Alun Davies: The Welsh Government is committed to transforming the expectations, experiences and outcomes for all learners, including those with additional learning needs. The forthcoming introduction of the additional learning needs and education tribunal (Wales) Bill will be a key milestone in the transformation journey that is already under way.
Alun Davies: Speech and language therapy is provided to all children who are identified as having a need. Our additional learning needs transformation programme and associated ALN Bill will ensure the needs of learners are identified early and appropriate support is provided, including speech and language therapy.
Alun Davies: Speech and language therapy is provided to all children who are identified as having a need. Our additional learning needs transformation programme and associated ALN Bill will ensure the needs of learners are identified early and appropriate support is provided, including speech and language therapy.
Alun Davies: Across Wales, local authorities are now in the process of developing their Welsh in education strategic plans spanning 2017-20. We expect local authorities to present us with robust plans with challenging yet realistic targets ensuring Welsh-medium education flourishes and strengthens in their localities.
Alun Davies: Across Wales, local authorities are now in the process of developing their Welsh in education strategic plans spanning 2017-20. We expect local authorities to present us with robust plans with challenging yet realistic targets ensuring Welsh-medium education flourishes and strengthens in their localities.
Alun Davies: We need to see a significant increase in the number of children and young people in Welsh-medium education if we are to achieve our ambitious target of a million speakers by 2050. The final version of the Welsh language strategy will include targets to measure outcomes and delivery.
Alun Davies: I will maintain the spirit of agreement this afternoon by agreeing with the analysis in the question. It is important that we have targets that are reachable and which also allow us to reach our broader target on an all-Wales basis. I expect local authority WESPs to be presented by December this year, and those plans will show how local authorities expect to reach their targets during the...
Alun Davies: Yes, absolutely. I think Members across the Chamber will want to join together in welcoming the developments that we’re seeing, and developments in a constituency are certainly to be welcomed, as they are elsewhere. But, enabling children and young people to attend these educational institutions is absolutely essential. There’s no point opening doors if the students can’t reach there....
Alun Davies: The workforce development schemes have been very successful in the area of education, and we continue to invest in education to ensure that that success continues and that we can build on the foundations that we have. We have, as I was discussing with the Member in committee this morning, a budget agreement, and we will continue to discuss how we implement the budget agreement in order to...
Alun Davies: I hear the points that the Conservatives’ spokesperson has made. If she has any evidence that people aren’t getting the wage that they should, she’s free to write to me with details on that and I will be pleased to answer her. But, more generally, the Mudiad Meithrin, as you’ve suggested, is a vital part of our plans to expand and develop Welsh provision for early years children, and...
Alun Davies: We’re considering at present how we’re going to divvy up that money in the future, but I do agree with the points that have been made. Boosting the use of the Welsh language is just as important as learning or teaching Welsh. We do want to ensure that we are collaborating with the mentrau iaith to ensure that people have opportunities to use and speak and improve their Welsh, particularly...
Alun Davies: I hope that they will be able to help us do that. In terms of your earlier question, we haven’t reached final decisions on some of those matters. Those matters are still being discussed within Government. I gave an undertaking to write to the committee when we have concluded those discussions this morning, and I’ll circulate that more widely to Members if that’s required. In terms of...
Alun Davies: The statutory school organisation code requires a number of different factors to be taken into account by relevant bodies developing school reorganisation proposals, including the Welsh language. Wherever proposals affect schools where Welsh is a medium of instruction, local authorities should carry out a Welsh language impact assessment.
Alun Davies: I expect local authorities to be able to do that, and to ensure that they have the necessary expertise to have assessments that are comprehensive. If that isn’t true, or if you or any other Member has concerns about the system and how it works, you are welcome to write to me to ensure that we can change the system, if we need to do that.
Alun Davies: The Government will be responsible for ensuring that there is a workforce in every area that can make the provision that we need for the future. I welcome the addition to the budget that we have now, to be able to develop a workforce for the future. The Member will be aware that the Cabinet Secretary, Kirsty Williams, has made a statement this morning to say that there is a working group...
Alun Davies: Formally.
Alun Davies: Thank you very much, Llywydd, and thank you for the opportunity to respond to this discussion. I was listening to the contribution from every part of the Chamber and I had written on my notes here to thank Plaid Cymru for the way Llyr had opened the debate, and I had also written to thank you for the sense of consensus that is in each part of the Chamber. [Laughter.] So, at least I can be...
Alun Davies: Thank you very much, acting Presiding Officer. I’m sure we’re all grateful to everybody who’s brought Andrew to the Chamber, in all sorts of different ways. I think the first thing I’d like to say is that I certainly recognise the picture that’s been painted for us this afternoon. It isn’t my purpose in replying to this debate to try to either ignore the reality or paint a...
Alun Davies: It looks like I’m going to regret my generosity. [Laughter.] I certainly will make sure that we do contact each other, and we arrange those conversations. In many ways, although we sit on different sides of the Chamber, I know that the ambition is shared, and I don’t think that these matters are party political issues. I don’t simply think they’re a matter for Government and...
Alun Davies: Your comments are on the record and I will bring them to the attention of the Cabinet Secretary and we will write to you in response to that and try to do that positively; I don’t think there’s any discussion about the veracity of the points that you’ve made. In terms of the reforms that we’re seeking to make, we want a system where needs are identified early, addressed quickly, and...
