Disadvantaged Learners in Islwyn

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 2:01 pm on 25 April 2018.

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Photo of Kirsty Williams Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrat 2:01, 25 April 2018

Thank you, Oscar, for that question. I am very keen to address the impact of disadvantage on children's education in a variety of ways, and for some families, assistance with school uniform is really important. But as we heard yesterday, in a question to the First Minister from Julie Morgan, there are other ways in which more deprived communities cannot take advantage of the full range of opportunities that may be available to them, and that can have a direct impact on that learner's capabilities to progress. That's why I and officials are currently working on a replacement grant for what was previously called the school uniform grant. It will include access to support for school uniforms, but I'm also wanting that grant to be able to provide greater flexibility for parents, for instance, who may not have the financial ability to allow their child to go on a school trip or to allow their child to participate in extra-curricular activity, which could affect their outcomes. So, yes, grants for uniforms will continue, but I'm looking to expand that grant to cover a wider variety of opportunities that, potentially, pupils from deprived backgrounds can't participate in.