Llyr Gruffydd: ...assessment, as we've all read. Where is the Government's risk assessment? Have you done some of that work? Maybe you could let us know. And, of course, the impact that this will have on further education and higher education is significant. Both the Cabinet Secretary and myself were at a meeting of the cross-party group from north Wales, last week, where we were left in no uncertain...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...—well, comparing Wales to England is, in this context, I think, caveman economics, because you're not comparing like for like. Let's not forget, it's the Tory austerity agenda that's driving school funding down this cul-de-sac in the first place. For you to come here and try and tell us that the situation is very different in England—well, I'll tell you something: I was reading a few...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...consider it to be critical. We must therefore raise our voice against these ongoing cuts, and we must see what we can do to work together more effectively to reduce these detrimental effects on our schools. So, Plaid Cymru’s motion essentially calls for three things. The time has come for us to bring together all the key stakeholders in the education system in Wales to consider what...
Llyr Gruffydd: Where does this leave us? Well, we know that schools across Wales face a situation where they can't avoid making substantial cuts in order to cope with the financial deficits, and that means, of course, cuts in staffing levels, in resources, in continuing professional development for teachers, and many other aspects of school activities. The teaching unions have drawn our attention to some of...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I move this motion on school funding in the name of Plaid Cymru. May I say, at the very outset, that I am not blind to the reality of austerity, and you will note that this isn’t a motion that says, ‘Just give more funding to schools’? But neither am I deaf to the warnings coming from the sector that we are reaching a point, after years...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...so in conjunction with the kinds of incentives that Diamond and others have been talking about is something that I think we need to pursue. That, of course, would as well strengthen our higher education institutions, of course, in that it would ensure a greater number of students within their establishments. And the more students we can encourage to stay in Wales, then, clearly, not only...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...is given, from tuition fee grant to maintenance grant, and we are very much aware that those upfront costs are a barrier, or the living costs are a barrier to many from obtaining the university education that they want to receive. But we have to tackle the loss of vital skills and knowledge within the Welsh economy, as we see young people leaving to study elsewhere and not, of course, very...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...but that it's the best we may have. I certainly think that's the consensus with something like the PDG, the pupil development grant. Some have said that basing that on who qualifies for free school meals is a crude approach, and isn't sufficiently smart, but when you ask what could come in its place—well, everyone looks at each and say, 'Well, yes, that's maybe the best approach we...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...that we do need to empower the voice of young people within democracy. We as a party have been arguing for bringing down of the voting age to 16. We’ve also argued for strengthening citizenship education in schools through the new curriculum, and this will be another opportunity, I believe, to help raise awareness and provide opportunities for young people to participate. But I’m not...
Llyr Gruffydd: But the funding picture is a rather discombobulated one, isn't it, when you look at, for example, the way the Government funds education. Some money goes to consortia and some money goes to local authorities—some of that goes to local authorities through the RSG, some of it goes to local authorities through grants, some goes straight to schools and, of course, we have 22 local authorities...
Llyr Gruffydd: Diolch yn fawr. Does the Cabinet Secretary accept that school funding in Wales has reached crisis point?
Llyr Gruffydd: ...just disappearing altogether. I'm just wondering whether you have in your mind a minimum level of per-pupil funding in Wales that is necessary to make sure that each child receives a decent education. I'm not going to ask you what it is, but I'm sure you do have, or least I hope that the Government has, some sort of idea of where the line is that we mustn't dip under at all costs....
Llyr Gruffydd: 5. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on capital expenditure on schools in the next financial year? OAQ52238
Llyr Gruffydd: ...the assertion that children aren't ready at five. I have a five-year-old son, and I find myself already challenging some things that are said in our house, and to have the reassurance that the school will be reinforcing those messages, for me, is very, very important. Now, I'm slightly confused, but I'm looking to you, clearly, for confirmation here, because I've seen some of the news...
Llyr Gruffydd: ..., extend our best wishes to those who are now charged with moving this work forward over the coming period? As you say, leadership has been recognised as one of the weaker aspects of the Welsh education system for several years, so it's crucial that we do get this right. We know—Estyn tells us, and you've told us what the OECD have been saying—that successful leadership is a key factor...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...low attainment. The children’s commissioner, Save the Children and others share Plaid Cymru’s view that excluding children from non-working families from this childcare offer will expand the education gap rather than narrow it. Some of the evidence that we’ve heard is damning. The children’s commissioner said, for example:
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I want to focus my comments on the need to ensure equal access for children to early-years education. I will start by sharing a statistic with you: over half of children from disadvantaged areas in Wales will start school with deficient communication skills. Indeed, children from the poorest 20 per cent of the population, by the time they are...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...is some uncertainty. The service doesn't know whether it will be able to persist until the Government makes a decision on its funding. It's an important service, with police forces going into schools to work with pupils and staff on developing resources and providing classes on online security, the misuse of substances and so on and so forth. But we're now in a situation in north Wales...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...and so on and so forth? Finally, as the clock is ticking, it’s not just Labour who are part of the administration that has come to an agreement. Unfortunately, the Cabinet Secretary for Education isn’t in her seat, but I would like to know what the view of the Welsh Liberal Democrats is on this issue. Are they, as Labour are, siding with the Conservatives and UKIP, or are they with the...
Llyr Gruffydd: ...the frustrations noted in ‘Cracking the code’ is the lack in the levels of Welsh language resources and facilitators in this area. It is a problem in other areas, and it’s something that the education committee is looking at tomorrow in a particular scrutiny session. I would be pleased to hear, and to have an assurance from you, that schools will have access to the necessary...
