6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the proposed changes to school admissions in Powys from September 2017? OAQ(5)0121(EDU)

Presiding Officer, before answering this question, I will make a statement of interest, in that I have a child in the school system in Powys.

Powys County Council is the admission authority for community schools in Powys and is therefore responsible for setting admission arrangements and ensuring that these arrangements are properly implemented and applied fairly.

Minister, ‘cylch meithrin’ and pre-school playgroups are already oversubscribed, and there is a real concern that, when the new school admissions policy in Powys comes into force in September, the pressure on playgroups will be unsustainable. Can I ask what the Welsh Government is doing to support the additional pressures on these playgroups?

I trust that all those who were members of Powys County Council at the time that decision was taken will be aware of the implications of the decisions that they took. The Member will be aware, of course, as a former member of that authority, that that authority is responsible for setting its own admissions codes and the consequences thereof.