Government's embarrassing back down over Foundation Phase

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 30th Apr 2008

In a written statement the Minister for Education has made a huge u-turn in admitting that additional funding will be required to implement the Foundation Phase.

Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education commented described the Minister's turnaround as "both inept and highly embarrassing for the Government."

Kirsty commented: "For months the Government has refused point blank to admit that there were any problems with the roll out of this new curriculum. After immense pressure from teachers, unions, local authorities and from within the Chamber we have finally got them to back down and admit that their policy was flawed.

"The Minister will be meeting and consulting with stakeholders over the coming week and I hope in this time she will be more receptive to their concerns than she has been until now.

"It is time for the Government to find the extra money needed to ensure that this flagship scheme is the success that it deserves to be. With the right support and funding schools will be able to get on with teaching rather than worrying about how to find resources."

Notes:

WRITTEN STATEMENT BY THE

WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT

Title: Foundation Phase

Date: 29 April 2008

By: Jane Hutt, Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong

Learning and Skills

I wish to report on progress in relation to implementation of the Foundation Phase.

Over the last three weeks meetings have taken place between my officials and every local education authority in Wales. We now have, for the first time, information from every authority as to what it expects to be able to achieve with its share of the £25 million funding already announced for 2008-09.

In light of the information from authorities, and taking account of the fact that since the budget planning round for 2008-09 was completed new population data has become available showing a significant upward trend in the birth rate, we are undertaking further financial modelling to better understand what authorities are telling us about funding requirements and to consider how these can be addressed.

At the same time, representations have been made by local authorities in relation to the treatment, within the roll out programme, of Pilot and Early Start schools. I have agreed that this issue should also be included within the further modelling work referred to above.

In the light of these discussions I am satisfied that additional funding will be required. I am meeting representatives of local government, the teacher unions, Estyn and early years specialists on Tuesday 6 May to share the analysis with them and to seek their views. This group will form an Implementation Task and Finish Group to advise me on the further practical roll out of the programme.

I will make an oral statement in Plenary on the following day setting out my detailed proposals, including funding arrangements, taking account of views expressed at the meeting.

The action we are taking confirms the importance we attach to successful roll out of the Foundation Phase; and its significance for the future of education provision in Wales.