Here’s Islwyn AM Rhianon Passmore’s latest Argus column:

I WELCOMED the Welsh Education Minister, Kirsty Williams AM, and the Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething AM to Risca Comprehensive as they visited to talk about the Welsh Government’s Additional Learning Needs Wales consultation.

The consultation ends on Friday, March 22, and the new Code for the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act will give rules and advice to help local authorities and others do what the law tells them to do.

Introduced in 2014, the National School Categorisation System, places schools into one or four colour-coded support categories to demonstrate the level of support they need – green, yellow, amber and red.

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There were some notable recent results announced in Islwyn including Ty Sign Primary in Risca and Tynewydd Primary in Newbridge moving up into the top green banding, whilst Islwyn High School moved up into the amber category.

The system is aimed at providing support and encouraging improvement in our schools.

- Mark Drakeford has now been Welsh Labour first minister of Wales for six weeks.

I was proud to nominate, support and campaign for Mark.

The new first minister of Wales has outlined a commitment to delivering 21st century socialism for Wales.

It is complete contrast to the inhumane, discredited and failed austerity policies of austerity from the Tories.

It has been great to see Mark deliver on the commitments he put forward in his manifesto, including delivering a gender-balanced cabinet – placing equality at the heart of Wales and government.

South Wales Argus:

First minister Mark Drakeford

Mark has made housing a cabinet role.

This is about recognising that everyone having quality, safe and affordable housing is one of the major challenges of our time.

Whether we were Remain or Leave in the EU Referendum we can all agree that Wales must not lose out financially when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

First minister Mark Drakeford has stated that UK government aid for the poorest areas of Wales must be based on need following Britain’s leaving the European Union.

- As an Assembly Member you are in a privileged position to be able to facilitate the raising of awareness of worthy causes.

I had such an opportunity last week when I sponsored in the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay an event showcasing Action for Children’s services for young people’s mental health in Wales.

It was a highlight of the National Assembly for Wales’ marking Children’s Mental Health Week.

It is an issue that I will continue to campaign devotedly on.