Kirsty Williams: Local authorities are responsible for funding schools, as is set out in law in Wales. There are no current proposals to review the way in which schools in Wales are funded.
Kirsty Williams: The Health and Well-being area of learning and experience is an important part of our mission to create an education system that better supports young people to maintain their physical, mental and emotional health; and so thrive both academically and personally.
Kirsty Williams: We recently consulted on revised school organisation code in respect of a presumption against the closure of rural schools and will publish our response in the summer. We have also introduced a new small and rural schools grant to encourage innovation and support greater school to school working.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm really sorry this is only a half-an-hour debate, which means I only have four minutes to sum up, because there are some things where I agree very passionately with what Members have said this afternoon, and there are some things that I vehemently disagree with this afternoon. Gareth, can I be absolutely clear, there is intrinsic value in...
Kirsty Williams: I formally move.
Kirsty Williams: Can I think Vikki for that? I'm looking very much forward to the event tomorrow. What we know is that, after the quality of teaching, parental engagement in their child's education is the second biggest factor that reflects outcomes. So, we need fantastic teachers in front of our children, but we also need really supportive parents, grandparents and communities behind those children if...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank the Chair of the committee for her comments? As I said in answer to Llyr Huws Gruffydd, there is no slight intended towards the work of the committee. It is the start of the financial year and schools need to know their budgets. We've had to make that announcement prior to the publication of the report. And just for clarity, many Members have been greatly exercised this afternoon...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much. Let me be absolutely clear about the usage of the PDG. PDG money is there to support the educational attainment of those children who are eligible for free school meals or children who are looked after, regardless of their potential. So, for some, that might be providing catch-up to bring them up to a level with their peers. For some PDG children, that's about...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, Llyr, for that. I want to begin by saying that I'm grateful that you recognise the need to give stability to schools as much as we can, which is why the decision has been taken. That's especially true when, as I said to Darren, funding situations are difficult, and this gives schools and their governing bodies the best possible opportunity to plan for the effective use of these...
Kirsty Williams: Can I thank Darren for his series of questions? Perhaps I can start where he left off. In one breath, Darren says, 'You're spending too much money on PDG, and that is at the expense of non-PDG children in schools,' but then he says, 'Why haven't you introduced an Ever 6?' [Interruption.] 'Why haven't you introduced an Ever 6?' I would love—and have looked very carefully at the principle...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you, acting Presiding Officer. The gap in levels of attainment between learners from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers is an international challenge. The basis of the gap is historic and complicated; it’s rooted in inequality, disadvantage and class systems. Whilst Wales is not unique, we do face specific challenges. That is why I’ve placed narrowing the gap at the heart of...
Kirsty Williams: Building on this, and with the aim of inspiring young minds together, we're supporting the foundation phase excellence network to the tune of £1 million-worth of Welsh Government funding. I had hoped to launch that network last Friday, but was defeated by the bad weather. So, I am formally launching this at the end of the month. The network will include representatives from the education...
Kirsty Williams: Well, as outlined by Llyr earlier, and as I will outline later on, there are a number of parenting programmes, support toolkits, et cetera, that the Welsh Government make available, and an important part of that core offer of Flying Start is parenting support, so that parents are able to work with professionals to understand what they need to do, as individuals, to best support their...
Kirsty Williams: Of course.
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, acting Presiding Officer. I would like to begin by thanking Llyr for bringing forward this important short debate today. Early language skills are indeed central to children's early years development, and these skills provide the springboard for school readiness and their ability to achieve their true potential and to give them a real chance in life. We know, as Llyr has...
Kirsty Williams: Can I just say, Michelle, that I am absolutely content and confident that the standards that we have provide a very clear baseline for teacher performance? Newly qualified teachers cannot successfully pass induction without demonstrating that they meet all the relevant descriptors, and those descriptors continue to act as a baseline throughout a teacher's career by setting out what is...
Kirsty Williams: I have no time. I need to move on, Darren. With regard to professional standards, professional standards have been simplified, and we will continue to work with the EWC to explore issues around accessibility and the workability of those standards, and linking them into the professional learning passport, which, I think, Hefin—as you said—has the opportunity to be a really, really...
Kirsty Williams: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Could I begin by thanking Lynne and fellow Members of the committee for conducting this inquiry? I welcome their focus and added scrutiny in this hugely important area. I recognise that it is all very well establishing a transformational new curriculum, but of course, above all else, it is the quality of the teaching of that curriculum that will...
Kirsty Williams: Leanne, as I said earlier, I am gravely concerned for the sector in Wales, and for individual students who are caught up in the strike action. I understand why the UCU have felt that they have no other option but to withdraw their labour, given the changes proposed to pensions for their members, and I have met regularly and corresponded regularly with the UCU, listening to their concerns and...
Kirsty Williams: As I said in answer to the questions that Llyr Huws Gruffydd raised earlier, the Welsh Government stands ready to provide whatever support possible, necessary and needed to ensure that we can have that real and positive negotiation between both the employers and employees, and we continue to be ready to do that. We also are working hard with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to...
