Written question WQ98122
- Asked by
- Laura Anne JonesReform
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Education
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 6 days
Question
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of safeguarding failures across both children's services and education affecting children in the Gwynedd Council area, and what action will be taken to address these failures in light of emerging issues in relation to the conduct of Neil Foden?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Education
On 4 November 2025, I delivered an oral statement in the Senedd outlining our response to the Our Bravery Brought Justice report, which looked at these issues. I confirmed that we fully accept all recommendations for the Welsh Government and are committed to taking urgent action on these findings, ensuring the learning from this report directly informs future safeguarding policy and practice.
The Ministerial Assurance Group I established, is helping drive accountability and overseeing the action being taken by Cyngor Gwynedd to act on the findings of this report. I chair this Group, which includes the Minister for Children and Social Care, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing & Local Government and the Leader and cabinet members from Cyngor Gwynedd.
The Group has met twice and is scheduled to meet again in March. I will issue a Written Statement before the end of the Senedd term to update on progress.
We’re committed to going further than the recommendations in the report and are undertaking a number of national actions, which includes:
• Undertaking a Strengthening Safeguarding Governance Review to drive immediate improvements and strengthen how agencies work together.
• Reviewing the role of school governors.
• Reviewing safeguarding in education procedures
• Instructing Care Inspectorate Wales to analyse how the revised procedures for managing professional concerns are being put into practice, once complete.