Responding to the plans for schools and education outlined in the Plaid Cymru manifesto, Laura Doel, national secretary at school leaders' union NAHT Cymru, said

"It is encouraging to see Plaid Cymru recognising some of the key pressures on schools which hamper their ability to deliver for children and fuel unsustainable workload – what seems to be missing is a clear pledge to increase investment in schools.

"Challenges including support for additional learning needs (ALN) and issues like poverty and mental ill-health which affect children’s ability to attend school, and focus and behave in the classroom, are acknowledged - with welcome promises of ALN reform and better-coordinated support for schools from services like health and social care.

"However, at a time when many schools are struggling with budget deficits and really unpalatable choices between cutting staffing and resources, it is clear that achieving meaningful change will require significant new funding and a commitment to ensure education receives its full share of additional investment under the Barnett Formula.

"Promises like surveying the condition of the school estate, which we know is in a really poor state of disrepair, and auditing disparities in per-pupil funding, are all well and good. But they will need to be followed through with new funding to make a real difference for schools and their pupils."