Written question WQ100299
- Asked by
- Iain McIntoshReform
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 9 days
Question
Will the Cabinet Minister publish any criteria, guidance or approved procurement frameworks used in the selection of books for schools receiving support under the primary school library rollout programme?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language (Anna Brychan)
The Curriculum for Wales guidance states all learners should benefit from access to a wealth of literature which is rich and substantial and engages learners intellectually and emotionally. It should also include a range of contemporary literature and literature from different periods in the past. This allows them to encounter a wide range of authors, experiences and viewpoints and helps them develop empathy, critical thinking and a lifelong enjoyment of reading.
The Welsh Government has committed to ensuring that every primary school in Wales has a library space by 2030, giving children access to a dedicated environment for reading in both Welsh and English. To understand the level of investment required to deliver this commitment, officials will be working with local authorities over the coming months to assess existing provision and ensure that every primary school in Wales receives the right level of support for this commitment.
To be clear, Education is devolved. The Welsh Government’s commitment reflects the priorities of Curriculum for Wales and the needs of learners in Wales and is separate from the primary school libraries programme being delivered by the National Literacy Trust in England.