Services for children within education and lifelong learning play an important role in ensuring that children have the best start in life and that they enjoy early opportunities to engage and participate. Effective services for children and their families ensure active engagement and achieve better outcomes and attainment for children in Wales.
Services for children are planned and delivered by the Children and Young People’s Partnerships through the Children and Young People’s Plan. Children’s services include:
- Childcare
- Parenting Support
- Flying Start
- Play
- Cymorth
- The Foundation Phase and Family Information Services
There have been numerous policy developments from the Welsh Government which have impacted on services for children at a local level. The Children and Families (Wales) Measure has resulted in a Child Poverty Strategy and Developmental Plan and a duty on local authorities in respect to play.
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Figures released in January 2011 show that there were 1,723 schools in Wales, attended by 466,172 pupils with 24,854 full-time equivalent teachers.
| January 2011 | Schools | January 2010 | + / - |
| 23 | Nursery Schools | 25 | -2 |
| 1,435 | Primary Schools | 1,1462 | -27 |
| 222 | Secondary Schools | 223 | -1 |
| 43 | Special Schools | 43 |
Compared with 2010 figures there were 30 less schools, 969 less pupils and 432 less teachers. The majority of schools in Wales are maintained by their local authority and have a direct relationship with their Council.
For more information contact: Daisy Seabourne