Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 2:25 pm on 11 January 2017.
I would hope that we will have expressions of interest to expand the scheme from local authorities across Wales. What’s really important is if the local authorities who currently don’t already operate this scheme—and there are a number across south Wales and a couple in north Wales who already do—if other local authorities have an interest in this, then they need to let the WLGA and us know that they want to participate, so that we can then identify the communities that will benefit from it most. So, if there are individual schools in people’s constituencies that are interested in being a part of this scheme, then, again, I would urge them to get in touch with their local education authority to show an interest so that we can make sure that as many children as possible who will benefit from this have the opportunity. The pilots have been very successful and it is my anticipation that we expand that success and open it up to as many Welsh children as possible, regardless of whether they live in urban areas or whether they live in rural areas. But the emphasis is on local authorities to come forward and I would urge them to do so.