotional, spiritual and physical development.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you very much, Russell, I wasn’t aware of that situation in your constituency, so it’s very helpful to know that. I think I’m in the same place as my predecessor, really. Obviously, we want to make sure that the legislation is working for children and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Thank you very much, Delyth. Obviously, I recognise the challenges that lots of families are facing at the moment during the cost-of-living crisis. You’ll be aware that all local authorities have to provide free transport according to the Learner Travel…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Diolch, Delyth. The Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport and I are currently in discussions regarding his plans for learner travel in Wales.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms: evidence session
Thank you. Thank you for having us.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms: evidence session
Of course, yes.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms: evidence session
Thank you.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms: evidence session
Absolutely, and we've got a monitoring project that is looking at what data we need to develop. We've started publishing our personalised assessment reports. Obviously, we publish GCSE data. And you're absolutely right, the kids who went through the Programme…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms: evidence session
Go and look at the legislation, Gareth, if you don't believe me. You will see that knowledge is in there. We are looking, as I said, as part of the additional scaffolding that we're looking to provide, to make sure that there is that consistent support for…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms: evidence session
—and it's certainly not helpful to try and suggest that I am saying anyone is lying. Luke Sibieta has done that work. I value his opinion. He's on my list to meet to talk about the IFS report, and I'm really keen to listen not just to all the stakeholders…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms: evidence session
Well, it's not helpful to talk about people lying, is it, let's be fair, Gareth—
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms: evidence session
Well, I'm really keen that we have a really strong focus on literacy and numeracy. We have a numeracy action plan. We've got work in train on literacy as well. I'm really keen that that's a high priority in everything that we're doing, and as I said, there…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Implementation of education reforms: evidence session
I'm saying that I don't agree with them that knowledge is not key to the new curriculum, and I think that's pretty clear, really. I have read the report carefully. I'm particularly worried about the attainment gap between our most disadvantaged children in…
