Paul Davies: ...come to an end and what that might mean in terms of job prospects. Your party's Senedd manifesto promised a young person's guarantee that guarantees everyone under the age of 25 an offer of work, education, training or self-employment. Minister, what is your message to young workers in Wales today about their fears over job prospects in the future? And can you spell out exactly when the...
Paul Davies: ...have been overlooked during the pandemic. The National Procurement Service's supply teachers framework has the potential to improve pay and conditions for supply teachers, but I understand that schools are not required to use agencies that have met the requirements of the framework, which means that there is still a patchwork of support for supply teachers, as not all supply teachers...
Paul Davies: Trefnydd, can I echo Laura Anne Jones's request, and ask the Minister for Education to now make a statement regarding the reopening of schools across Wales? I appreciate that a phased return for children has now begun, but I'm also receiving representations from parents in my constituency who are frustrated that some of their children are unable to return to school, and are understandably...
Paul Davies: ...to this virus. People can't meet up with their loved ones, children are without face-to-face learning and parents are struggling to manage the competing demands of working from home and home schooling their children. The Welsh Government's slow progress in vaccinating people just increases people's frustration and anger at a time when the Welsh Government should be providing them with hope...
Paul Davies: ...more about the assistance that he will be making available during the alert level 4 period? Whilst these restrictions are being introduced during a period where children and young people are not in school and in university settings, there will still be some concerns over what this announcement may mean for the start of the next academic term. And so, can the First Minister confirm what...
Paul Davies: Minister, in evidence to the Children, Young People and Education Committee on the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill, Mind Cymru rightly said that the new curriculum provides a unique opportunity to place the mental health of all our young people at the heart of their learning and school experience. Given that the pandemic has also had such an impact on children's mental health, can you...
Paul Davies: What is the Welsh Government doing to improve education standards in Pembrokeshire throughout the COVID-19 pandemic?
Paul Davies: —your failures when it comes to the health service, your failures when it comes to the education system—
Paul Davies: ...country, the ability to meet with another household will be very welcome and gives some comfort to those who have not seen family members for some time. Now, your announcement is very clear that schools across Wales will reopen from Monday, and I'm sure you'll agree with me that it's vitally important that children and students are able to return to the classroom, provided the evidence...
Paul Davies: Thank you for that response, Minister. Now, as you know, supply teachers can play a key role in supporting our schools, and I'm sure that supporting those professionals is also a priority of yours. Now, I've received correspondence from local supply teachers who are deeply worried that many are not being paid the basic recommended minimum rate, as outlined in the supply teaching framework. As...
Paul Davies: 5. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's immediate priorities for schools in Pembrokeshire? OQ55718
Paul Davies: ...to transform how we live and work in so many ways. Well-crafted and developed infrastructure can better connect us to essential goods and services, it can provide better living conditions, better schools for our children, and it can also provide jobs throughout the construction phase and along the supply chain. Therefore, perhaps, in responding to today's debate, the Minister will tell us...
Paul Davies: Minister, a report by Estyn earlier this year showed that standards in literacy, numeracy and Welsh second language require improvement in around half of primary schools and all secondary schools inspected since 2017 in Pembrokeshire. Given that Pembrokeshire local government education services are causing concern and require follow-up activity, can you tell us what discussions the Welsh...
Paul Davies: .... Now, whilst the Welsh Government has made it clear that the use of face coverings in shops and other indoor public spaces is mandatory, that same leadership has not been shown in relation to schools. Instead, the Welsh Government's current guidance recommends face coverings for all members of the public over 11 years in indoor settings in which social distancing cannot be maintained,...
Paul Davies: ...and winter months, it's crucial that there is still support for hospitality businesses across Wales, particularly as many will face reduced sales as families return to work and children return to school. First Minister, the Welsh hospitality industry may well struggle and have to consider taking difficult decisions, and its workers may face the very real possibility of redundancy. We...
Paul Davies: ...Now, today's statement confirms that large parts of the Welsh Government's primary legislative programme has had to be withdrawn in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result, the tertiary education and research Bill, the bus services Bill and the social partnership Bill have all been withdrawn. So, perhaps the First Minister could tell us a little bit more about the interim...
Paul Davies: ...I'd encourage the Welsh Government to urgently undertake discussions with public transport providers to ascertain how services will need to change in light of the reopening of some businesses and schools, given that people will need to get to some of these businesses, and children will need to get to schools. I appreciate that some funding has been forthcoming to local authorities to...
Paul Davies: ...in a park if they adhere to social distancing guidelines, and then we're told that is not the Welsh Government's advice and members of different households are not allowed to meet in parks; your education Minister has said schools in Wales are closed until 1 June, while your Counsel General thinks that they will definitely be closed for the whole of June; and the Member for Bridgend has...
Paul Davies: ...online and offline. Clearly, more needs to be done to support communities that are still living with substandard broadband provision so that those living in those areas can have access to important educational resources, financial applications, and, of course, the latest health and Government guidance. Therefore, can you provide an update on the Welsh Government's work to ensure that all...
Paul Davies: ...essential goods and services, such as childcare. Now, last Thursday, the UK Government provided comprehensive guidance on who our key workers are, and the Welsh Government also issued a letter to schools asking that they identify children of people involved in the immediate response to the coronavirus outbreak. However, I understand that some local authorities have ignored this and instead...
