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Question from: County Councillor Elwyn Vaughan Subject: 4 day week face to face teaching
Question:
In view of the proposal by the Lib Dem led authority to have schools teach one day a week at home, can I have a response to the following,
Estyn stated in their 2021-2022 Annual report: • Overall, learners’ skills have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. This is especially the case for numeracy and literacy skills, particularly oracy skills. The social and personal skills of a minority of learners have also been affected, especially the youngest children and those who have struggled to settle back in to more ‘normal’ educational routines. • Learners’ use of spoken Welsh generally declined as a result of the pandemic. • Restrictions have had a negative impact on learning involving practical elements, including work placements, practical assessments for vocational qualifications and subjects such as music, design and technology and physical education. • Overall, the progress providers are making towards implementation of the Curriculum for Wales is too variable. • Across all sectors, there has been a notable increase in demand for well-being and mental health support. • Attendance, in schools in particular, continues to be below pre-pandemic levels and persistent absence issues have increased.
It also noted key issues in this report Crynodeb o ganfyddiadau ein hadolygiadau thematig cenedlaethol 2020/2021 (gov.wales)
If on-line teaching is to return one day a week in Powys, how will the authority take these issues on board?
Furthermore, the fact that a recent judicial review with another Welsh authority stated: “We hope that local authorities review this judgment carefully and appreciate the importance of undertaking thorough linguistic impact assessments on any proposed community developments, particularly with regard to education and leisure.” And that; “Welsh language impact assessments help authorities to anticipate and then mitigate potential adverse impacts on the language and are therefore extremely important”
can we have confirmation that: A full and proper impact assessment on the Welsh language and Welsh language education has occurred in accordance with Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code in relation to this proposal. This being particularly important bearing in mind the negative effect teaching at home during Covid had on the provision of support for pupils learning Welsh or Welsh medium education. If no such assessment has been done, why not?
Minutes: Response by the Cabinet Member:
We note and are already aware of the need to undertake full impact assessments, including but not limited to the impact on the Welsh language, before any proposal put forward by an individual school is approved. Due to the very different linguistic characteristics of schools within the portfolio, a single impact assessment would not necessarily capture the diversity of impact that any proposition might have.
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