National Assembly Committee to hold inquiry into the attendance and behaviour of pupils in Wales

11 December 2012

The National Assembly for Wales’s Children and Young People Committee has launched a public consultation to help inform its inquiry into the attendance and behaviour of pupils in Wales.

The Committee will be examining the effectiveness of the Welsh Government strategies in place to promote positive behaviour and attendance. Some examples of what the Committee will look at include the use of exclusion; what support and training is given to teachers; and whether there are good links between parents and schools in addressing these issues.

In particular, the Committee will want to know what the Welsh Government and local authorities are doing to further reduce absence rates across the country. It will be considering the progress of ‘Making a Difference in Behaviour Absenteeism, An Action Plan for 2011-2013’, which was announced by the Minister for Education in March last year.

“Although absence rates are falling and have done consistently over the past few years the Minister for Education has stated that there is more work to be done,” said Christine Chapman AM, Chair of the Children and Young People Committee.

“Wales is still behind other parts of the UK in reducing these rates and the Committee will be exploring why that is and what improvements are necessary.

“We would like to hear the views and ideas of anyone with an interest in these issues.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to the consultation can either email: CYPCommittee@wales.gov.uk or write to: Clerk to the Children and Young People Committee, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1NA.

The closing date for submissions is Friday 18 January 2013.