Janet Finch-Saunders

Minister, in discussing the draft Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill last week in committee, I did raise concerns as to what I see as a lack of clarity from yourself regarding the direction of the Bill. We already have 12,500 eligible pupils across Wales now waiting unreasonable lengths of time to be assessed in this regard. How on earth are you going to ensure that, with an increase to 105,000 children, assessments will be timely? And how are you planning the future workforce planning to ensure we’ve got the actual psychologists in place to ensure that no child is left behind?

Huw Lewis

Well, Presiding Officer, I’ve just, in my previous answer, underlined how we will secure the number of educational psychologists within the system to make sure that none of our young people are disadvantaged in that regard. The whole point of the draft ALN Bill is to streamline the process for young people and for their parents, and I would encourage the Member to make her contributions to the consultation on that draft Bill.