Laura Anne Jones: I strongly believe that our education system needs to adapt to reflect the needs of the future job market locally, nationally and, of course, internationally with the opportunities that now come because of Brexit and opening up ourselves to the rest of the world. Even though you've ploughed £5.7 million into your Welsh Government's 'Global Futures' programme, as John Griffiths outlined just...
Laura Anne Jones: .... Is this something that you'll look to do in Wales? And, at the end of your statement, you were talking about prevention and you recognised that there might be increased pressures now that schools have returned. From what I understand today, from what I've heard, there are already high levels of staff and pupil absences in Bridgend schools because of contagious illnesses. How are you...
Laura Anne Jones: ...resilient supply chains, supporting development of our food industry, and increasing consumer knowledge of where food comes from. Gaining this knowledge I know to be crucial, especially in our schools. The Bill really has an opportunity not only to ensure we’re sustainable as a nation whilst increasing our food security, but also it is a huge opportunity to really transform food...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you for your draft budget statement, Minister. My focus, given my shadow portfolio, of course, will be on education, and I can only go on what’s in front of me. Last month, we saw the UK Government’s autumn statement put young people at the forefront of their agenda, with an increase in funding for education. I called for this to be matched in Wales the week after the autumn...
Laura Anne Jones: ...that it would force us to be a lot better in Wales at taking into account British Sign Language needs. One area where I believe this would bring about positive change is on British Sign Language in education, as my colleague has touched on already. The recent census data shows that British Sign Language was the main language for 22,000 people across England and Wales aged three and above,...
Laura Anne Jones: ...child. And I believe it's just been announced in breaking news that there's been an outbreak in Carmarthenshire, with two seriously children and 24 cases reported of scarlet fever in the primary school there. Minister, it's obviously, of course, crucial that we don't cause any sort of panic, but it is important that schools and nurseries are extra vigilant and that there is a universal...
Laura Anne Jones: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on the increase of cases of group A streptococcus in schools? TQ695
Laura Anne Jones: Llywydd, the new curriculum does provide wonderful opportunities to bring in local businesses. However, it deeply concerns me that the Minister is still putting in jeopardy school impartiality. This Government's first focus needs to be on getting the basics right here in Wales first. Wales has the lowest Programme for International Student Assessment results in the UK; teachers don't feel...
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Just a few weeks ago, the Minister announced the Unions and the World of Work pilot scheme—a policy that would see trade unions going into our schools, having direct contact with our learners. Llywydd, the Welsh Conservatives have no issue with children being taught about the workplace and, in fact, would actively encourage careers and work-related experience, however, it...
Laura Anne Jones: Minister, last week, the UK Government's autumn statement announced an increase in funding for education, which would equate to roughly £200 million extra for education in Wales if we were to do the same, with Welsh Government, of course, receiving an extra £1.2 billion in additional funding, overall, over the two years. Minister, it's now imperative, with all the extra pressures on our...
Laura Anne Jones: 2. Will the additional funding provided to schools in England by the UK Government be matched by the Welsh Government for schools in Wales? OQ58767
Laura Anne Jones: ...to balance work, family and social commitments around any attempts to engage in new learning. Canadian research has found that over 70 per cent of employers offer financial support for job-related education, yet only 22 per cent of employees use it. Minister, how will you ensure that this extra support is signposted properly, promoted properly and reaches the adult learners who need it...
Laura Anne Jones: ...scheme for the armed forces community. Great strides have been made. It is not just for veterans that we see much-needed support now being given, thanks to SSCE, Supporting Service Children in Education in Wales, who work hard to co-ordinate research and compile evidence on the experiences of service children in education and to ensure their needs are well understood. We see this service...
Laura Anne Jones: ...and innovation during the pandemic. We need to invest in research that can advance us significantly medically and in many other ways, and I'd hope, like James, that the new commission for tertiary education and research will look to address this going forward. Welsh Government needs to support our universities so that they can become more competitive, so they can be better placed to win...
Laura Anne Jones: ...that we've seen, and the evidence that we've gathered, are probably underestimating the problem of what we're seeing. Further still, whilst Estyn did not consider sexual harassment in primary schools or colleges, their inquiry convinced them that it's likely that sexual harassment is common in both. Our committee heard the same as well. Learners with additional learning needs are also at...
Laura Anne Jones: ...needed to do this review quickly to understand the issues and also create awareness of what is happening within this Senedd, in the Welsh Government and across Wales, as to what is going on in our schools—the horrendous nature of it and the fact that it is a problem that is growing and will continue to grow unless we take action now. Deputy Presiding Officer, Estyn's report on...
Laura Anne Jones: ...Member for North Wales is passionate about ensuring that every child and young person has this opportunity—I certainly did, when I was younger—to participate in a week-long residential outdoor education visit at some point during their school journey, ensuring that they too can learn new skills and maybe an appreciation for the outdoors, as well as benefiting from it in terms of...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, business Minister. I would like to request a statement, as well, from the Minister for education stating the Government's position on the charity Mermaids and their influence on educational material in Wales. There is currently an investigation under way by the Charity Commission surrounding the compliance of the charity, and, just this month, the Department for Education has...
Laura Anne Jones: ...slightly from the UK Government's offer, I do have some practical questions that I'd like to ask. As you've laid out, each phase has a different focus. Pathway 2 has three themes—developments in education, diversity and inclusion, and climate change. As the funding is on a year-on-year basis, I foresee that this might pose a difficulty for students who are planning to study abroad, but...
Laura Anne Jones: Thank you, Llywydd. Will you now take immediate action to ensure that local authority, school and youth service education resources are age appropriate, and immediately remove those that aren't, and also those that signpost to Mermaids? Will you commit to reviewing materials that are found to be unnecessary for this age group, and ensure that the materials are led by science, as well as...
