Education

AM: Where are the school breakfasts?

Published

11 years ago

December 17, 2014

Tom Sinclair

: Are enough school pupils getting a healthy breakfast?

CONSERVATIVE Shadow Education Minister, Angela Burns, has criticised the Welsh Labour government over their record for provision of free school breakfasts. She said it was ‘regrettable’ that after the Welsh Assembly had spent ‘tens of millions of pounds’ that a third of Welsh children were not able to access free school breakfasts. She went on to say: “We believe that parents who can afford to make a small financial contribution towards the cost of their child’s free school breakfast should do so to improve the scheme’s funding and enable more children to benefit.”

The scheme was launched 10 years ago and its principle aim was to make sure that all primary children had an opportunity for a healthy meal at the start of the day. Assembly Education Minister, Huw Lewis, stated that the take up of these free breakfasts was on the increase. However, statistics show that only 82% of schools in Wales are offering these breakfasts when in fact the opportunity is there for all schools to offer them.

In Newport only 30% of schools are operating the scheme. Another worrying statistic shows that where these breakfasts are on offer, less than 20% of pupils are turning up for them, even though the meals are being funded by the Assembly. Mr Lewis said, however: “We know that in the last five years alone, around 10 million free and healthy breakfasts have been served to our primary school learners.”

Plaid Cymru Shadow Education Minister, Simon Thomas said: “The scheme was introduced in deprived areas in 2004, at first there were concerns it was not reaching the children who needed it most. In Government and in opposition (Plaid) has supported free breakfasts as it improves children’s health and education. Not all families are able to sit down and eat breakfast together before the school day.

It also acts as childcare and many parents who use it are better off parents who drop their kids at school before they go to work.” Another Plaid AM, Rhun Ap Iorwerth, who quizzed the First Minister on the scheme in the Senedd earlier this month added: “We all agree on the value of ensuring that not a single child in Wales starts their school working day on an empty stomach, but, as this responsibility becomes statutory, the Welsh Government withdrew from councils the direct grant provided to them to pay for this service, which, in the case of Anglesey, is some £400,000 per annum.

The outcome of that decision and its timing was to ensure that the greatest possible strain was placed on local authority budgets at a time when budgets are already reducing and to put previously threatened services at further risk.” The Herald asked Pembrokeshire County Council what the take up was in our county. A spokesperson confirmed that of the 62 primary sites, 57 school kitchens were serving breakfast (over 90%) and that the average take up per day is 2,022 pupils, representing 22% of the total pupil number.

Cymraeg

Welsh language report says students face mixed experiences across colleges and universities

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW report has found that Welsh-speaking students face inconsistent access to Welsh language services across Wales’ colleges and universities.

The research, published by the Welsh Language Commissioner on Monday (May 25), gathered responses from more than 1,500 further and higher education students.

It examined four key areas: whether students can submit written work in Welsh, choose accommodation with Welsh-speaking students, access a Welsh-speaking personal tutor, and receive wellbeing support through the medium of Welsh.

The report also looked at the wider language culture on campuses, including how institutions promote Welsh language services and support students to use Welsh naturally in academic and social settings.

Osian Llywelyn, Deputy Welsh Language Commissioner, said colleges and universities had a vital role in helping students use Welsh as part of everyday life.

He said: “Given the importance of sustaining and developing the continued use of the Welsh language, it is essential to recognise the key role that further education colleges and higher education institutions play in ensuring that students have the opportunity to use Welsh naturally as part of their academic and social lives.

“While it is encouraging to see strong examples of good practice, that experience is not consistent across the sector. As a result, we have identified clear improvement actions, and we will be asking the relevant institutions to address them.”

Five improvement actions have been identified. These include standardising Welsh-medium assessment arrangements, proactively offering Welsh language services rather than simply making them available on request, addressing gaps in workforce Welsh-language skills, strengthening students’ sense of belonging through Welsh, and improving self-assessment and monitoring.

James Owen, Chief Executive of Medr, the body responsible for funding and regulating tertiary education in Wales, said the findings showed the need for more support across the sector.

He said Medr’s new Welsh Language Condition would place a clearer focus on providers promoting and supporting the use of Cymraeg, and on creating formal and informal opportunities for staff and learners to develop their Welsh-language skills.

Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, said students’ experiences of Welsh at college or university could influence their willingness and ability to use the language later in the workplace.

He said the report showed the need for the Welsh-language experience to extend “well beyond the classroom”.

The report will be officially launched at the Welsh Language Commissioner’s stand at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Anglesey at 11:00am on Monday (May 25).

Education

£1,500 cash bursary announced for aspiring local youngsters

Published

5 days ago

May 20, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

FOLLOWING its previous success, Ceredigion Youth Service is fortunate to accept another opportunity provided by West Wales Holiday Cottages to support young people with a cash bursary this year.

The purpose of the bursary is to provide young people aged between 11 and 25 with the chance to receive £1,500 to help with their future aspirations. The successful applicant(s) will be chosen by Ceredigion Youth Forum, which is a panel made up of young people from Ceredigion.

Gwion Bowen, Senior Support Officer Participation, said: “We are very grateful to West Wales Holiday Cottages for providing us with this opportunity for young people in Ceredigion for the ninth year in succession. Like ourselves, West Wales Holiday Cottages recognise that many young people living in Ceredigion may experience difficulties in accessing training, support and social activities due to socio-economic issues. The bursary was extremely successful last year, with a young person gaining financial support to help them with their mobile beauty start up business.”

Councillor Wyn Thomas, Cabinet for Schools and Lifelong Learning, said: “I would like to encourage anyone aged between 11 and 25 who needs financial support to reach their goals to consider this fantastic opportunity. As with previous years, I hope that the bursary is a success again this year, and that it will benefit young people in Ceredigion.”

Lisa Stopher, Managing Director at West Wales Holiday Cottages said, “West Wales Holiday Cottages are delighted to be supporting the bursary once again in partnership with Ceredigion Youth Service. We recognise that many young people can face barriers when accessing opportunities, training and resources, and we hope this bursary will continue to make a positive difference by giving young people the support they need to pursue their goals and aspirations.”

Do you need financial support to reach your goals? Would you benefit from having financial support to help you with training or equipment that is required for your chosen vocation? Are you looking for support to start your own enterprise? Are you a member of a community group and looking for financial support to purchase resources or equipment?

The closing date for applications is midnight on 19 July 2026. If you’re interested, contact Gwion Bowen on 07790 812939 or e-mail [email protected] for an application form.

Education

Ashmole & Co fund future accountants with financial donation to primary school

Published

5 days ago

May 20, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

CARMARTHENSHIRE’S would-be mathematicians are being given a major boost in their careers thanks to an Ashmole & Co donation to Ysgol Llandybie Primary School.

The donation, funded by the company’s Ammanford office, will help with the annual purchase of the online MyMaths resource which uses the online resource to help pupils and parents with the teaching of maths at home as well as allowing teachers to set tasks and provide them with tutorials to show them the mathematical concepts being taught.
The programme can assist in all areas of mathematics from shape to space, and from data to financial literacy.

Laura Craddock, Partner in Ashmole & Co’s Ammanford office, said, “We are always keen
to offer our support locally. We are more than happy to help fund the online resource
MyMaths to help train the local accountants of the future from a young age.”

Llandybie Primary School Head Teacher, Rhian Pritchard, said, “We are keen to continue
using online resources to enhance our pupils’ learning experience but they come at an extra
cost. We are grateful to Ashmole and Co for the donation which will enable us to continue
the provision of online maths learning.”