Laura Doel, national secretary at school leaders' union, NAHT Cymru, said:

“The additional funding announced by the Welsh Government for the next financial year demonstrates that the voices of school leaders are finally being heard above the crowd.

“We cannot underestimate the scale of the funding crisis facing schools, but this news, coupled with the in-year investment announced for education last week, will go some way to repairing the damage.

“However, the scale of the financial challenges school leaders are grappling with shows now is not the time for complacency. Our recent survey of school leaders highlighted how many school leaders are facing impossible choices and having to cut staffing and support for pupils, which cannot be right.

“We need to ensure that this money goes directly to schools and will be working with the government and local authorities for that assurance.

“While the increase in the local government settlement for 2024/25 means that councils now have money money to invest, but it’s absolutely essential they are mindful that that includes core funding for schools.

“This news will help in the short term, but we continue to campaign for a fair and equitable school funding system in Wales that levels the playing field. It is not right that school leaders have to go to extreme lengths to ensure their children get a fair deal. 

“We will follow up with the Welsh Government to ensure that the money allocated for schools reflects at a minimum, the education consequential funding that came to Wales as a result of the increased education spending in England. Schools and pupils must not be short-changed due to the difficult financial circumstances of the public sector as a whole."