Concise Minutes - Children, Young People, and Education Committee

Meeting Venue:

Hybrid - Committee room 4 Tŷ Hywel and video conference via Zoom
Meeting date: Wednesday, 28 January 2026

Meeting time: 09.30 - 11.51
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15709

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Vaughan Gething MS (Temporary Chair) Natasha Asghar MS Cefin Campbell MS Russell George MS Carolyn Thomas MS
Witnesses:	Gillian Baranski, Care Inspectorate Wales Margaret Rooney, Care Inspectorate Wales
Committee Staff:	Naomi Stocks (Clerk) Leah Whitty (Second Clerk) Sarah Bartlett (Deputy Clerk) Jennifer Cottle (Legal Adviser) Sian Thomas (Researcher) Michael Dauncey (Researcher) Thomas Morris (Researcher) Lucy Yarham (Researcher)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

1.1 Buffy Williams MS sent her apologies. Under Standing Order 17.22, Vaughan Gething MS was elected as Temporary Chair.

1.2 The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting of the Children, Young People and Education Committee.

1.3 Apologies were received from Buffy Williams MS there were no substitute.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Care Inspectorate Wales: Annual Scrutiny

2.1 The Committee scrutinised Care Inspectorate Wales on their annual report.

2.2 Care Inspectorate Wales agreed to provide a note on the following:

- how extensively inspectors talk to children and young people living in social care settings and how this has changed over time.

- prior to the 2025 report, when was the last time Gwynedd's children's services was inspected and what were the findings.

2.3 Care Inspectorate Wales agreed to provide a written response to any unanswered questions.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 Papers to note

3.1 The papers were noted.

</AI3>

<AI4>

</AI11>

<AI12>

4 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting

4.1 The motion was agreed.

</AI12>

<AI13>

5 Care Inspectorate Wales: Annual Scrutiny - consideration of the evidence

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence it had heard in the previous session.

</AI13>

<AI14>

6 School Improvement and Learner Attainment - consideration of the final output

6.1 The Committee considered the draft letter, subject to minor amendments the letter was agreed.

</AI14>

<AI15>

7 Routes into post-16 education and training - consideration of the Welsh Government response

7.1 Members discussed the response from the Welsh Government and agreed which areas they would like to focus on during the plenary debate.

</AI15>

<AI16>

8 Supplementary Legislative Consent: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

8.1 Subject to minor amendments the Committee agreed the draft report, it will be laid on 3 February 2026.

</AI16>

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