Praise for city’s education service and ‘dedicated’ youth workers

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Senior councillors in Newport have welcomed the results of an Estyn inspection of the city’s education services.

The inspectors’ report, which follows a visit at the end of 2024, found the department has “high aspirations for children and young people in the city”.

They welcomed service leaders’ “clear, strategic and measured approach” to supporting schools, and said the chief education officer leads the department “diligently and skilfully”.

The council offers “strong support to children with additional learning needs” and has “an ambitious vision for expanding Welsh-medium education”, the inspectors added.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Cllr Deb Davies, the cabinet member for education, welcomed the “really strong” report and praised the department’s “brilliant staff”.

Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, who leads Newport City Council, said the report was “excellent” and a “fantastic achievement”.

Cllr Laura Lacey, the cabinet member for social services, also noted the council’s youth service received a positive inspection report for its work, which she said helped “transform” the lives of children it supported.

Estyn found the “well-run” youth service to be somewhere for young people to “mix well with one another” and “improve their confidence and self-esteem”.

Clubs are well staffed, and the service’s “dedicated and enthusiastic” youth workers “ensure that the needs of young people are at the heart of what they do”, the inspectors added.