The duty to ensure that suitable educational provision is made available for children and young people rests with local authorities. This includes a duty to promote high standards of education, fair access to education and a general duty to ensure there are sufficient schools in their area.

Attendance rates are currently 89.7 per cent on average. My priority is to ensure all children and young people have the opportunity to reach their potential, regardless of their background. Maintaining good attendance and engagement with children and their families is key to this.

Faith schools across Wales offer parents the opportunity for their children to be educated in accordance with their beliefs. Local authorities should therefore aim for a balance of provision between the types of schools that they maintain, whilst ensuring high-quality teaching and learning and curriculum coverage for all learners.

We are committed to creating an inclusive education system. Our additional learning needs reforms put learners at the heart of the process to identify and meet their needs and will help ensure all pupils requiring additional support to meet an ALN have that support properly planned for and protected.