David Melding: ...and I was encouraged by your references earlier to the NGO sector. Will you join me in commending young people who take their mental health seriously, and also take the help that's available from schools and organisations like the Scouts, who are now involved in it?
David Melding: ...of money are given for public use, I think we need the maximum value for the Welsh pound. And here, I do commend RCT council for the way they've used some of these moneys to promote, through the schools programme, ecological habitat, the imaginative use of technologies, connectedness to other priorities like Welsh-language childcare settings in Welsh-medium primary schools, and also dual...
David Melding: Thank you, Minister, and I commend that priority. I wonder if you could also advise us whether the Welsh Government contributed to the UK Government's response to UNESCO's seventh consultation on education for international understanding? I realise this is very specific, so if you would be prepared to write to me with that information, and perhaps give some details of the response, because I...
David Melding: 9. Will the Minister outline the opportunities provided by the new national curriculum for the teaching of international understanding, co-operation and peace and human rights in schools? OQ56277
David Melding: ...and not just about the promotion of the creative side of music, but also looking at some of the more difficult issues, like licensing, which has already been mentioned, and also even what's in the school curriculum, because music is increasingly frozen out. I heard recently about jazz being axed from A-level music in some places, which is a slightly bizarre thing to do, one would have...
David Melding: We move to item 4, which is the statement by the Minister for Education—an update on qualifications for 2021. I call the Minister, Kirsty Williams.
David Melding: Minister, may I take this opportunity to invite you to congratulate Headlands special school in Penarth, which has recently received a recognition of excellence award from the High Sheriff of South Glamorgan because of the innovative way it has responded to the pandemic, particularly in distance and blended learning? One of the key things has been active outreach, whether this be telephone...
David Melding: I call the education Minister, Kirsty Williams.
David Melding: The Presiding Officer has selected the two amendments to the motion. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. I call on the Minister for Education to formally move amendment 1, tabled in the name of Rebecca Evans.
David Melding: Order. We recommence with item 7, which is the Plaid Cymru debate on free school meals, and I call on Helen Mary Jones to move the motion.
David Melding: ..., just about how the impact of COVID has been felt, across Wales but particularly in Welsh-speaking communities, and then also for the whole infrastructure that is there culturally and also in the education sector to promote and enhance and to fully allow Welsh to flourish. I think it's appropriate that we look at 'Cymraeg 2050' and the ambitions set there, and it took us a long time for...
David Melding: Order. We now recommence with item 5, which is the debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee's report, 'Mind over matter: Two years on', and I call the Chair of the committee to move the motion, Lynne Neagle.
David Melding: ...Wales barriers grant scheme is to prioritise those most affected by COVID-19, such as women, disabled people, people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, and young people not in education or training, and it's to give some financial support to those people who will want to set up a business in the next few months. I wonder when this scheme will be evaluated, because I do...
David Melding: ...Wyn observes, if accepted and implemented, these recommendations would substantially increase the workload of some tribunals. He notes how substantial the volume of disputes arising from health, education, housing, and agricultural law would be. In particular, Sir Wyn cites housing legislation, where disputes currently have to be resolved by the county court. But as we know from current...
David Melding: Thank you, Minister, for that answer. I wonder if you've had the chance to reflect on Professor Sally Holland, the children's commissioner's remarks to the Children, Young People and Education Committee earlier this month, that certainly, during lockdown, there was a huge variety of service, running from those schools offering full-time attendance or active outreach, to hubs that barely...
David Melding: 3. Will the Minister make a statement on attendance levels in special schools during the COVID-19 public health emergency? OQ55920
David Melding: ...these sorts of programmes, which are largely under the control of the Welsh Government, will need to be used to a greater extent than perhaps we had planned, but this will also help our further education colleges and the university sector. But young people really need to be supported as much as we can during this period.
David Melding: ...about how innovative the national library was 20 years ago when it embarked on this sort of activity, and we know the museum also. And I think many of us would have accessed these resources: many schools have, many students, and many citizens who, perhaps, wouldn't visit the actual facilities of these great heritage institutions have been able to see online some of these wonderful...
David Melding: I call on the Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams.
David Melding: We move to item 8: the Plaid Cymru debate on the future of education. I call on Siân Gwenllian to move the motion.
