4. How is the Welsh Government enabling learners to learn in non-traditional settings? OQ56968

Our national mission sets out our commitment to the success and well-being of all learners. Education other than at school is an integrated part of the continuum of education. EOTAS is education provision for children and young people who, for whatever reason, require tailored support away from mainstream schools.

Minister, thank you for that answer. It's two issues that come to mind, raised by Welsh residents who want to access learning but can't. One resident in Alyn and Deeside sought to do a postgraduate education qualification at Cheshire East college, an institution where learners from other parts of the United Kingdom can get funding to attend, but, unfortunately, we do not recognise the course, and, despite it being on her doorstep, she could therefore not attend. 

Minister, you will also be aware of concerns raised through a Senedd petition—and, Llywydd, I want to be clear here that I'm not speaking on behalf of the committee; I'm speaking as a Member of the Senedd. But that petition raised that postgraduate funding only extends to traditional universities, excluding students who choose science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine Master's through alternative providers. Minister, do you agree with me that the best institution is often the one the learner can access, and we should not seek to place barriers in the way of people attending qualifications? 

I thank the Member of that question. As in all parts of the UK—. Each part of the UK has a regime through which education providers are qualified for support through the respective arrangements in each of the four nations, and the fact that one institution may qualify in one of the nations doesn't automatically mean that they satisfy the criteria in each of the four nations. They would need to submit applications for recognition in any nation where funding is sought. As the Member, I know, is aware, HEFCW is responsible for much of the process in relation to these questions. There is a need at the moment for alternative providers to apply for specific designation of their courses in order for Welsh students to be able to access student support. That is obviously in place in order to protect the public purse, but also to protect the interests of students, so that we are able to ensure that the providers are able to meet the relevant criteria in the interests of students themselves. Where any individual Welsh student is concerned about the status of a course in which they may have an interest, the first step, I would recommend, is to contact the course provider to check the student support that will be available before taking up that place. That will be the point at which any potential questions then can be raised. 

I'd like to thank Mr Sargeant also for raising this question this afternoon. As you acknowledged, Minister, for some learners, traditional school learning settings aren't always the best for them. Many young people often thrive in non-traditional settings, which can see them move up the educational ladder at their own speed, and perhaps focus on specific areas of interest as well that suit them better, and, indeed, from my own experience, I was somebody who was home educated up until high-school age, and I know first-hand how well some non-traditional settings can work for some families. The outcome of which may be questionable in my instance here, but, certainly the experience of my family was of benefit. But, of course, many of the opportunities presented by non-traditional settings are underpinned by parental choice. So, Minister, how will you continue to support parents in being able to choose the right setting for their children to learn most effectively? 

Well, in the context of the question that he raises about elective home education—and the diffidence with which he presents the benefits of that, I think, is acknowledged—just to remind the Member that, of all the four nations in the UK, Wales has the most generous support for the elective home educating community. The current year funding for that level of support is around £1.7 million. As he will know, in the previous Senedd, we consulted on introducing changes to the regulatory arrangements around elective home education in order to support local authorities and the work they are able to do with parents who elect to home educate. I am clear in my mind that that needs to be part of a broader offer that is able to support home educators in the way that he is describing, and I'm very pleased that Wales is leading the way across the UK in provision in that space.