Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:49 pm on 3 March 2020.
May I ask for a statement from the education Minister regarding guidance issued to local authorities over school admission policy? Currently, Newport City Council's school admission department will only accept medical evidence provided by a consultant for a child or young person to be considered for a specific school when the local authority needs to apply oversubscription criteria. We all know the pressure that the NHS is under. To wait for a medical consultant appointment, and thereafter a report from a consultant, seems to be duly unnecessary and takes up the consultant's valued time when the child or young person already has a medical diagnosis. Minister, it concerns me greatly that the policy allows the local authorities to disregard the opinion and diagnosis of any other medical professional, including specialist services. Could I ask for a statement from the Minister on this important issue, please?