Ken Skates: Children can be exposed to higher levels of pollution when travelling to and from school than when on school grounds. I recently issued guidance instructing local authorities to give special consideration to the risks posed to children by air pollution, whether at home, in school or travelling between the two.
Mark Drakeford: The School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 requires that, before school organisation proposals are published, they must first be subject to consultation. Our school organisation code sets a high standard for consultation, ensuring those with an interest can express their views and those views are conscientiously taken into account.
Kirsty Williams: The operational guidance sets out the mitigating measures schools and settings should take. In responding to the latest SAGE and TAG report, I have strengthened the mitigating measures. All learners and staff in secondary schools and colleges should now wear face coverings everywhere outside of the classroom, including on school transport.
Kirsty Williams: The twenty-first century schools programme has seen an investment of nearly £33 millon in Bridgend schools within the Senedd term, of which over £19 million was funded by Welsh Government. Of this, over £11 million will have been spent in the Ogmore constituency, primarily in Pencoed Primary School and Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr.
Jeremy Miles: Local authorities are responsible for planning school places. When proposing significant changes to any school, local authorities and other proposers must comply with the statutory provisions of the school organisation code and must take into account a range of factors, with the prime consideration being the interests of learners.
Lee Waters: My officials have been in discussions with local authorities and school transport providers throughout Wales regarding the general cost of school transport, as they continue to discharge their statutory duties in providing home-to-school transport to learners.
Llyr Gruffydd: ...like to ask you, Cabinet Secretary: what would you say to those people who felt, according to the research again from Qualifications Wales, that allowing only the first result to count towards a school performance measure would essentially be no different to completely removing the option of early entry because of the pressures that have been playing out previously, that the same pressure...
Kirsty Williams: In 2016, the Welsh co-operative and mutuals commission did a review, which recommended a co-operative ethos should be the central organising principle of the education system in Wales. Our national mission of education reform, developed through co-construction, is building an inclusive and equitable education system which supports every learner.
Kirsty Williams: Our national mission for Wales sets out how education in Wales is moving forward to secure the effective implementation of the new curriculum. The continuing education reforms ensure all learners have access to a high standard of education.
Mark Drakeford: In September 2016, the Minister for Education established the higher education Brexit working group as a forum to co-ordinate intelligence and provide advice to Government on the short to long-term impact of Brexit on universities. The Minister for Education met the group following their meeting yesterday, which focused on 'no deal'.
Jeremy Miles: I have already committed to having discussions with all colleges regarding their vision for post-16 education in Wales. The FE sector has a huge contribution to make in realising our vision for post-compulsory education and training in line with the Tertiary Education and Research Bill.
David Lloyd: ...insulted and vilified the Welsh language, causing persistent humiliation and shame for generations to come. That’s what we’ve got to still, partially, be answerable to these days. The education Act brought primary school education in the medium of English to all. The Welsh Not was hung around Welsh-speaking children’s necks and, if you still had it around your neck at the end of the...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...endless austerity from a generation of politicians, let’s be honest, who faced none of those in their day. We all know that investment in early years is crucial for positive outcomes in terms of education and health, and in particular in preventing some of the problems that can arise later on in life. Developments in neuroscience are also showing that the teenage years can be just as...
Jane Hutt: ...substantially our discretionary assistance fund, and also, as you say, it's as a result of part of our co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, the fact that we have those commitments for primary school pupils of free school meals that have rolled out. Can I just also say that it's really important that it's extending to free school meal holiday provision, being available now for children...
Joyce Watson: ...that the individual who thinks it's okay never finds himself in need, because then he'll know how it feels. But the point I wanted to ask you, Minister, is what conversations you've had to try and educate the Tories in Westminster about providing proper free childcare for 48 weeks, for example. You've already mentioned it covers in Wales education and training opportunities to help those...
Neil McEvoy: ...Minister for finance, who supported the ‘chwarae teg for English medium’ campaign in my council ward in Fairwater in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The whole thrust of the campaign was that Welsh-medium schools get everything, and that’s shameful. I ask you to make sure nothing like that happens again, because it’s wrong. What I’m really proud of now is that in Cardiff and Wales a lot of...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Jenny. From the outset of the programme the regional consortia and the local authorities have worked closely with their Schools Challenge Cymru schools to encourage and embed appropriate collaboration. My officials will continue to work with the regions to ensure that this good practice is maintained and shared across the entire system.
Vaughan Gething: Welsh Government recognises the important role provision of registered after-school clubs play in supporting families. The clubs not only provide valuable opportunities for school age children to play, develop skills, and make new friends, but also support working parents ensuring their children are cared for in a safe appropriate environment.
Mark Drakeford: Improving the mental health and well-being of children and young people continues to be a priority. We invest in a range of approaches, including our recent announcement to develop a whole-school approach, which aims to make emotional health and well-being central to the way schools work.
Kirsty Williams: I refer the Assembly Member to my responses on 25 April and 19 September 2018. Schools funding is the responsibility of local authorities as is set out in law in Wales. There are no current proposals to review the way in which schools are funded.
