Vaughan Gething that says too many children are in care

Published

2 years ago

April 28, 2024

TOO MANY children are being taken from their families, the First Minister admitted, with more than one child in every 100 in Wales now living in care.

Vaughan Gething also warned far too many children and young people do not have a good experience of the care system as he gave evidence to a Senedd scrutiny committee.

John Griffiths raised concerns about an 83% increase in the number of children in care over the past two decades between 2003 and 2022.

The Labour MS for Newport East warned care rates are significantly higher than in England, with “massive, unexplained” variation within Wales.

Mr Gething said: “The picture is still broadly one where too many children are taken into care,” adding that “some people get decent outcomes” but “far too many don’t.”

The First Minister stressed that solving the problem is not as straightforward as the Welsh Government declaring “you cannot take children into the care system”.

Pressed about how he will reverse the trend, Mr Gething said the aim is not only to reduce numbers but to work with, and for, looked-after children to deliver better outcomes.

Alistair Davey, the Welsh Government’s deputy director of social services, told committee members that 25% of children in care are placed outside their home county.

Jenny Rathbone, the Labour MS for Cardiff Central, criticised the pace of change, raising concerns about “constant slippage” in the Welsh Government meeting milestones.

Warning that Wales is an outlier, with the high number of children in care an endemic problem, Ms Rathbone said councils are facing “huge” costs and potential bankruptcy.

“We haven’t got time on our side and children’s lives are being affected,” she stressed.

Urged to get a grip, Mr Gething acknowledged the need for urgency but cautioned that there is not a switch to flick that will change outcomes for children and young people.

Mr Griffiths also raised concerns about educational outcomes for looked-after children, with only 17% getting five GCSEs at ‘C’ or above compared with 54% for pupils generally.

James Evans, the Tory MS for Brecon and Radnorshire, highlighted that looked-after children face significant additional challenges such as moving just before exams.

Recognising that such disruption has a very real impact, Mr Gething said GCSE results for looked-after children reflect the challenges in their lives rather than their ability.

He was not convinced about the need for a specific strategy, echoing Carwyn Jones’ concerns about the Welsh Government becoming a “strategy factory”.

Ms Rathbone pressed the First Minister about concerns the Welsh Government’s “woolly” child poverty strategy lacks ambition and focuses too much on levers outside its control.

She said the children’s commissioner, Audit Wales, the Bevan Foundation and many others are among a chorus calling for clear targets on reducing child poverty.

Mr Gething stressed that poverty will be a key priority for his government, which will refocus on investing in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.

He said delivering the objectives of the child poverty strategy would make a radical difference to the lives of children and young people.

Warning that the private sector does not deliver the right quality of care and outcomes, the First Minister set out plans to remove profit from the care of looked-after children.

He explained that Dawn Bowden, the newly-appointed social care minister, will bring forward a bill in the week beginning May 20 before the Senedd’s Whitsun recess.

Mark Isherwood, who represents North Wales, stressed that there is no guarantee a non-profit model will prevent money leaving the sector.

The Conservative warned public sector provision could ultimately cost more and deliver less.

Mr Gething said the reforms are not simply about profit motive, but delivering improved outcomes and making better use of the money.

Warning of a crisis in the social care workforce, James Evans raised concerns about an over-reliance on agency staff with high costs “crippling” councils.

The former councillor said social workers face unmanageable workloads, with as many as 40 cases at a time, as he called for a legal maximum on the number of cases.

Mr Gething rejected the suggestion, saying: “What do you do if you reach a limit and you are not legally allowed to take on any extra work if you have another child who needs support?

“Do you say ‘the inn is full, take your luck in the stable’ or do you say ‘actually, we’ve got to find a way to try to manage with the resources we’ve got’?”

Labour’s Jack Sargeant focused on corporate parenting, warning that more than 25% of children moved care placements twice or more in the year to March.

Mr Sargeant, who represents Alyn and Deeside, backed the “bold and brave” decision to proceed with a basic income pilot for care leavers and asked if it could be extended.

Mr Gething would not give a hard-and-fast commitment, saying an evaluation of the project by Cardiff University will report in 2027 which is beyond the next Senedd election.

However, the First Minister told MSs he would be surprised if Labour was not interested in taking the pilot forward with a manifesto commitment in 2026.

“I certainly hope the evidence allows us to do that,” he told the meeting on April 26.

Asked where care-experienced children sit on his list of priorities, Mr Gething stressed that the government’s commitment to a radical reform summit’s declaration is undimmed.

Pembrokeshire College student crowned national champion in hair competition

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Learner beats more than 3,000 entrants to take top prize in textured hair category

A PEMBROKESHIRE COLLEGE student has been crowned a national champion after winning first place in a prestigious UK hairdressing competition.

Marieme, a Level 3 Hairdressing learner, took the top spot in the Textured Hair category after being selected from more than 3,300 applicants. She went on to compete against the final six contestants in the national finals, where she impressed judges to secure first place.

The achievement marks a significant milestone for both Marieme and the college, highlighting the high standard of training and talent emerging from Pembrokeshire.

Staff at the college said they were “absolutely thrilled” with the result, praising Marieme’s hard work, creativity and dedication throughout the competition.

The success did not stop there, with two other Pembrokeshire College learners also reaching the national finals.

Dylan was named among the top six in the Barbering category, while Laura achieved the same distinction in the Avant Garde category.

Their performances contributed to what the college described as a “fantastic day” for its hairdressing department.

The results underline the strength of vocational training in west Wales and the growing reputation of Pembrokeshire College in national competitions.

Education

Prendergast School achieves gold award for Armed Forces support

Published

3 days ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Top honour recognises commitment to Service children and families

PRENDERGAST CP School in Haverfordwest has been awarded the highest possible recognition for its support of Armed Forces families.

The school has secured Gold Armed Forces Friendly School Cymru status, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing work to support pupils from Service backgrounds.

Headteacher Louise John said the achievement reflects a strong, whole-school commitment to ensuring Service children feel supported and able to succeed.

She said: “We are committed to ensuring Service pupils feel welcomed, understood and able to thrive.

“We recognise the unique experiences of children from Service families and have worked hard to embed that understanding across the school.

“Our approach focuses on early identification, strong communication with families, and consistent pastoral support.

“Achieving Gold status recognises the dedication of our staff and the inclusive practices already in place, while reinforcing our ongoing commitment to supporting Service children’s wellbeing, sense of belonging, and educational success.”

The Gold award, delivered through Supporting Service Children in Education Cymru (SSCE Cymru), requires schools to demonstrate strong and sustained support for Service children. This includes creating a positive environment where pupils can share their experiences and strengthening links with the wider Armed Forces community.

Prendergast CP School previously achieved both Bronze and Silver awards before progressing to the top level.

Cllr Simon Hancock, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Armed Forces Champion, praised the achievement.

He said: “I would like to congratulate Prendergast School on achieving the coveted Gold Armed Forces Friendly School Cymru status.

“From my visits, it is clear the school actively engages with the Armed Forces community and provides a positive and supportive environment for Service children.”

Cllr Guy Woodham, Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, added: “This is fantastic recognition of the ongoing work at Prendergast School.

“It highlights the importance of supporting Armed Forces families and sets a strong example of best practice. Well done to everyone involved.”

Education

4 Essential Cyber Security Tips to Protect Your Data

Published

3 days ago

March 20, 2026

Staff Writer

Protecting your personal data and financial information is crucial. With scammers and hijackers getting more and more sophisticated, you need to implement proper cyber security systems in order to keep yourself protected.

With that in mind, here are four cybersecurity tips to help you stay safe online.

Use Strong Passwords

A strong password is a basic security essential. A password that’s difficult to guess makes it harder for unauthorised users to gain access.

When creating a password, consider these guidelines:

Length – the longer the better, as there’s more opportunity to get it wrong
Character variation – use a combination of upper and lower case, symbols, and numbers
Avoid personal information – birthdays or other important dates, names, streets etc.
Keep passwords unique – don’t use the same password on different sites

It’s also a good idea to set up two-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security, should your password be compromised.

Most people use simple passwords so they’re easy to remember, but this can be risky. If you struggle to remember complex passwords, consider using a password manager such as NordPass to securely store your passwords.

Remain Vigilant

It’s important to remain vigilant of scams or phishing attempts. They usually come through as emails or text messages and there are a few clear signs of malicious intent:

Misspellings – particularly in the email address itself
Pressure to take action – scammers often aim to create a sense or urgency to get you to take action without thinking
Asking for sensitive information – legitimate companies don’t typically ask for passwords or financial details via text or email. Never give personal information away without verifying the legitimacy of the site and the correspondence
Suspicious links – don’t click links that you’re unsure of or ones where the URL destination is completely different to the hyperlinked text (you can hover over links without clicking to see this)

Keep Your Software Up to Date

Keeping your software up-to-date ensures that you remain protected. Software updates are often designed to bridge security gaps and protect against new threats, plus new systems are typically better equipped to resist malware. Consider turning on automatic updates so you don’t miss any.

Remove Malware Immediately

If you notice that your device is slower than usual, apps that you don’t recognise have been installed, or pop-up ads are appearing everywhere, you may have malware on your device.

It’s important to run a scan to detect malware if you suspect your device has been affected, and remove it promptly. There is plenty of step-by-step help out there that can help you remove malware from your device.

Safeguard Your Data

By using strong passwords, remaining vigilant of scams and phishing attempts, keeping your software and devices up to date, and removing malware as soon as possible, you can help ensure your personal and financial information remains secure.