Education

WG trebles funding for teacher support

Published

3 years ago

April 1, 2022

WALES’s Minister for Education, Jeremy Miles, has announced that funding for mental health and well-being support for school staff will be trebled in the next financial year.

The spending on support for school staff will increase from £350,000 in 2021-22 to £1.25 million in 2022-23. The Welsh Government plans to increase this funding year-on-year to over £3 million by 2024-25.

The increased funding is part of the Welsh Government’s ‘whole School approach’, with total funding for schools, for pupils and staff, increasing to £12.2 million in the next financial year. The funding will be more than double the level compared to the start of the pandemic, from £5 million in 2020-21.
The Welsh Government’s whole-school approach aims to support the emotional and mental wellbeing of learners and staff in schools.

The funding will aim to tackle waiting lists, increase support for younger children and provide more training for support staff in schools, including on the impact of Covid19.

New funding will also be targeted towards well-being support for learners in Pupil Referral Units, with £1.45 million announced over the next three years.

Jeremy Miles said: “Covid-19 has presented new challenges for schools and learners, as we all adjusted to changes to the way we live our lives. The pandemic has emphasised the need for us to build resilience, by strengthening and widening the support net for learners and staff.

“As well as continuing to provide support for children and young people, the next phase of funding aims to boost support for school staff in particular, by trebling the support next year.

“We have invested in increasing support during the pandemic, but I am clear that this is not a one-off, short-term measure – I want to build up the support year-on-year, to make it easier for staff and learners to access the support they need, when they need it.”

The Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle, said: “The last two years have had a tremendous impact on everyone in Wales, including teachers and other school staff.

“It is vital to recognise that by supporting their emotional and mental wellbeing, we can help our young people reach their full potential. This is why we convened the Joint Ministerial Task and Finish Group on a whole-system approach to wellbeing in 2018 and why it will continue to drive delivery and improve provision in this area.

“It is fantastic we have been able to treble investment in emotional, mental health and well-being support to help everyone in the education system.

“This funding will ensure more people can access the support they need, reducing the number of those feeling overwhelmed or unsure of where they can seek help and advice.”

David Evans, Wales Secretary for the National Education Union Cymru, said: “Pressure on the education workforce has never been higher, with Covid-19 still having an impact in our schools.

“In an NEU Cymru survey last year, 80 per cent of respondents said that work had an impact on their mental health, with 60 per cent saying work had made their mental health worse since the pandemic.
“Our members tell us there is a significant lack of support measures in place for workers experiencing poor mental health. Workload is the single most important factor in terms of pressure.

“Alongside tackling workload, this extra money should mean that schools are able to identify and support staff with their wellbeing.

“We’re asking schools and local authorities to work with union representatives and use this opportunity to audit the wellbeing of the education workforce in every workplace. This money should help them make sure the findings of such an audit can be acted upon, and make a difference to staff.

“NEU has our own mental health charter which we are asking every workplace in Wales to adopt and puts the wellbeing of staff at the heart of the school.”

Education

Milford Haven School first to achieve gold in carer’s scheme

Published

4 days ago

November 1, 2024

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN SCHOOL have been recognised for their commitment to and support for young carers and is the first school to achieve the top level award.

The school have achieved the Investors in Carers Gold Level award for its work for learners and staff who are carers.

The scheme is delivered by Hywel Dda University Health Board and supported by local authority and third sector partners in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

The Investors in Carers initiative was originally designed to help health facilities such as GP practices, areas within hospitals and other organisations focus on and improve their carer awareness.

This scheme has now extended to many other teams, services, and organisations. It is a scheme that provides a foundation for helping to identify and support unpaid carers of all ages.

Milford Haven School was assessed against the six themes within the scheme: Carer Lead, Staff training, Identification, Information and Support for carers and Evaluation.

Janette Reynolds, Assistant Head Teacher said: “We are incredibly honoured to receive the Gold Investors in Carers Award, it is a testament to our commitment to supporting and recognizing the invaluable contributions of carers within our community. It was about developing a culture that respects, empowers, and advocates for the wellbeing of carers at Milford Haven School.

“We will continue to strive towards providing the best possible support, ensuring carers feel valued and equipped to balance their responsibilities.”

Pembrokeshire County Council Carers Champion, Councillor Mike James said: “This is absolutely fantastic news. Everyone at Milford Haven School should be extremely proud of their hard work and commitment that has led to them becoming the first school in Pembrokeshire to receive the Gold Investors in Carers award.

“The award recognises the awareness and support for carers provided by the school and this is to be congratulated.”

A carer is someone, of any age, who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. Anyone can become a carer; in most cases becoming a carer is not out of choice, it just happens.

For more information about the Investors in Carers scheme or for useful advice for carers, please visit: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/carers

Education

Kurtz calls for better conditions for supply teachers

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Richard Lewis

WEST WALES members of the National Education Union visited the Senedd on Wednesday to campaign for increased rights for those working as supply teachers employed through teaching agencies.

Commenting following the visit, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Member of the Welsh Parliament, Samuel Kurtz MS said: “It does not seem right that those opting to work as supply teachers are not afforded the same rights, pay and conditions as their full time, local authority employed counterparts.

“The flexibility that supply teachers offer our schools is essential to pupils being able to maintain a good level of education, covering staff sickness and training absences.

“My concern is that with the education line in the Welsh Government’s supplementary budget for 2024/25 showing a cut, the Cabinet Secretary has no intention of addressing these concerns.

“If we fail to demonstrate the value we place on the whole teaching workforce, we run the very real risk of being unable to improve the educational outcomes of pupils in Wales.”

Education

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA to host open evening at Dewi Campus this week

Published

2 weeks ago

October 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IN ST DAVID’S Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA will hold an Open Evening on Thursday, October 24 at its Dewi Campus in Millard Park, St Davids, Haverfordwest.

The event, scheduled from 5:00pm to 7:30pm, invites prospective students and their families to learn more about the school’s offerings.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the campus, meet with staff, and discover the school’s emphasis on achievement, inclusion, and respect. This event is designed to provide a comprehensive insight into the academic and extracurricular opportunities available at Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA.

Prospective families can expect a warm welcome from the staff and a chance to engage with current students, gaining a firsthand understanding of the school’s community and values.

For more information, please contact Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA at [email protected] or call +44 (0) 1437 809200.