Ken Skates: Thank you, Minister, for that answer. I've heard of instances of high-school children who've been turned away at the canteen till because their hard-working parents haven't been able to clear the dinner money debts that they've incurred. Would you agree with me that schools should act with the utmost compassion during these times of financial hardship, and not put young people through such...
Ken Skates: Trefnydd, could I ask for an urgent statement from the Minister for health regarding the situation concerning group A streptococcus, particularly in schools? The situation is very serious indeed and there are reports in the media now that antibiotics could be used as a preventative measure to protect children from more serious conditions, including scarlet fever and invasive group A...
Ken Skates: What steps is the Welsh Government taking to support teaching assistants in schools?
Ken Skates: First Minister, there's been a very welcome and significant increase recently in funding for support services for mental health within schools, which will help many young people in the Vale of Clwyd and beyond. We know that the most effective mental ill health prevention and early intervention comes through school counselling services. So, will the Welsh Government commit to facilitating the...
Ken Skates: Minister, thank you for your answer. That's superb news, and that £20 million has gone a long way in enhancing not just school estates, but also communities as a whole. I'd be extremely grateful if you could update Members and my constituents in Clwyd South on progress being made specifically in the community of Brymbo, in the north of the constituency, where a new twenty-first century...
Ken Skates: 1. Will the Minister make a statement on investment in Clwyd South through the twenty-first century schools programme? OQ58198
Ken Skates: ...community here in Clwyd South, every single person at the moment would have to drive to one of the regional hubs. So, as part of any sort of review and relaxation, might I suggest that we utilise school estates for the distribution of them, and also, perhaps, not limit households to just one tree either.
Ken Skates: ...Welsh diaspora, and in particular some of the most successful modern-day musicians that we have representing Wales around the globe, including people like Jonny Buckland, who went to Mold Alun High School, and is one of the world's most successful modern-day musicians as a member of Coldplay, and who regularly reflects on the fact that it was his music teacher, Mrs Parr, who gave so much...
Ken Skates: ...response to Jenny Rathbone about the importance of the new curriculum. My first question is seeking assurance: will the Minister assure Members that she'll continue to engage with the Minister for education in the development and roll-out of the new curriculum, so that it can offer the space and enabling power for teachers to be creative and innovative in the way that they support the...
Ken Skates: ...that we do need to tackle mental illness. Now, one question in particular, cross-Government working, and you've alluded to it today, could you elaborate on how you're working with particularly the education and economy departments to tackle mental illness? And can you also identify how you're promoting the online cognitive behavioural therapy resource that has proven so popular to date and...
Ken Skates: Can you advise the Senedd of action being taken to promote respect and compassion in the school place, given the vital role that both play in promoting well-being amongst learners, and in shaping confident learners who are not blinded by shame later in life? And would you commit to also reporting to the Senedd any appraisals of the benefits that universal free school meals may have in terms...
Ken Skates: Previous Welsh Labour Governments have invested very heavily in education institutions, including schools, through the twenty-first century schools programme in the past, and I'd like to congratulate the Minister on his very, very well-deserved appointment and also invite him to Clwyd South to view some of the twenty-first century schools investment. And I'd be very grateful for any further...
Ken Skates: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on investment in education in Clwyd South through the twenty-first century schools programme? OQ56582
Ken Skates: ...this forms part of our £40 million COVID commitment on skills and jobs. We've committed to offer advice and support to people over 16 to find work, to pursue self-employment, to find a place in education, training or employment, and this includes hiring incentives for employers: 16 to 24-year-olds, disabled people; those from black, ethnic minority and Asian communities; women. Those most...
Ken Skates: Yes, of course. We have provided, and will continue to provide, significant financial support to ensure that the services people depend on continue to operate, enabling sustainable access to jobs, education and services.
Ken Skates: ...sex exploitation in Rotherham highlighted that there were examples of taxi drivers being directly linked with children that were being abused, including instances where children were picked up from schools, children's homes or from family homes and abused or sexually exploited in exchange for free taxi rides. And so I can assure Helen Mary Jones and every Member today that the standards...
Ken Skates: ...to provide sufficient services and capacity within a reduced timetable to meet the travel needs of key workers and those with other essential travel needs, such as pupils and students returning to schools and colleges. In the longer term, while passenger demand remains at significantly reduced levels, we are likely to have to continue to make some difficult choices. Now, the operation of...
Ken Skates: ...for all Government policy is now: can this be done in the town centre? Can this building, can this function, can this new service be done on a high street or a town-centre location—from further education to care, from remote working to new forms of supported living, from Welsh Government activities being decentralised and deconcentrated into towns within the Valleys, from local...
Ken Skates: ...we're working extensively to provide essential travel links to keep people moving. In addition to this, additional buses—as I've already said, 70 buses—are being utilised to provide home-to-school transport. We are maximising the number of vehicles that are available to support people, but because of the need to socially distance, obviously, capacity—the number of seats, the number...
Ken Skates: ...TfW. But just to highlight briefly that Transport for Wales are currently operating 70 buses, in addition to all of the trains, to support public transport across Wales, and students from the same educational establishments can travel together on dedicated buses under our safety guidelines. The reason that greater physical distancing is required on rail services is because they carry not...
