A grant package of over £7.5m for early years and schools in Wales to improve basic skills levels has today [Friday 4 July] been announced by Deputy Minister for Skills, John Griffiths.
As part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s ‘Words Talk - Numbers Count National Basic Skills Strategy’, the grants will provide additional funding for schools so they are better able to identify and support children falling behind in their learning.
The largest of these grants, the Strategic Intervention Grants programme, will provide a total of £2.57m each year over the next two to deliver catch-up support for children who have difficulties reading.
The catch up initiative has already proven to be a big success across Wales with children who need extra learning support making average gains of 18.9 months within an academic year. A further £175,000 will be made available to encourage schools to develop follow-up support to the catch-up scheme.
Five other major grant-funded programmes will continue to receive support as part of the National Basic Skills Strategy for Wales:
* Language and Play, aimed at improving the development of the language and number skills of children in the early years - £1.35m.
* Family Programmes, targeted at parents and children in order to break the intergenerational cycle of poor basic skills - £1.67m.
* Training Grants, to improve the skills of teachers in school and the adult sector so that they are better able to support basic skills - £1.2m.
* The Quality Mark Grants, to encourage all schools, colleges and other adult providers to develop a strategic framework for identifying and supporting learners who have poor basic skills - £626,000.
Earlier this week, the Deputy Minister for Skills visited Jenner Park Primary School in Barry to see first hand the initiatives underway at the school to improve basic skill levels.
John Griffiths said:
Our all-age National Basic Skills Strategy sets ambitious and aspirational targets to improve basic skills levels across Wales - this substantial investment is a clear message of the importance we attach to achieving our aims in this important area.
We want to see a country where everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Right across the board we are trying to make sure that children and adults who have slipped through the net and need further chances to improve their basic skills are getting the help they need.
This grants package targeting the early years and schools will mean that we are able to tackle the problem at the source, ensuring that children have the very best start in life and are able to go on to play full and active part in society.
The grants to early years and schools are part of a wider package of grants and financial support as part of the all age National Basic Skills Strategy. Other initiatives include support for adult learners to improve basic skills and literacy in their own time or through the ‘Employers Pledge’ in the workplace as well as a financial literacy initiative for young people and other similar support programmes.