14. Debate: Estyn Annual Report 2020-21

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 7:06 pm on 26 April 2022.

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Photo of Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles Labour 7:06, 26 April 2022

We will be supporting the Plaid amendment, which Heledd Fychan spoke about. It reflects our focus and priority as a Government, and the efforts, indeed, of the entire education workforce. She made some important points in relation to the costs of the school day. She will be aware of the work that we've been doing with partners to provide guidance to schools in relation to that, and I know that she will have welcomed the extension of the PDG access funding, both in terms of availability to all school years and the additional in-year contribution that we've been able to make as a Government to those families that are struggling this year.

Laura Anne Jones made a series of important points. I agree with her that probably the key point in the report relates to the unequal burdens felt by different learners, and in particular those from a disadvantaged background. She gave a warm welcome to the statement I made in the Senedd at the end of last term in relation to the work we are doing as a Government to support those learners. She made an important point about attendance, which is very clearly highlighted as a concern in the report, and I'll be making a statement to the Senedd very soon on our approach to attendance, building on what we've learnt from a review that we've undertaken that goes beyond the data, if you like, to try and put that in its broader context.

Jayne Bryant made a very important point in relation to the impact on the Welsh language.