Crumbling Foundations

Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in County Times 8th May 2008 on Fri 16th May 2008

For months the Government has refused point blank to admit that there were any problems with the roll out of the Foundation Phase, the new curriculum for 3 to 7-year-olds. Finally after immense pressure from teachers, unions, local authorities and from within the Chamber we have got them to back down and admit that the implementation plans were flawed.

I am fully supportive of the foundation phase itself with its high adult-to-pupil ratios, emphasis on learning through doing, and emphasis on outdoor learning but my concerns have always been with the inadequate funding and planning in implementing the innovative scheme. From the beginning it became increasingly obvious that, to achieve these welcome and significant changes to the curriculum would lead to considerable demands, including training existing staff, recruiting and training new staff, and the need to invest in new resources and facilities, all of which would have consequences for the very fabric of the settings in which the foundation phase would be delivered. From the teaching unions to Estyn, all were agreed that, to get the foundation phase right, significant investment and high levels of planning would be needed. That was the purpose of piloting the foundation phase in several schools: so that we could get the funding levels right and know what was involved so that, when it came to its launch in September 2008, all schools would be in a position to move forward. However, with just months to go, local authorities, school leaders, governors and parents have been loudly and clearly stating that their ability to implement the foundation phase in September is in jeopardy because of the Government's approach to funding and planning. The levels of funding from WAG were expected to be announced in January but they didn't come until March and when they arrived they were short. Powys, alone was found to be £1 million short of the resources that are needed to ensure that all children get this vital opportunity. Worryingly some schools have moved resources from elsewhere in their schools, to the detriment of other provisions, this is especially true of schools facing imminent inspection.

With the Welsh Assembly Government blaming local authorities for not having asked for enough funding and local authorities blaming WAG for not having given enough the whole debacle is yet another example of the funding fog within Welsh Education and the need for a more transparent system.

With threats of boycott from teachers in at least 2 parts of Wales the Minister finally opened her ears and made a complete turnaround from saying that the Foundation Phase was on course to admitting that extra finances will be needed. My hope is that this money will be adequate and that it will come with extra support - alone it will not be enough, but it is certainly a much needed step in the right direction. It is time now for the Government to properly implement and invest in this flagship scheme to ensure that it is the success that it deserves to be. With the right support and funding schools will be able to get on with teaching rather than worrying about how to find resources.