6. Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:41 pm on 28 March 2023.

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Photo of Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles Labour 4:41, 28 March 2023

I thank John Griffiths, and I know of his commitment to the principle of community-focused schools, not least because of the successes in his particular area of many schools in achieving that, and I think he just highlights two important themes in what he has just said. Firstly, that role of school staff connecting with families around a range of issues, which might not be directly around the education of their children, but cements that relationship of trust between the school and families. And the second theme, which is so important, is the linking up of different services, whether that's a physical co-location in the school or a network of connections, so that school, but also housing services, children's services, primary healthcare—all those services are part of a seamless offer. Some schools are doing that very well. Many schools want to do more of that, and I think there is much more we can do across the system to make that a more common experience for many of our schools.