Lesley Griffiths: ...takes very seriously and has been a priority, and we have schemes to encourage healthy eating in particular. I think the point you make around sport is very important. That's why sport in our schools is so important, and, again, I'm aware over the last term of Government there was a focus on ensuring that children took part in sport. And we know that as children go and become young people...
Lesley Griffiths: Supporting families with childcare costs is one of our main priorities, in line with our vision for a single system of early childhood education and care. We are committed to funding childcare for more parents in education and training, and supporting Flying Start as part of that ambition.
Lesley Griffiths: ...relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I will certainly ask her to consider updating Members in her next weekly update. In relation to your question around English as a second language and language schools, it's been an incredibly difficult and uncertain time, as you say, for businesses and obviously the English language teaching industry as a whole. We do support businesses who are—....
Lesley Griffiths: I think the press conferences—and you referred to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language's press conference yesterday—have been very good in getting information out to the public, the people who are most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the regulations that we've brought in place, and the Minister comes before this Chamber most weeks in relation to his portfolio. In...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I absolutely agree that in-school learning is very important, and this is obviously the first time we've had a whole-school closure, unfortunately. I'm afraid, as this pandemic has gone on, I think, many times, the virus has been one step ahead, and, just when you think you are able to do things, we have not been able to do so. The Minister for education is obviously having a...
Lesley Griffiths: ...again later this year. There is a whole raft of cross-Welsh Government commitments in that plan, and that includes encouraging the use of eco-friendly period products, embedding period dignity in schools and in both further and higher education establishments—and that's through the provision of free products and appropriate learning resources—and also enabling provision in more health...
Lesley Griffiths: ...people to register them with the ambulance service so that the ambulance service are aware of them, and you referred to the new curriculum statutory guidance that does include an expectation that schools should include life-saving skills and first aid as part of a range of strategies. In relation to the Australia trade deal, we, obviously, as a Government, will be bringing forward a...
Lesley Griffiths: ...future generations Act in embedding those sustainability values and ways of working. They're very much central to our development of a food strategy for Wales, going forward. Local authorities and schools, or their contracted caterers, have the responsibility for purchasing food for use in school meals. They're obviously able to establish cost-effective procurement arrangements with local...
Lesley Griffiths: ...demonstrate that they meet the specific criteria that we set out in order to provide that. There are other incentives available to eligible students who wish to study a postgraduate initial teacher education priority subject in Wales that can then lead to a qualified teacher status, and there is a lot of information available on the Government website.
Lesley Griffiths: I think we would all agree that children and young people with learning disabilities should be educated and cared for as close to home as possible. I'm sure the Minister for education is aware of the report, will be looking at what the recommendations are and will bring forward further information at the most appropriate time.FootnoteLink
Lesley Griffiths: .... Again, I'm sure there is something we can do around the national forest also. In relation to supply teachers, as you say, they can be employed either directly via local authorities or schools or via commercial supply agencies. Obviously, headteachers and governing bodies are responsible for all staffing decisions and to make sure that they've got an effective workforce. We introduced...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to today's agenda: the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language will make a statement on renew and reform: supporting learners' well-being and progression. Secondly, I have extended the length of the debate on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2021 to 30 minutes. Draft business for the...
Lesley Griffiths: ...opportunities—Suzy Davies asked that question—to include an update of the licensed animal welfare establishments, and that includes, but not exclusively, all stables, for instance, riding schools and dog boarding establishments. It may also be appropriate to consider the inclusion of the dog breeding regulations when these are reviewed in the future. The local authority enforcement...
Lesley Griffiths: ...carbon electricity and heat. Next year, we will update the Welsh housing quality standard to require energy performance in social homes to achieve the highest A rating, working with businesses, the education sector and trade unions to establish centres of excellence for housing retrofit, to support the necessary creation of a highly skilled workforce to install properly accredited,...
Lesley Griffiths: ...just in the winter, I think it was two weeks ago today, around Pentre again, that we had, I think it was, in 15 minutes, a month’s worth of rain. So, we are clearly seeing a pattern. I went to school in the 1970s and I certainly remember lots of people referring to rain 'spitting', but we don’t see that now, you’re right: we have these torrential rain storms, unfortunately. So, we do...
Lesley Griffiths: ...we should have from the UK Government. And it's the same around the emotional impact. I answered Leanne Wood before that, obviously, the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Minister for Education will ensure that that support is available as we go along the next weeks and months and even years. Because I think you're right; the majority, particularly around storm Dennis, and...
Lesley Griffiths: .... You will have heard that this is completely a cross-Government response to the flooding, and, obviously, this is an issue that we can take up with the Minister for health and the Minister for Education—they're both here to hear your question around that. In relation to the cost of energy, clearly this is going to be ongoing as part of the costs going forward. It's not just about...
Lesley Griffiths: ..., Llanhilleth, Crickhowell and Mountain Ash. But many more communities have been affected. I have spoken with people who saw for themselves the incredible response from their local community as schools, halls and centres opened their doors to help those in need. There were incredible acts of kindness and generosity as people came together to help and there were powerful and humbling levels...
Lesley Griffiths: ...look to see what funding we have available when those recommendations come through. In relation to, I think you said Dyffryn Conwy school—I wasn't aware of that, but I will ask the Minister for Education to take that issue up.
Lesley Griffiths: ...the next two years, we will be increasing the number of monitors, particularly focusing on monitoring air quality in those places where we know people are more vulnerable to pollution, including schools and health facilities. To drive decisive action, we have to be clear on the responsibilities and the action needed. We need new legislation, but we also need to act now to use the...
