5. Will the Minister make a statement on class sizes in schools in Wales? OQ55411

Reducing class sizes, targeted at those who will benefit the most, is a key action in 'Our national mission'. I have made available an additional £36 million over this Assembly term to reduce infant class sizes.

Thanks, Minister. Crises bring opportunities and the most unfortunate circumstances can bring really positive change. The blended learning approach really is not going to work come the autumn, children are falling behind, not everybody is online and there is the issue of parents working. As a former teacher, I'm really aware of the enormous benefits of smaller class sizes: there's a different relationship in the classroom, there's more of a community, there's more time for children, one-on-one tuition becomes eminently possible. There's a reason why private schools offer small class sizes; we know that.

So, you're in a position now—you could usher in change with an aim to radically cut class sizes. A big-bang approach in this emergency, if you like: bringing in teachers who've left the profession, bringing people back in with the sole aim to enable a radical cut in class sizes to enable social distancing in schools and get schools back to work full time with pupils in school full time. Why not?  

Well, as I made clear, I think, in my first answer, Presiding Officer, reducing class sizes has been a priority for me and this Government. We have invested in that, and that investment has led to an additional 110 extra teachers working in our schools, and an additional 45 teaching assistants. And in some places, it's not the staff that have been the constraint, it's the actual building, and therefore we have created an additional 52 classrooms. Clearly, as I said in answer to other questions, we will be looking to do what we can to support children at the next stage of their education, to overcome some of the deficits that will undoubtedly—undoubtedly—have occurred because of this disruption, and additional staff, I'm sure, will be an important part of that.