I want to write to Heledd Fychan
Heledd Fychan: ..., and we've seen the superb opportunities that exist for our children and young people and how they and we benefit from these visits. But one of the things that's concerned to me in speaking to schools in my region, and considering that South Wales Central is that region, is that more and more say that the cost of buses specifically does mean that they are perhaps bringing the school...
Heledd Fychan: ...but that the issue of resources and that we don't have the necessary materials, particularly in Welsh, is a concern for them. Certainly, from some of the visits that I've undertaken to Welsh schools in my region recently, I've seen teachers who are delighted by the new curriculum, but also are spending a great deal of time translating materials in the evenings and during holiday times, to...
Heledd Fychan: We need to work together. We need a system that will transform education. We see the concerning figures from the Bevan Foundation, too, in terms of the differences between boys and girls, and the differences in attainment there. So, can I ask what specific plans do you have to ensure that those kinds of differences are also tackled? We have to ensure equality of opportunity for all and, as I...
Heledd Fychan: If I may just focus on the £40 million investment that you mentioned in terms of the community-focused schools to improve the accessibility and community use of schools, obviously, that investment is welcome, but I’m still not clear how exactly they are going to help in terms of attainment, especially when we look at the connection between school absences and attainment, because,...
Heledd Fychan: ...like to ask—. I see that there has been an increase in that regard—I just wanted to know how you will monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of those programmes. Certainly, the response from schools has been positive, in terms of those that I visited, where this has been enabled, and I think this will be warmly welcomed by them.
Heledd Fychan: ...don't have a bus service or buses are less frequent or don't show up, which is a huge problem currently, because of the shortage of bus drivers, is missed hospital or doctor appointments; late to school or college; late to work, or not getting to work; fewer wages; losing employment; late collecting children from school; waiting in the rain only for no bus to come; feeling isolated,...
Heledd Fychan: I also think that it contrasts, perhaps, with some of the things that we discussed earlier in terms of there being a positive picture in terms of education in Wales. Because one of the things that you look at in terms of the report is the genuine challenges. Clearly, there are positives in the report, as it offers solutions too and talks about the role of so many partners in terms of the...
Heledd Fychan: Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this debate today. Clearly, it aligns with our previous discussion in terms of the Welsh Government's vision for education. I'd like to add my thanks to Owen Evans; I think that the report, certainly, is very comprehensive. I welcome the new format, as mentioned by the Minister, and I think that thematic reports, specifically, give us a clear...
Heledd Fychan: ...in 2017. One of the things that concerns me, as we haven’t had an independent inquiry into COVID here in Wales specifically, is, clearly, in Scotland they’re looking at the impact of COVID on education, and children and young people have been a big part of that, and I do think that we don’t fully understand the full picture here in Wales. Some work has been done, but not to the same...
Heledd Fychan: ...families. You talked about reducing the concern, but the concern is obviously continuing, because the truth is that a number of families still find difficulty funding the essentials related to the school day. You referred to uniform, but although you've changed the guidance on the matter, a number of schools are continuing to demand a logo on school uniforms, and such things as a blazer,...
Heledd Fychan: 1. How is the Welsh Government supporting learners in South Wales Central with the cost of the school day? OQ59256
Heledd Fychan: ...'s actual budget today—. I am pleased that we're working in co-operation, as has been outlined by Llyr. I'm not going to apologise for the fact that more children are benefiting from free school meals because we're co-operating. I'm not going to apologise for the fact that families are benefiting from free childcare. There are so many things that we've been able to co-operate on that...
Heledd Fychan: ...increasingly having to spend time supporting pupils and their families in terms of responding to the cost-of-living crisis, providing clothes for learners, setting up foodbanks or food pantries in schools, and also raising money so that learners have essentials in their homes, such as a fridge. They're also increasingly having to support learners who suffer from poor mental health because...
Heledd Fychan: ...have improved access to services, very often, these services have been restricted. We must continue to strengthen this element. The same is also true, of course, in terms of access to Welsh education, and the inconsistency in terms of how Welsh is taught in English-medium schools. One thing that has saddened me since becoming a Member of the Senedd is the number of young people that I have...
Heledd Fychan: can be delivered meaningfully without a radical change in the way the Welsh language is taught in all schools in Wales. In addition to this, the Government needs to recognise that the foundations for expanding equal access for people of all backgrounds to the Welsh language is fragile at the moment. For example, there is a lack of Welsh-speaking teachers being trained—only 250 a year,...
Heledd Fychan: ..., which equates to the population of Merthyr Tydfil, since 2001. This should also be considered in the context of the fact that only around 20 per cent of our children are currently in Welsh-medium education. It’s difficult, therefore, to see how the Government’s aim of having an
Heledd Fychan: ...do, I know the difference it makes, the difference it makes to their families and to those individuals. In terms of other measures, of course it's not just a responsibility for the Minister for education, as you outlined, rightly so; it is a cross-Government, cross-portfolio responsibility, certainly social justice. We've had a debate about buses in terms of the importance of making public...
Heledd Fychan: ...and difficulties in securing supply staff to cover, but there are other challenges too, linked to the draft budget, which we discussed yesterday. We’ve already been warned by teaching unions that school budgets are going to be under strain, with heads warning that they will have to look at cutting back on teachers and teaching assistants, as well as additional support for pupils and...
Heledd Fychan: ...who contributed, as well as the Minister. This was a very important inquiry. As has already been outlined, we are all aware of the importance of attendance in terms of pupils’ development at school, not just in terms of their academic attainment, but their social, cognitive and emotional development. But the fact is, across Wales, too many learners are missing out on important...
Heledd Fychan: ...opportunity for some people to enjoy a Welsh-medium event in their area for the very first time ever. That does encourage people to send their children to Welsh-medium provision in terms of their education. So, can I ask you to reconsider or look again at the question I asked? Secondly, you'll be aware, I'm sure, of the proposed plans of some local authorities to close or scale back some...
