Responding to the publication of the Welsh Labour manifesto ahead of the Senedd election, Laura Doel, national secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru, said:

“While there are a few positives in this manifesto, especially the pledge to extend free school meals to all secondary students in households in receipt of universal credit, there is an elephant in the room here – the chronic under-resourcing of schools.

“Talk of fairer, more consistent school budgets is positive in itself, but at a time when many Welsh schools are facing deficits and impossible decisions between reducing staffing and resources, the simple truth is that more funding is needed.

“This is especially true when it comes to schools’ ability to meet their responsibilities for pupils with ALN (additional learning needs).

“While the proposals recognise the need to address issues with teacher recruitment and retention, they do not go far enough in acknowledging and beginning to address the pressure schools are under - nor in pledging fairer recompense for all leaders and leaders by going further in restoring the real-terms value of pay which has fallen significantly since 2010.”