An Exciting New Dawn
Tomorrow (2nd September) nursery age children attending school for the first time will be the first complete cohort to take part in the much heralded and eagerly awaited Foundation Phase as the scheme is finally rolled out across Wales.
Following the success of the pilot scheme, there were significant concerns regarding the funding proposals and that led to a modification of the timings for the roll out with an additional year being added to the original scheme meaning that it will only apply to all 3 – 4 year olds this September rather than all 3 – 5 year olds. Speaking about the Foundation Phase, NUT Cymru Secretary David Evans said:
“The time for fretting and worrying over finance has passed. Tomorrow brings an exciting new dawn for education in Wales. Everyone is agreed that this made in Wales initiative is a fantastic opportunity to develop children’s learning in a positive way from the first day that they enter school. NUT Cymru has always been supportive of the scheme and our members, the teachers who will be delivering the Foundation Phase are enthusiastic and delighted that it is finally here.
“The next 4 years are extremely important in ensuring that the Foundation Phase works. By the time it encompasses all 3 – 7 year olds in Wales we want to ensure that it is the envy of our neighbours and a flagship for what devolution can deliver.
“A mechanism is in place to allow the views of our members and all other stakeholders in the delivery of the Foundation Phase to be heard at WAG level via the Task and Finish Group. We welcome that and are positive that this scheme will go from strength to strength.”
Note to Editors: NUT Cymru has been represented on the Foundation Phase Task and Finish Group set up to look specifically at the problems that have arisen in the build up to the roll out of the Foundation Phase. That group will continue to sit throughout the roll out period so that any potential future difficulties can be addressed quickly and efficiently.
Contact David Evans, NUT Cymru, Tŷ Sinnott, 18 Neptune Court, Vanguard Way, Cardiff CF24 5PJ. Tel: 02920 491818. Mob: 07815 071164 e-mail: cymru.wales@nut.org.uk
