On Friday 12 May, after many delays, the Welsh Government published its new statutory guidance for local authorities. This was almost exactly a year after Education Minister, Jeremy Miles MS, had informed Senedd that his Department was “seeking further evidence in support of the proposals…” He added: The unforeseen delay… Read More »New Guidance Published – Warts and All
Families First in Education Wales wrote to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee [LJCC] on 21 February. This was to request that three enclosed documents be placed on file so that Committee members might have access to them when they came to consider the new statutory guidance for EHE and… Read More »Letter to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Agenda item 5 of a Senedd Plenary session held on 8 February was a Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s Report – ‘Pupil Absence.’ This Report was tabled on 14 November 2022, and we have commented on it previously. CYPEC Chair Jane Bryant opened the debate by… Read More »Senedd Plenary – 8 February 2023
Last year the Children Young People & Education Committee [CYPEC] held a short inquiry on pupil absence from schools. One of the Terms of Reference asked whether absenteeism had resulted in a higher level of pupil de-registration and any cross-over with elective home education. The Inquiry’s findings were written up… Read More »Welsh Government response to CYPEC report on Pupil Absence
On 30 November, the Welsh Government released its formal response to the Children’s Commissioner for Wales’ Annual Report 2021-22, which had been published on 11 October. In her Cabinet Statement, Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt, MS, noted that this report reflected the final year of Prof Sally Holland’s> term… Read More »Welsh Government response to the Children´s Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2022
The Children, Young People and Education Committee (CYPEC) was established by the Senedd to “look at policy and legislation, and to hold the Welsh Government to account in specific areas including children and young people; education; and health, care services, and social care as they relate to children and young… Read More »CYPEC Report on Pupil Absence
Leader of the Opposition Andrew R. T. Davies (South Wales Central) tabled two Written Questions on 24 October. Both concerned the provision of funding for the role of elective home education coordinators. The first (WQ86402) read: “Will the Minister confirm whether or not Welsh Government funding for the role of… Read More »Written Questions answered on 3, 8 and 17 November
Two written questions have recently been asked about contact between the Welsh Government and the UK Government in connection with home education. On 28 September Mark Isherwood MS (Con. Regional Member) asked Minister Jeremy Miles the following: Written Question – WQ86159 “To what extent did the Welsh Government liaise with… Read More »Written Questions – Answered on 5 & 17 October 2022
The summer recess for the Welsh Assembly was followed almost instantly by the period of national mourning for the late Queen. Together these made it feel as though Senedd had been closed down for much longer than usual. Consequently, August and a good part of September were remarkable for their… Read More »Senedd Plenary – 20 September 2022
Two further Written Questions about home education were submitted by Laura Anne Jones on 13 July. The questions and full text of Miles’ response are below, but the key points he made are: After restating the purpose of the planned Local Authority database of all children, Miles affirmed that key… Read More »Written Question – Answered on 21 July 2022
