Report into Foundation Phase raises massive questions that must be answered - Randerson

12.01.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 18th Jul 2008

The Foundation Phase will be impossible to implement without money for dedicated staff

Welsh Lib Dem member of the Assembly Finance Committee, Jenny Randerson AM today welcomed the report by the committee into the funding of the Foundation Phase. The committee report draws clear conclusions that point to failings in the processes of evaluating the funding required.

Jenny Randerson said: "I welcome the way that the report has drawn clear conclusions which point to systemic failures in the process of evaluating the funding required for the Foundation Phase. The Minister is now facing some massive questions that she must answer if she is to reassert confidence in her department and her leadership.

"I am deeply concerned that WAG purposefully based staffing cost estimates at the lowest point on the pay-scale which will be almost impossible for local authorities to recruit at. This was never going to work and they should have known this.

"The big question is if she has failed to find funding this year then how can it be guaranteed that she will find funding next year?"

Notes:

The report from the finance committee, under the same embargo as this release is attached below:

Ends/