Part of 3. Questions to the Minister for Education – in the Senedd at 3:56 pm on 10 February 2021.
Thank you, Minister, for that frank and honest answer. As you've touched on in that answer, home schooling and associated issues have presented a number of challenges for families during the pandemic. Whilst many schools have seen an increase in the number of pupils attending hub provision, the overwhelming majority of children are still at home, and a large number are struggling, particularly where parents are balancing home schooling with homeworking and other issues. Whilst I welcome the £9.4 million announced by the mental health and well-being Minister last week, can you confirm that we will see a ramping up of counselling and emotional support for children and young people in our schools, and indeed their families as well, and that this will be an urgent priority of the Government during the current budget process and beyond that, so that these families can get the support that they need as we come out of the pandemic?