Sarah Murphy: Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans to support young people seeking employment, education or training opportunities?
Sarah Murphy: ...on this support. There is no denying that if we cut the £20 from these household budgets every week, it will have a huge impact. It is the difference between being able to pay your bills, buy new school shoes for your children, or putting food on the table. In fact, cutting the £20 will mean that one in four people will very likely need to skip a meal, and one in five would very likely...
Sarah Murphy: ...racial harassment in the workplace, and, what's more, 40 per cent of those employees had reported cases to their employers and hadn't been taken seriously or just been simply ignored. In schools, the Show Racism the Red Card annual report found that 77 per cent of pupils in Wales had seen racially motivated offences, and this is echoed in the Race Alliance Wales 'Show Us You Care' report,...
Sarah Murphy: ...is not the promising digital century that we signed up for.' This is very much the case here in Wales at times too. How many of us are aware that biometric data is being collected from children in schools with their fingerprints being gained in exchange for free school meals, or the classroom apps that collect not only academic data, but also behavioural data on our children? And there is...
Sarah Murphy: 3. Will the Minister provide an update on the net-zero carbon targets for new school and college buildings in Wales? OQ57312
Sarah Murphy: ...all ages and backgrounds express the need for more green spaces within their communities and to protect and enhance existing spaces. I recently received ideas from students at West Park Primary School, Porthcawl Primary School and Nottage Primary School for their dream park. A combination of nature and well-being were the overwhelming themes for so many of the pupils, with ideas including...
Sarah Murphy: Diolch, and I want to say a huge thank you to the Minister for his commitment to ensuring that net zero is a priority for our twenty-first century schools. It's an absolutely fantastic development commitment. As our climate change Minister said earlier, it is a wonderful part of our roles to be able to speak to pupils of all ages across our constituencies, and I'm constantly inspired by how...
Sarah Murphy: ...Welsh Rugby Union will stop girls playing mixed under-12 and under-13 rugby. Evelyn is an excellent player, and captain for Bridgend sports under-12s, as well as playing for Brynteg Comprehensive School. I did meet with the Welsh Rugby Union to ask why and how this decision to exclude girls from mixed rugby was made. The Welsh Rugby Union, so far, have not provided any evidence that a fair...
Sarah Murphy: Minister, children in my constituently as young as 11 and 12 are having to walk 45 minutes to school and back from Cornelly to Cynffig Comprehensive School in Pyle. I have met over 20 parents who have told me that they would not normally allow their children to leave the village without their supervision, and so they are very worried about their safety as their children have to walk to school...
Sarah Murphy: 3. What assessment has the Minister made of the collection and use of pupils' biometric data in schools? OQ57698
Sarah Murphy: Thank you. In March 2020, the European Data Protection Board imposed a fine on a Polish school for using biometric data, or fingerprints, for 680 children in the school canteen in exchange for their school meals. Whilst it was noted that the school had received written consent from parents, the board stressed that biometric data was not essential for lunchtime practices. They could not carry...
Sarah Murphy: ...a beautiful and very powerful and emotional local vigil to listen and stand with the people of Ukraine last week. First Minister, people want to help and do what they can, from local businesses to school pupils. This is our community at its best. But we must never forget that, at the heart of this, there are people who have now suffered great trauma. We see this on our tv screens, our...
Sarah Murphy: 8. How is the Welsh Government promoting healthy relationships in the school curriculum? OQ57899
Sarah Murphy: Thank you, Minister. I also really want to thank you for your recent trip to Coychurch Primary School in Bridgend to see pupils take part in a Spectrum Cymru session to learn about feeling safe and expressing emotions. As a relatively new Member of the Senedd, one of my favourite parts of my role is visiting schools and talking to young people about their priorities, and in the last few weeks...
Sarah Murphy: ...of an unequal childcare system. I must state as well that I welcome the latest news from the Welsh Government on the extension to access to childcare for three and four-year-olds for parents in education and training, as well as those taking adoption leave, and I look forward to progress on the co-operation agreement, which is set to deliver childcare for two-year-olds. But we cannot...
Sarah Murphy: ...regardless of their background. Poverty in housing should never be a barrier. That is why I fully support the Welsh Government's young person's guarantee for all those under 25 to be offered a job, education, an apprenticeship or support for starting a business. I'm also optimistic to see how the universal basic income pilot for all care leavers will help to empower, and I am pleased that...
Sarah Murphy: 8. How is the Welsh Government supporting schools to identify and assess special educational needs in early years settings across Bridgend? OQ58055
Sarah Murphy: ...settings across my constituency in Bridgend, which I know are pleased to be able to return to pre-COVID routines and activities to benefit the children in their care. For many parents and pupils, schools and early years settings can often be the start of the journey for additional learning needs assessment. As we know, having trained staff and support systems that can identify early...
Sarah Murphy: ...key issues that young people raise with me across Bridgend and Porthcawl. In Bridgend last week, it was great to host our young person's fair on this very topic with Bridgend Youth Council, where schools, pupils and local support groups came together to discuss how we can make mental health provision better for young people in our community. Because, as with a lot of issues, or all issues...
Sarah Murphy: ...s great to hear about the opportunities that are going to arise from that strategy. I recently spoke with the Institute of Physics, who have been running the Our Space Our Future scheme across nine schools in Wales, including year 8 at Brynteg Comprehensive School in my constituency. The scheme aims to shift perceptions of space from being a career path for a small minority to an industry...
