School sees rise in basic skills issues

ISSUES with literacy and numeracy have increased among children, according to the head of a Welsh primary school where many entrants are nonverbal.

- TED PESKETT Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

Luke Tweedley, headteacher at Oak Field Primary School in Barry, told members of Vale of Glamorgan council's Start Well scrutiny committee recently that more than 90% of three-year-olds coming to them were below the expected level for literacy and numeracy.

A report published by the Welsh Government in 2023 recognised the numeracy and literacy challenge schools faced and said the Covid-19 pandemic played a big part in creating it.

One member of the committee, Cllr Helen Payne, asked Mr Tweedley at a meeting this week whether poor literacy and numeracy rates were a regular occurrence in schools now.