Additional Learning Needs

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:04 pm on 30 January 2018.

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Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 2:04, 30 January 2018

(Translated)

I'm pleased to hear that you will be monitoring the situation, because we also know, as the budgets of a number of schools where many of us are governors are shrinking, that means that the only true saving that many schools can make is to reduce the staff numbers, and classroom assistants are very often the first to be cut. In a climate where the Government—. Of course, we welcome the fact that you have legislated in order to strengthen the support for pupils with additional learning needs. Very often, it’s those classroom assistants who are on the front line and who are providing that additional support. So, what assessment have you carried out of the impact that shrinking budgets and the loss of classroom assistants is having on the new Act and, hopefully, its success?