Joel James: ...this creates inequality amongst children, where those children with access to sports have more confidence, resilience and better self-esteem. Given the need to support parents in providing after-school childcare provision, and thinking of the health and well-being of our future generations, will the Minister make a commitment to provide additional resources so that all schools can provide...
Joel James: ...in 2008, and, since 2015, the Welsh Government has provided funding through the Wales and Africa programme for Fair Trade Wales to promote organisations to become fair-trade partners and provide educational outreach on the benefits of fair trade. Fair Trade Wales currently reports that they work with only 30 local fair-trade groups, 200 schools and 18 out of the 22 local authorities. They...
Joel James: Thank you, Minister, for allowing us the opportunity to address the amendments to the additional learning needs and education tribunal Act, legislation that promises to have a substantial impact on education in Wales. Though initial discussions on this Act predate my election, I understand that following—[Inaudible.]
Joel James: Yes, I can hear you now—perfect. Okay, thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you, Minister, for allowing us the opportunity to address the amendments to the additional learning needs and education tribunal Act, legislation that promises to have a substantial impact on education in Wales. Though initial discussions on this Act predate my election, I understand that, following early...
Joel James: ...their subscriptions and donations, the Welsh Labour Party. The Deputy Minister must clearly see how this is not only unethical behaviour, but a tremendous slap in the face of hospitals, charities, schools and councils who are crying out for extra funding to deliver basic services. The Deputy Minister should no doubt be able to see another glaring problem in that the whole system, by its...
Joel James: ...qualified staff who are prepared to work part time, which would then affect the overall availability of services. This raises another important question as to whether schoolchildren would also be educated four days a week, or would schools have to employ a full set of qualified teaching staff for just one day. I note that Plaid Cymru and Luke mentioned Iceland, but that country's proposal...
Joel James: ...mathematics talent and the number of fintechs in a region. Locations that do not have a ready supply of STEM talent are much less likely to have a prevalence of fintech, with at least three higher education providers required for an area to be able to provide a big enough talent pool. Wales needs more geneticists, therapists, chemists, engineers, STEM teachers, environmental scientists and...
Joel James: ...for their needs. So, with that in mind, I would like to take this opportunity to re-emphasise the need for a national charter in Wales to help with the delivery of services and resources, including education, for deaf children, young people and their families. Such a charter would enable local authorities to plan and resource support within a nationally recognised framework and help to...
Joel James: ...by the police and health professionals when they report alleged spiking—basically that they have drunk too much, or they can't handle their drink. Worryingly, a survey conducted by the Alcohol Education Trust has, in some way, revealed the extent of this problem. This survey of 750 people found that 35 per cent of drinks were spiked at private parties, and 28 per cent in nightclubs, 13...
Joel James: ...that are significant to them and their communities, but that haven't met the requirements set out by Cadw as having historic or architectural significance. One such example is Cowbridge Girls' School in the Vale of Glamorgan, which was the first purpose-built secondary school for girls in Wales, and the first to have, I understand, a purpose-built science laboratory for girls' education in...
Joel James: ...hasn't properly understood. Secondly, to expand on this argument I want to very briefly touch upon a point mentioned in the 'Well-being of Wales: 2021' report, under the gender section, concerning education. It's reported that from foundation phase to key stage 3, a higher proportion of girls than boys achieve the expected outcomes. Girls also continue to achieve better educational...
Joel James: —are NEETs. Again, given the sampling data does not accurately consider the complexity of the data, such as the relative mobility of young people and those attending further education, colleges or independent schools, the percentage of 16 to 24-year-olds who are NEET in reality could already be much lower and, in theory, it could already be met. It implies that the Government is bereft of...
Joel James: 5. Will the First Minister make a statement on Welsh Government initiatives to develop workplace skills for secondary school learners? OQ57561
Joel James: ...practical competence, and 66 per cent partially caused by a lack of people and personal skills, such as the ability to manage one's own time and prioritise tasks. We all agree that a good academic education is important for the workplace, but we must recognise that these abilities can be wasted if a person does not have the complementary skills that are needed to obtain employment. This...
Joel James: ...for Climate Change, and within your own portfolio, Deputy Minister, many of the responsibilities that lie with the children's commissioner, for example, come under the remit of the Minister for education, and not yourself. Whilst I would never expect the Deputy Minister to ever admit to it in public that this issue exists, in the spirit of getting the best for the people of Wales, will the...
Joel James: I am speaking today in support of saving Cowbridge old girls' school from demolition, and to speak on behalf of everyone who wants to see this building brought back to life. The issue is a complex one in that the school building is subject to an owner who wants to sell it and release its value, likely meaning its demolition, a local community that wants to keep it, and Cadw, who refuse to...
Joel James: ..., compared to 0.1 per cent of the whole population. The report also highlighted that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children have a greater difficulty in engaging with youth offending teams and education provision when in custody. The reasons for this are extremely complex, but there seems to be a connection to when children are first taken into custody and their overall experience and...
Joel James: ...of our communities, we need to do more to help them repurpose these religious and other historic buildings. Recently, I met with a housing association concerning their plans to demolish an old school in my region, and one of the reasons why they're doing this instead of renovating it is because of the building's poor energy efficiency and the lack of financial support to do anything to...
Joel James: 5. What assessment has the Government made of the impact of play time during the school day on children's mental health? OQ57883
Joel James: ...because it helps develop skills in coping with challenge, facing uncertainty, and how to be flexible and adaptable to different circumstances. Since 1995, research has shown that break times in the school day have been reduced per week by up to 45 minutes for children aged between five and seven, and reduced by 65 minutes for those aged between 11 and 16. This has resulted in eight out of...
