Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. I fully welcome your statement this afternoon, Minister, and your personal commitment to supporting the education workforce.

We expect so much of teachers and school staff; their roles extend to being so much more than educators and we know they go above and beyond what is expected of them. This often extends outside their working day, and so many continue to support students and families in their own time. They help with community events and they’re asked to support the police; often being at the forefront, they can be in the firing line for many unpopular decisions outside of their own control, and they really can feel the brunt of opinion on social media.

The work that they provide is invaluable to our children and young people in Wales and they really should have the best support possible. Some of those that provide vital support are the teaching assistants and the learning support assistants, as you touched on earlier. I know a current review is in place to look at ways we can incentivise more people to join and remain in these professions, and I’d urge the Minister to do everything that he can to provide that help. These roles are crucial and they require dedication and a huge amount of patience and commitment. They again go above and beyond their responsibilities.

I’d just like to ask what work is being done to support those teachers and teaching assistants perhaps later on in their careers, or those who are approaching retirement, and how we’re looking to support those, perhaps if they want to stay in the workforce a bit more flexibly than they have done, and also to use their incredible skills and experience that they can pass on to others who are new to the role, because they are really, really important.

Finally, we know that the UK Tory Government is really determined to prioritise bankers’ bonuses rather than properly funding our public services. What more can the Welsh Government do to show our education workforce that we value their skills, dedication and professionalism?