I think I want to start my contribution this afternoon with a very clear focus on the point and the purpose of this legislation. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that all learners in Wales have access to the richest possible learning experience. It is not right, and it is not acceptable, that people who have additional learning needs are not provided with the help and support and the structures and the environment and the ability to progress their learning, and to reach and fulfil the whole of their potential. This legislation is designed and is developed in order to do that.

It has been developed over a number of years, and I’m grateful to both my predecessor in this role and to others, in committees and elsewhere, for the work that they have done in producing the Bill that we have in front of us today. I am also very grateful for the contributions from opposition parties. I’ve said in previous remarks on this legislation that I hope to create and to enable a consensus to develop around and throughout this legislation, and I’m grateful to Members from all sides of the Chamber for the way in which they’ve conducted the debate, and the scrutiny of the legislation to date. I’m also very grateful to Members for the very broad welcome that the Bill, and the legislation, has received across the political spectrum.

I’d like to start my contribution, though, by thanking the Chairs and members of the three committees that have been involved in the scrutiny of this Bill, for their work over the last six months. I would in particular like to thank the Children, Young People and Education Committee for the comprehensive and inclusive approach that it’s taken towards this Bill. And I would also like to place on record my thanks to the many stakeholders and partners who have been involved in this work, and who are continuing to work with us to transform the education for children and young people with additional learning needs.

And in order to emphasise—and I would like to emphasise again in this debate—that what is important about this process is the transformational programme that this Bill is a part of. Quite often, when we bring legislation to this place, it is a discrete piece of legislation that deals with a particular issue. But, this Bill is a part of a wider transformational programme, and I think throughout our conversations, throughout our debates, and throughout our discussions, I’d like to emphasise it is a wider transformational programme: the investment in the system, the investment in people, the investment in what we’re seeking to achieve will create the means by which the Bill, the legislation and the structures that it will create will be able to succeed.

I hope that Members will agree that this is a vital piece of reform, and has the potential to support tens of thousands of children and young people when it is in place. The Bill will replace the current special educational needs system, putting in place a completely new system of support for children and young people with additional learning needs, up to the age of 25. Children and young people will have the right to an individual development plan that identifies the support they will need to help them to learn. The new additional learning needs system will be based around person-centred practice and early dispute resolution. Children, their parents and young people will all have a right to appeal to the education tribunal.

The Bill creates the new role of additional learning needs co-ordinators in schools, and the new post of designated lead officer in health boards, to improve the provision of support and co-ordination between health, education and local authorities. I hope that we will be able to look towards some of the issues that have arisen during Stage 1 scrutiny. A number of themes have emerged. I will make a few comments on each one of those, but I will also say at the outset of this debate that it is my intention to seek to accept the vast majority of recommendations from all three committees that have reported on this Bill.

An area of considerable focus has been healthcare needs. Children and young people who have a medical condition that contributes to an additional learning need are entitled to additional learner provision under the new system. There has been some debate about extending the definition of additional learning needs to include all medical conditions, including, for example, asthma or a peanut allergy, or whether or not they affect a child’s ability to learn. We have already issued statutory guidance to schools for children with long-term and short-term healthcare needs. This has been welcomed by many stakeholders, and I look forward to seeing responses from that statutory guidance as it beds in, and as it is being delivered by practitioners. I’m content, in principle, to consider the merits of an amendment to the definition of additional learning needs, to demonstrate its scope in relation to medical conditions. This is something that has been a matter of some discussion and I’ve said in private conversations that I’m happy to consider the merits of an amendment. I’d like to put that on the record as well and I would like to invite Members on all sides of the Chamber to contribute to a conversation whereby I hope we will be able to reach agreement on the wording of such an amendment.

There has also been some conversation on the role and potential provision of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. I have to say to Members that I am not convinced by the arguments put forward during Stage 1 scrutiny on this matter. The Bill is based upon children’s rights. It’s based upon a child’s right to education, ensuring those with different needs have access to education and that children and young people not only have a voice, but are at the very centre of the process to assess and meet their needs. Members will be aware that all UN conventions are written to apply to states and not to individuals or practitioners. It is not the purpose of any UN convention to be applied in the way that is being suggested and it is not the intention of this Government to do so. However it is, and has been for some time, the intention of this Government to ensure that UN conventions do inform the way that the Government operates, and I hope that Members on all sides of the Chamber will agree that the principles of the convention are well delivered through the statutory duties contained in this Bill.

I welcome the recognition by the Children, Young People and Education Committee and by stakeholders about the strengthened role for the national health service in this Bill. Stage 1 scrutiny has highlighted two areas of debate: first of all, the tribunal’s role in relation to health issues. In Wales, we have an existing NHS complaints and redress process. We must also respect the fundamental principle of clinical judgement, which underpins all NHS decisions. I will say to Members: I and the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport have had a number of very fruitful and positive conversations on this matter. It is a matter on which we will continue to work together to seek a resolution. I’ve had conversations with the president of the tribunal as well, and I am content to continue to have conversations to seek an agreed way forward on this matter. I will say at this point as well that the president of the tribunal has written to me and the committee, suggesting a number of different amendments to the role of the tribunal. Although the committee has not reported on all of those, I will say that I am content to seek amendments to fulfil the majority of the president’s wishes on these matters because I think it is important that we are able to move forward, strengthening the tribunal as well as strengthening the system it underpins.

Secondly, significant progress has been made to develop a designated education clinical lead officer model. I will be writing to the Children, Young People and Education Committee to outline the latest developments in relation to a role in the pilots across Wales, following concerns that have been highlighted during scrutiny. In response to calls for the early years elements of the system to be strengthened, I will be bringing forward an amendment at Stage 2 to require local authorities to designate an early years lead officer. I want a greater focus on prevention and early intervention with good practice maintained across Wales. On the other end of the age range, I’m not yet persuaded about the need to extend the Bill to include all workplace learning, but I recognise that there is a strong argument being made there, and it is a matter that I will continue to consider.

Members will also be aware that I have made available a draft of the additional learning needs code in February to aid scrutiny of the Bill. I’m grateful for the committee’s views on how it can be developed further and I’m grateful to Members across the whole Chamber for the welcome they’ve given to the publication of this code. I have been clear that the code will be subject to the fullest possible consultation scrutiny. I will therefore bring forward a Government amendment at Stage 2 to make the code subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. This was a matter that the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee reported upon and I’ve given assurances to both the Children, Young People and Education Committee and the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee on this matter, and I will bring forward amendments to deliver on those assurances.

Acting—. Deputy Presiding Officer—