Alun Davies: As I said in answer to Simon Thomas, we would encourage and ensure that schools do, wherever necessary, use the resources available to them, to ensure that girls do have access to these products, which enables them to receive their education. I think this Government has been on the record over a long number of years in arguing that these products should not be taxed in that way.
Alun Davies: Schools are responsible for identifying their staffing needs and the roles they fulfil. All learning support workers play a vital role in supporting teaching within and outside the classroom.
Alun Davies: ...different people, in different ways, at different times. And we have to, as a Government, ensure that we don’t simply respond to issues, but that we are proactive in ensuring that girls attending schools in Wales are not put at any disadvantage at all, and do not face embarrassment, do not face any difficulties at all, in accessing education. And if there are any issues with sanitary...
Alun Davies: ..., that we don’t do anything about it. We will be investigating to ensure any evidence of this at all is found. If there is a problem that needs resolving, we will do so, and we will work with schools to ensure—as per the Member’s suggestion—if there’s a way for schools to work to ensure that girls feel at ease at school and that they’re able to learn, then we will do so. So, I...
Alun Davies: Thank you. No assessment has been made. I take the well-being of all learners very seriously, and schools should have in place arrangements to support their learners. Girls should be regularly reminded that sanitary products are available from named female staff members, if needed.
Alun Davies: ..., on a joint basis, towards the future. What I want to see, wherever we are in Wales, is a way of working that will recognise that people have different ideas and different visions, sometimes, for education in our communities, but that we can agree that there is an appropriate place for the Welsh language, and that the Welsh language does have to be part of the education process. And when...
Alun Davies: This review and this process will consider the Welsh-medium education plans. That’s the purpose and the point of the WESPs, and we will be considering how we can expand Welsh-medium education over the coming years. This will be an important foundation for how we create more Welsh speakers for the future. But it will also enable people to learn Welsh early on in their life, and the hope is...
Alun Davies: ...will be part of the strategy, of course. When we publish the strategy in the summer, you will see that there are several elements to the strategy. The WESPs have to be an important component of the education strategy, and the education strategy will fit into a wider framework and strategy, if you like. So, there will be a strategy that is more holistic for the future, but these education...
Alun Davies: ..., will not be different is our determination to create the bilingual country that you have described. And in doing so, I hope that these plans will put in place both the option to have Welsh-medium education across the face of Wales and to ensure that people feel able and comfortable to take that option for their children, and that that option is available with all the resources and...
Alun Davies: ..., of leading change in local government, and I think it’s important that we do appoint someone with that kind of experience and someone who understands the nature and requirements of Welsh-medium education for the future. The questions that you asked about transport are a part of that. I think that you are entirely right in the way that you’ve described the scope of the role—the...
Alun Davies: ...respect and our shared visions and our shared ambitions. That’s what’s at the heart of this. This is about a mission, if you like. Kirsty Williams has talked about our national mission for education on a number of occasions. This is about a shared vision for the future. It’s Welsh Government and local government working together to deliver on that shared vision. I hope that Aled...
Alun Davies: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. May I begin by placing on record my thanks to local authorities for their work on the 2017-20 Welsh in education strategic plans? Some plans show an ownership and commitment to the Welsh language, and I welcome this. However, there are others who need to demonstrate a greater level of responsibility for the growth of Welsh-medium education,...
Alun Davies: We acknowledge that education is the main vehicle for creating Welsh speakers. We already know that there are just under 9,000 five-year-olds attending a Welsh-medium or bilingual school. We cannot afford to be content with this. Wales needs an inclusive education system that both sustains and creates Welsh speakers. By creating demand for Welsh-medium education and ensuring access in those...
Alun Davies: ...-worth of cuts still to come in the pipeline. Now, you should do the maths, the same as I can. Let me conclude. I won’t test the patience of the Deputy Presiding Officer any further. Further education has seen a transformation; it has been proactive in pursuing a radical change agenda. This Government wishes to pursue that agenda, which is to continue thinking in radical ways about how...
Alun Davies: ...signalled a very real, and different, and radical approach to moving forward. But let me respond more profoundly to the debate that we’ve had. We’ve heard from both Oscar and John that further education provides opportunities for people and that second chance for an education, and we understand that, and we appreciate that. We need to find ways to ensure that FEs certainly will...
Alun Davies: ...raised by us through listening to his speech this afternoon. But I’m pleased that there’s been a great deal of consensus across the Chamber. There’s been a consensus on the place of further education, both in education and in wider society; on parity of esteem, which was first raised by Llyr Gruffydd in his remarks, but emphasised by Members on all sides of the Chamber; and also a...
Alun Davies: ...a very real difference to the lives of young people, whether it is through different experiences that are opened up to people or the support it offers. It does underpin many of our priorities, from education, health to community regeneration. I’ll decline Dawn’s kind offer to discuss Communities First this afternoon, but we are absolutely clear in our minds that the work of community...
Alun Davies: Some local authorities are still consulting on their Welsh in education strategic plans. Once I have received them all, I will make a statement on the way forward. As I have said already this afternoon, I am disappointed by the lack of ambition demonstrated by some of them.
Alun Davies: I think one of the answers of the Cabinet Secretary earlier about the sort of education system she’s looking at developing in Wales will in itself ensure that teachers want to teach in Wales and will find that teaching in Wales is a very attractive career option. We know that about a third of all teachers in Wales do speak Welsh, so there is some headroom at the moment. But I recognise that...
Alun Davies: ...on his numbers. I did so once and I’ll never do it again. I recognise both the numbers he quotes and the broader point behind that. Can I say this? I am considering at the moment the Welsh in education strategic plans. We have not received all of them yet from local authorities, and I will make a statement on the way forward when I have received all of those completed plans. However, I...
