5. Statement by the Minister For Education: Update on Education Provision

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:29 pm on 3 June 2020.

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Photo of Vikki Howells Vikki Howells Labour 3:29, 3 June 2020

Minister, I would like to welcome the pragmatism of your decision today. This is a virus that could be with us for a year or two or even more, and we simply can't deprive our young people of face-to-face education for that length of time. But this is a staggered return, which needs to be done safely, so I'd like to ask you for a little more detail on how you're working with teachers to ensure that they feel safe within the classroom environment, and also with the cleaning staff in schools as well, to ensure that they have sufficient time and sufficient resources to clean the school environment thoroughly.

Secondly, I'd like to ask for a little more detail around school transport, how you intend to ensure that pupils comply with social distancing measures when they are on school transport, and also, if there will be any additional costs to local authorities in terms of putting on extra buses, how those costs are intended to be met.

My final question is on free school meals, and, with this staggered return, there will obviously be some pupils who will be present in the school environment, while others are home at different times. How will you ensure that all families access the provision to free school meal entitlement, whether that is within the school setting or if they are at home?