SCHOOL leaders from across Wales are delivering Christmas cards to the Senedd today in a symbolic call for fair funding for schools.

The cards, one for every Senedd member, are being delivered by school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru, urging politicians to give children in Wales what it describes as the “best Christmas gift” – a fully and fairly funded education.

NAHT Cymru national secretary Laura Doel and president Kerina Hanson are gathering outside the Senedd at 1:00pm today before handing the cards in at the Senedd reception.

The action follows the union’s warning last week that while £339m came to the Welsh Government as a result of increased education spending in England for the 2026/27 draft budget, only £39m has so far been allocated to core school budgets in Wales.

Earlier this week, an additional £112.8m was allocated to local government following a budget agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, with some of that funding expected to reach schools.

However, NAHT Cymru says the additional money will fall well short of what is needed. The Welsh Local Government Association has predicted a £137m shortfall in school budgets in Wales for the next financial year, while local authorities are also facing a £200m deficit in social care funding.

The union has also raised concerns that the First Minister has declined to explain how the £339m of additional education funding has been allocated, prompting calls for urgent and transparent scrutiny of the budget.

Speaking ahead of the card delivery, Laura Doel said: “Christmas is a time of giving, and we’re urging the Welsh Government to give schools in Wales the funding they rightfully deserve.

“The money that comes to Wales for education should be spent on education, yet we know much of it has never reached schools. We urgently need clarity on where this money has gone and to see greater investment going directly to pupils.

“The system is at breaking point, and without action we are facing an incredibly bleak new year for schools across Wales.

“We’re calling on every member of the Senedd to act this Christmas and give children in Wales the best possible gift – a fully and fairly funded education.”

The Welsh Government says education remains a priority, pointing to additional funding agreed with Plaid Cymru for local government, some of which is expected to support schools.

However, teaching unions and local authorities continue to warn that funding pressures remain severe.

Awareness high as review finds shift in attitudes and fewer prosecutions

A LANDMARK Welsh law banning the physical punishment of children is beginning to change attitudes and protect young people, according to a new Welsh Government review published on Tuesday (Dec 16).

The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 came into force in March 2022, making it illegal for parents and carers to physically punish children.

Three years on, an independent evidence review has found high public awareness of the law, strong professional confidence in applying it, and a growing rejection of physical punishment as an effective form of discipline.

One of the central findings relates to the Out-of-Court Parenting Support Scheme, which allows parents to access guidance and education rather than face prosecution. Since the law was introduced, around 365 families have been referred to the scheme, with 310 parents completing the sessions. The majority reported positive outcomes, while fewer than five cases have progressed to prosecution.

The Welsh Government says this demonstrates that the legislation is focused on education and prevention rather than punishment.

The review found that awareness of the law is widespread. Around 95% of parents surveyed said they know physical punishment is illegal, while 87% of the general public were aware of the legislation. A similar proportion of children and young people said they understood that parents are not permitted to physically punish them.

Attitudes towards discipline are also shifting. The review found that 86% of parents now view physical punishment as ineffective.

Professionals working with children and families reported increased confidence when discussing discipline and children’s rights with parents, saying the law has removed previous uncertainty about what is acceptable.

However, the review also identified areas where further work is needed, including additional research and ongoing support for the workforce implementing the law.

Responding to the findings, the Minister for Children and Social Care, Dawn Bowden said the legislation was making “significant progress” in protecting children’s rights.

She said: “By supporting families rather than punishing them, we are helping parents develop positive relationships with their children.

“The fact that almost all parents now know physical punishment is illegal, and the majority see it as ineffective, represents a significant cultural shift.

“Our approach prioritises education and support, with hundreds of families benefiting from parenting programmes. We want a Wales where every child is safe, valued and respected.”

However, the law has not been without criticism.

Opponents have previously warned that banning physical punishment risks drawing the state further into family life and criminalising parents for low-level incidents that would once have been dealt with informally. Others have raised concerns about police workload and the challenge of consistent enforcement, while some parents continue to argue that discipline should remain a private family matter.

Welsh ministers maintain that the focus remains firmly on education and support rather than prosecution, but debate around the law’s long-term impact on families and public services continues.

A NEW digital toolkit developed in Ceredigion is being hailed as a potential game-changer for small businesses in rural Wales, as artificial intelligence reshapes how customers discover local services online.

Created by Antur Cymru Enterprise, the SMART Busnes programme is giving Welsh SMEs an early foothold in Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) – a rapidly emerging discipline focused on how businesses appear within AI-generated search responses.

As AI-driven tools increasingly replace traditional search results with instant, conversational answers, SMART Busnes – supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – has launched one of the first practical AEO toolkits available in Wales.

The initiative is being led by Digital Business Advisor Lynne Rees and centres on a new insight framework known as Agentic AEO. The approach is designed to help rural and micro-businesses remain visible online as search engines and AI platforms prioritise structured, easily interpreted information over conventional keyword-based webpages.

Kevin Harrington, Project Manager for SMART Busnes, said the shift represents a fundamental change in how businesses need to think about their online presence.

“AI search is here to stay, and our Agentic AEO insight series isn’t a tweak – it’s a reset,” he said.

“It’s about helping Welsh SMEs show up wherever customers search: on Google, on social media, and increasingly within AI-generated answers. This gives rural businesses access to the kind of digital advantage that large brands often pay thousands of pounds for.”

Traditional search engine optimisation is already being overtaken by AI-led systems such as Google’s Search Generative Experience and tools like ChatGPT, which provide direct responses rather than lists of links.

For small businesses, this presents a growing risk. If online content is not structured in a way AI tools can understand, businesses may fall below the point where potential customers ever see them.

Agentic AEO focuses on improving clarity, structure and user intent across websites, social media platforms and Google Business Profiles. By presenting information in formats AI systems can easily process, businesses can improve both visibility and credibility within automated responses.

The SMART Busnes AEO Insight Series provides practical support, including step-by-step guidance on restructuring webpages, examples of effective layouts, and tailored AI prompts to help business owners produce optimised content quickly and affordably. Even modest changes – such as a website review, targeted content update or short advisory session – can influence how a business appears in search results over the coming year.

Antur Cymru chief executive Bronwen Raine said the programme was designed to help businesses adapt to long-term change.

“SMART Busnes was created to support small businesses through change, not simply to chase trends,” she said.

“The Agentic AEO insight series shows how Shared Prosperity Fund investment is driving genuine innovation, building confidence, skills and sustainability across local economies.”

With many SEO providers in Wales still focused on older techniques, SMART Busnes is positioning Ceredigion and the wider Mid and West Wales region at the forefront of AEO adoption.

By translating emerging digital theory into accessible, practical support, the programme aims to strengthen resilience among rural enterprises and ensure they remain visible, trusted and competitive in an AI-led future.

More information about SMART Busnes and the support offered by Antur Cymru Enterprise is available via the organisation’s website.