Janet Finch-Saunders: I too welcome the CYPE committee's report on targeted funding to improve educational outcomes. It was actually quite heartening, given I've seen other reports where not so many amendments were accepted in principle—24 out of 31 I thought was fairly good going. But it is frustrating to note that the Welsh Government has rejected several of the committee's recommendations that, actually,...
Janet Finch-Saunders: ...' report, over the past two decades, PISA has become the world's premier yardstick for comparing quality, equity and efficiency in learning outcomes across countries, and an influential force for education reform. This premier yardstick has seen Wales record the worst results of any nation in our United Kingdom. Science is at 488 points here; maths, 487; and reading, 483. These are all...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Good afternoon, Trefnydd. I would like a statement from the Minister for education on the fact that some primary schools now are in urgent need of support to extend their kitchens and employ more staff to manage the free school meal policy. Indeed, in a response to a written question, the Minister for education advised me, and I quote, 'further work will take place during October to...
Janet Finch-Saunders: ...as our chairman of the CYPE committee, the preparation of this report and also for introducing it here today. She has hit the nail on the head: there is simply not enough money going into the Welsh education system, and certainly not enough finding its way into our schools. Now, of course, since the publication of this report—[Interruption.] I haven't even started. Sorry, I can't. Since...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. According to the Welsh Government, Welsh-medium immersion education is the principal method for ensuring that children can develop their Welsh language skills and for the creation of new Welsh speakers. Now, I agree with the importance placed on Welsh-medium education, however, we are seeing the number of Welsh-medium schools fall from 434 in 2013 to 389 in 2018. Moreover, despite...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Now, this debate actually today, Minister, is indeed very timely. Many of our schools now are having to take drastic decisions. I don't think she's listening, but there we go. This is particularly true in Conwy County Borough Council, where this year alone schools are on a real terms cut of over 7.6 per cent, equating to over £400,000 at some secondary schools. Now, I...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, First Minister. You’ll be aware that, for some, when mention of a new school is taken forward, there can be concerns, especially when children and parents are very happy with the school that they’re actually attending. Now, under section 5.4 of the Welsh Government’s statutory school organisation code, local authorities are obliged to consider all objections submitted...
Janet Finch-Saunders: ...consortia. Concerns, indeed, have been raised in the committee during the funding inquiry, and I look forward to a review of the regional consortia. Neath Port Talbot Council voted to leave the educational consortium ERW, and GwE has not yet reached a number of targets in its 2017-20 business plan. These include the need to provide good leadership and management, ensure that schools are...
Janet Finch-Saunders: ...carers. The motion being debated today is an extension of our former work here, with the introduction of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014, the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 and the Donaldson review. However, our motion goes even further, proposing that the more than 21,000 young adult carers in Wales are not only officially recognised...
Janet Finch-Saunders: ...Commission on Justice in Wales has published its recommendation regarding the law council for Wales. Its intended aims are to be commended, especially the promoting of assisting students in their education and training as future practitioners. The details of the proposed council highlight that it will help Welsh law schools to provide their students with the necessary education and...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. As a member of the Welsh Government Cabinet, then, you'll be fully aware that it's widely acknowledged that there is a classroom cash shortage and funding crisis in our educational system across Wales. For example, in Conwy the education budget is to be cut by 3.6 per cent as a result of such a poor Welsh Government settlement on funding. Now, this is leading to more serious money...
Janet Finch-Saunders: ..., the scene was already bleak here in north Wales. By February 2020, the number of treatment pathways waiting over 36 weeks had already reached 11,296. Fast-tracking the development of a medical school is a major part of this solution. Even the Royal College of Physicians Wales has long supported the expansion of a medical school. And as they told me only this week, there are ongoing major...
Janet Finch-Saunders: ...answered on 4 and 8 June, the letter dated 27 May answered 30 June. Frustratingly slow action by the Welsh Government is also clear from the content of those responses. On 4 June, the Minister for Education advised that, almost two months since lockdown, the guide for parents of education-other-than-at-school pupils and pupils with ALN had not been published, and the guidance on risk...
Janet Finch-Saunders: ...health check on our rights, our justice system and, ultimately, on the rule of law. As an article on the Law Society website outlined, children have been affected heavily by coronavirus through school closures, and most young people are never consulted on decisions. The Law Society supports public legal education and highlighted the Big Legal Lesson during Justice Week. This is a classroom...
Janet Finch-Saunders: ...to information and services in BSL. Following the Welsh Government's recognition of BSL as an official language in 2004, it is fair to say that progress has been poor. Whilst there are some pioneer schools, as part of the area of learning and experience for languages, literacy and communication, there's a lot of vagueness about where these schools are and how other children in schools can...
Janet Finch-Saunders: ..., and Wales is the only UK nation to score below the OECD average in all PISA measures. But also, it's a constructive motion. We call upon the Welsh Government to acknowledge its failure to improve education in Wales and we want to see a guarantee that additional resources arising from increased spending on schools by the UK Government will be invested in our schools in Wales.
Janet Finch-Saunders: ...well as a long-term plan to turn around these embarrassing gaps in attainment between the poor in Wales and the more affluent? The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has highlighted over the years that the educational performance of children from poorer backgrounds compared to their peers from more prosperous backgrounds provides clear evidence of the impact of poverty on achievement. So,...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Llywydd, the Minister appears to be in denial. I hope this Minister responding isn't. What steps are you taking to address the funding cash crisis that we have in our educational system in Wales, and will there be any consideration of an emergency pot of money that will see schools in Aberconwy be able to continue to function?
Janet Finch-Saunders: 1. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Education on the role of schools in achieving the target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050? OAQ53496
Janet Finch-Saunders: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on educational support for children who have not returned to school? OQ55418
