WIREDGOV

A Draft Budget which protects funding for schools, skills, early years and Wales’ most vulnerable children and young people has been welcomed by Education Minister Leighton Andrews today.

Leighton Andrews said:

“Following a challenging settlement from the UK Government which has seen a reduction in my budget, I have ensured that our young people will not be disadvantaged and will be given the best possible start in life in Wales. We have sought to protect schools and skills, and also initiatives to address child poverty”.

Priority areas which have been protected include:

• The continuing roll out of the pioneering Foundation Phase for 3 to 7 year olds will be supported through additional funding over three years from 2011 - 12
• Flying Start – the early years programme and Cymorth will receive indicative funding increases from 2012 – 13.
• Our commitment to the health and wellbeing of school pupils continues. This includes provision of free primary school breakfasts and future year increases to funding for school based counselling.
• Increased opportunities and choice for young people provided by the 14-19 Learning Pathways is being maintained, as is support for those with additional learning needs with an additional £6.5m per year for post 16 SEN.  
• Additional funding of £1m will be made available in 2011-12 to enhance school staff Continuing Professional Development (CPD), targeted to improve basic literacy skills through effective teaching.  
• The commitment to increase apprenticeship opportunities will continue through the Pathways to Apprenticeship programme with a special focus on youth engagement and employment and tackling long term unemployment. Indicative skills budgets will increase over the two years 2012-13 and 2013-14 by some £14m, (2.3%).

The Minister said:

“There can be little doubt that this has been an extremely challenging budget process with an overall cut in my budget for the next year, and a significant reduction over the next three years to capital funding.

“More positive news is that while revenue funding for 2011-12 is down by £21.1m (1.3%), indicative budgets for future years present positive annual increases of £8.6m, (0.5%) and £23.3m (1.4%) for years 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively.

"Budgets for schools – both within the Education Department and through the Revenue Support Grant - have been protected by 1% above the rate of change in the Welsh budget.  Budgets for skills have been given the same protection.

“Clearly there have had to be reductions in some areas, however I have worked hard to prioritise our funding to limit the effect this will have on our children and young people, especially the most vulnerable.

“I’ve already set in motion a range of initiatives to push more money to our front lines, our schools, colleges and universities. This will help offset some of the reductions in funding we’ve had to make due to this difficult settlement.

“We’ve protected schemes such as our revolutionary Foundation Phase, 14-19 Learning Pathways and our apprenticeship schemes. We’re also ensuring benefits, such as free breakfasts and Education Maintenance Allowances continue to exist in Wales, allowing those who are less well off to access the benefits they deserve.

“We have been strategic and pragmatic in the way we allocate our funding. By protecting schools, skills and early years budgets while honouring our ongoing commitments, we will continue to make Wales an education success story.”

The Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, Lesley Griffiths said:

“We know a skilled workforce of highly qualified people is crucial to Wales’ economic recovery following the recession.

“The draft budget highlights our ongoing commitment to apprenticeships and skills as a whole which I know will be welcomed by employers, businesses and learners across Wales.”

Commenting on the draft budget Deputy Minister for Children Huw Lewis said:

“This budget will support those in our society who need our help the most.

“We have made it our priory to tackle social inequality, including child poverty, to ensure that young people in Wales have life chances they deserve.”

Related Links

Draft Budget November 2010
Education and skills