Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Llyr. Can I just provide you with some assurance that the humanities AoLE working group in particular has taken full account of the Cwricwlwm Cymreig report, as well as a range of experts, including Elin Jones, who has been very helpful in making sure that we get this right to ensure that both Wales and history and the Welsh dimension are reflected appropriately across...
Kirsty Williams: Well, of course, what's really important is that we will have a language continuum, which we will expect children to move along. What's really important is that that focus will be on using the language as a means of communication, not just something that you learn just to be able to write. And what we want to do is improve the linguistic ability of children in both languages to ensure that,...
Kirsty Williams: Presiding Officer, I'm very pleased that we're having this debate today. [Signs in BSL.] And I'd like to thank the committee for their work in this area and for its report and the recommendations. I wrote to the Chair last November with the Welsh Government's response, so I do not propose to replicate all that in detail now this afternoon. But to be absolutely clear, the Welsh Government has...
Kirsty Williams: One of the options that we are actively considering is indeed a national charter for the delivery of services and resources to deaf children, young people and their families. We envisage that that charter, between the Welsh Government, local authorities and other partners, would help us understand current provision. It would also reflect the good practice guidance and standards being...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I open this debate today by thanking Meilyr Rowlands for his annual report, the first based on Estyn's new inspection arrangements that were introduced in September 2017. This report provides us with valuable information based on Estyn's analysis of evidence from inspections about performance and standards across Wales. As a Government, we...
Kirsty Williams: Can I begin, Deputy Presiding Officer, by thanking Members for their contribution this afternoon? If I could begin by addressing some of the comments made by Suzy Davies, I'm not the one who's claiming that the culture of co-operation and self-improvement is moving apace. That's what is reported back from the chief inspector himself, and it is that move towards teachers working with other...
Kirsty Williams: Now, the Member made the point around non-maintained settings, and the report itself doesn't say whether the drop in numbers is a good thing or a bad thing. What it does say—and the Member is right to point out—is that it is not simply the preserve of the maintained settings to offer excellence to our youngest learners. In fact, the quality of our non-maintained sector is commented upon...
Kirsty Williams: I agree with you that there are certain schools that appear in red categorisation and in Estyn categorisation too often, and we could probably all, between us, name those schools, which is why I made reference in my speech to changing the role of Estyn so they're not simply there to make a judgment—they have to be part of that school improvement, they have to be more proactive in school...
Kirsty Williams: I formally move.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I thank the Conservatives for tabling the debate and can I thank Members for speaking in the debate? Whilst I would not necessarily agree with what Members on the Conservative benches or the Plaid Cymru benches have said, can I just say how grateful I am that they are interested enough in Welsh education to participate? Deputy Presiding...
Kirsty Williams: No, I need to finish, if you don't mind, Andrew.
Kirsty Williams: I recognise, when I go out to schools, I see the pressure our teachers are under—of course I do. But I also very clearly see their commitment, their passion and their drive to get the best possible outcomes for the children that they teach. But I recognise that they need further support to match their commitment, and that's why I welcome the work of the Children, Young People and Education...
Kirsty Williams: Local authorities are responsible for funding schools in Wales. Welsh Government has prioritised support for schools through the local government settlement. We also continue to provide significant additional grant funding to support our educational reforms and improve outcomes for learners.
Kirsty Williams: I have taken action to support budgets for local authorities in order to safeguard front-line services in schools. Educational funding remains a key priority for this Government, in spite of continued austerity.
Kirsty Williams: The foundation phase is the bedrock of our education system and has been identified as a significant strength of current educational practice in Wales.
Kirsty Williams: I introduced pupil development grant—access in 2018-19 to provide additional support directly to families who need it most, helping them with some of the costs of the school day. This includes help for extra-curricular activities such as scouts, guides or sports. In 2019-20, we have more than doubled this funding.
Kirsty Williams: The twenty-first century schools and education programme has already delivered schools and colleges across Wales that incorporate valuable community resources, including those in Islwyn High School. In our second wave of investment, we will continue to invest in facilities that benefit the wider community, including wider asset use and co-location of services.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Hefin. Each local authority is responsible for determining how much funding is allocated to each individual school. School budgets are determined by a local funding formula and authorities must consult their schools budget forums and all schools in their area when setting or making changes to a funding formula.
Kirsty Williams: Of course, Hefin, that dialogue continues every day in my department. Only last week, senior officials of the education department were meeting with the Association of School and College Leaders to discuss with them their concerns. I continue to challenge both regional consortia and local authorities with regard to ensuring that as much money as possible reaches the front line of our...
Kirsty Williams: Oscar, it is important that local authorities are responsible for school funding in Wales, and that is set out in law. I'm not sure if the Member is advocating removing that power away from our colleagues in local government. I certainly think that our partners in local government would take a very strong view about removing that power from them. It's also important to realise that there is...
