Commenting as the new Welsh Government sets out its supplementary budget for 2026-27, Laura Doel, national secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“NAHT has long campaigned to ensure schools get the help and support they need to tackle the significant backlog in school repairs, so the additional capital funding promised for buildings is welcomed and will go some way to plugging the gap.

“£2m on swimming lessons is an interesting addition, and £15m to expand free school meals in secondary is laudable. No child should ever have to go hungry due to their parents’ financial circumstances. Hunger affects not only children’s health and wellbeing but also their readiness to learn, and the existing very low income cap for free school meals means many children living in poverty are ineligible.

“But the significant omission is any additional funding for ALN provision. It beggars belief that of money that has come to Wales thanks to investment into additional needs in England, not a penny has gone to support pupils with ALN in Wales. We have seen Local Authorities, Directors of Education and the profession united on the need for significant investment in supporting our most vulnerable learners, but this government has chosen to ignore the pleas for support. It calls into question whether education is a key priority for this government.”