Decision details

Debates are one of the most frequent items of business on the Plenary agenda. Many types of debate are brought forward in Plenary, including:

• Opposition party debates on a topic of their choice;

Other than in the case of Government debates, the time allocated for all other types of debates and their frequency are determined by the Business Committee

The item started at 16.57

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5372 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales

1. Notes that Wales’ performance in PISA and other national and international measurements of educational performance will not improve enough to reach the Welsh Government’s targets unless the attainment rates of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds is drastically improved.

2. Calls upon the Welsh Government to invest in a comprehensive training programme for new and existing teachers, headteachers and support staff on early intervention to improve literacy, numeracy, attendance and behaviour in order to raise the attainment rates of disadvantaged pupils.

3. Welcomes Plaid Cymru’s budget agreement with the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Welsh Government to more than double the funding given per child through the Pupil Deprivation Grant.

4. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

a) strengthen the guidelines on the use of the Pupil Deprivation Grant to ensure it is used effectively and efficiently to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils based on evidence of what works; and

b) strengthen the monitoring of the use of the Pupil Deprivation Grant to ensure that it is used for its intended purpose.

The motion without amendment was agreed.