Education Catch-up

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 2:58 pm on 6 October 2021.

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Photo of Sioned Williams Sioned Williams Plaid Cymru 2:58, 6 October 2021

Minister, I've been contacted by the father of an additional learning needs pupil who's suffered months of lost education and, of course, all-important development during the pandemic, and, unlike with his other children, there's been no opportunity to continue his son's very specialist education at home. The local authority hasn't offered any coaching or training for parents to do this outside of normal working hours. Can I therefore ask what specific education recovery provisions are being made for pupils with additional learning needs, who could only receive limited home learning during lockdown? Also, can the Welsh Government make provision for free LAMP PCR non-intrusive saliva home testing kits and periodic school testing for additional learning needs children who cannot undertake intrusive swab testing? Many additional learning needs pupils are being sent home and having to isolate, missing even more school, as they are unable to use the invasive testing methods in order to return to school safely. Diolch.