CHILDREN’S COMMISSIONER STEPS IN: Watchdog demands meeting with health board over special school nurse crisis

In a significant development, Rocio Cifuentes MBE has confirmed she will be writing to Hywel Dda University Health Board to “raise the issue and seek a meeting” regarding the lack of a dedicated, full-time nurse at Ysgol Heol Goffa.

The move comes just days after Swansea Bay News reported that campaigners, including parents and local councillors, had called for the commissioner to investigate, warning that “lives may be at risk” as teachers are forced to provide complex medical care to pupils with life-limiting conditions.

In a powerful statement, Ms Cifuentes said she had received correspondence raising “serious concerns” and understood the anxiety the situation was causing.

“I will be writing to Hywel Dda Health Board to raise the issue and seek a meeting. Estyn’s report clearly indicated the need for a dedicated school nurse so I hope that this issue can be addressed swiftly. I would also like to meet with the children, parents and staff affected at Ysgol Heol Goffa so that I can hear their views directly.”

The Commissioner’s intervention adds significant weight to the campaign, which has been backed by parents, school staff, and local politicians. Her statement directly references the Estyn inspection report which campaigners have pointed to as clear evidence that a full-time nurse is required.

Ms Cifuentes highlighted that the issue at the Llanelli special school is part of a wider, systemic problem across Wales.

“Children with complex and life-limiting medical needs have the right to feel safe and properly supported in school, and their best interests must always come first. Last year we published a report examining the experiences of children and young people with disabilities in Wales. Within it, we found that many parents feel schools do not always have access to the specialist knowledge and medical expertise required to fully support their children.”

She confirmed that her office has already been raising the issue with Welsh Government officials, asking them to “strengthen the role of health in meeting the needs of children who have Additional Learning Needs or who are disabled.”

As reported previously, parents and staff at the school have been calling for a full-time nurse for five years. Anxious parents said they were “horrified” to discover the provision was not in place, while Llanelli Town Councillor Shaun Greaney warned the authorities were playing “Russian roulette with pupils’ lives.”

Hywel Dda University Health Board previously stated that it provides a “dedicated school nurse to meet their universal health needs” and offers training to school staff.

Drawing a parallel with a previous successful intervention, the Commissioner noted her office’s involvement in securing a new, modern building for the school, which was approved in July 2025 after her office sought assurances that children’s voices were being heard.

She concluded with a message of optimism, stating: “I hope that we can reach a similarly positive conclusion for the children and young people at Ysgol Heol Goffa this time.”

‘Lives may be at risk’: Watchdog probe demanded over Llanelli special school nurse crisis

Teachers and teaching assistants at Ysgol Heol Goffa are being forced to give lifesaving and urgent medical aid to pupils because of the lack of an on-site nurse at all times, according to parents and staff.

Despite having training, campaigners say education staff are not fully qualified to treat vulnerable children with life-threatening and complex medical needs.

Anxious parent Hannah Coles, herself a qualified nurse, said:

“I fear not just for the life of my son, but for those of my friends’ children every day. Parents should not have to have such awful anxiety because they send their children to school.”

She said parents had been “horrified” to discover there is no full-time nurse on site.

“It came as a complete shock. We all assumed the nurse who calls in from time to time was full-time and based in school. That is what we need and are demanding from the Hywel Dda University Health Board,” said Hannah.

School headteacher Ceri Hopkins said she had been calling for a full-time nurse on-site for five years.

“The staff are not happy to be dealing with emergencies that could jeopardise the children. They do their best at all times, and will do whatever is required, but school staff should be teaching, not nursing.”

Now Llanelli Town councillor Shaun Greaney, who represents Lliedi ward where the school is located, has written to the Children’s Commissioner for Wales calling for her to ensure there is no future tragedy at the school, where more than a dozen children have life-limiting or severely complex medical conditions.

“What alarms and angers me is that these children could be condemned to an early death,” he said.

“That is why I have written to the Commissioner, Rocio Cifuentes, who is the highest authority in Wales, urging her to bring much-needed pressure on Hywel Dda University Health Board to employ a full-time nurse at the school without delay,” said Councillor Greaney.

“The parents say they have been lucky to date that a child has not died but the authorities cannot keep playing Russian roulette with pupils’ lives. Should a preventable and foreseeable tragedy happen, I believe it would be their fault,” he added.

In her letter to the Commissioner, Hannah said:

“My son is tube fed and requires rescue medication for Dystonia. He is life limited and is medically complex. Every day I send him to school I put enormous trust in the systems meant to keep him safe.

“I want to sincerely thank Councillor Shaun Greaney for bringing this issue to your attention. Many of us as parents feel frightened and unheard, and we are grateful that someone has spoken up on behalf of our children.

“The staff at the school are compassionate, dedicated and do their absolute best. I cannot praise them highly enough. But they are not nurses. They are not medically qualified to deal with complex and potentially life-threatening emergencies.”

Llanelli MS Lee Waters has written to Lynn Neagle, Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Education, stating that there had been “limited senior engagement until very recently”.

He calls for her “support in raising the issue with Welsh Government officials and ensuring the necessary steps are taken to provide the school with the clinical support its pupils urgently require”.

He has also written to the chair of Hywel Dda, Dr Neil Wooding, expressing “deep concern” that Carmarthenshire County Council had been raising the lack of a full-time on-site nurse with the health authority for “several years”.

He says in the letter that the situation “warrants urgent attention and decisive action”.

In response, Hywel Dda University Health Board have said they are working with the school and county council to “understand the additional needs” of the school and staff following Estyn’s recommendations.

Sharon Daniel, the health board’s Director of Nursing, Quality & Patient Experience said:

“The health and wellbeing of all children and young people is fundamental to their ability to learn, thrive and reach their potential, and is a priority for the Health Board. We support the children and young people at Ysgol Heol Goffa with a dedicated school nurse to meet their universal health needs, and through the provision of training for staff at the school.

“The Health Board provides specialist support, ensuring each child and young person with healthcare needs can be cared for competently and confidently within the school environment.

“The Health Board has taken on board the recommendations made by Estyn to the school and Carmarthenshire County Council and is working to understand the additional needs of the school and the staff. Through continued partnership working and a shared commitment to improvement, the Health Board will support ongoing actions to strengthen provision and ensure the best possible outcomes for the pupils and staff at Ysgol Heol Goffa.”

New school plans for Ysgol Heol Goffa move forward after years of uncertainty

A school long described as “not fit for purpose”

Ysgol Heol Goffa, which supports children with additional learning needs, has been at the centre of one of Carmarthenshire’s most high‑profile education battles. Built for fewer than 100 pupils, the school is now stretched to accommodate nearly 150, with parents and staff warning for years that the building is overcrowded and inadequate.

In July, school governor Owen Jenkins told councillors the existing site was simply “not fit for purpose”, adding:

“Our pupils deserve the provision that they are entitled to. We’ll be pressing the local authority for a rigid timescale so we can know when the first spade will go into the ground.”

📅 Timeline: The fight for a new Heol Goffa school

2017
Council first commits to a £10m replacement school.

2023
Plans scrapped due to rising costs. Campaigners brand the decision “an appalling scandal” and launch protests.

Early 2024
Independent review warns the council risks breaching duties under the Additional Learning Needs Act.

July 2025
Cabinet approves a new 150‑pupil school, costed between £28m and £35m. Families welcome the decision but demand a clear timescale.

October 2025
Council officers present the schedule of accommodation to school leaders. Feedback will shape the final design and costings.

Years of delay and community anger

The promise of a new school dates back to 2017, when the council first committed to a £10m replacement. But the scheme was later cancelled as costs rose, sparking anger across Llanelli.

Campaigners branded the decision “an appalling scandal”, while more than 9,000 people signed a petition demanding action. Parents staged protests outside County Hall, and local MP Dame Nia Griffith accused the authority of failing some of the county’s most vulnerable children.

Cabinet backs a £35m new build

After months of pressure, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet voted in July 2025 to approve a new school for up to 150 pupils, at an estimated cost of between £28m and £35m.

Education cabinet member Glynog Davies described the new plan as “a much better outcome for pupils, parents and staff”, arguing that a 150‑pupil school was more achievable than the larger 250‑pupil option previously considered.

Parents Lana and Alex Dakin, whose son Jac attends the school, said they were relieved:

“It won’t undo the years our son has spent in a building that can’t meet his needs, but at least now there’s hope he’ll experience some of his school years in a setting that truly supports him.”

Headteacher Ceri Hopkins also welcomed the decision, saying the new setting would support the school’s “courageous and creative curriculum” by meeting all learning, physical and medical needs.

Latest update: design work shared

On 2 October, council officers met with the school’s Chair and Headteacher to present the schedule of accommodation for the new build. The school will now provide feedback before the design and costings are finalised.

Once agreed, the plans will move into a detailed timeline covering planning approval, statutory consultation under the School Organisation Code, and the Welsh Government’s business case process.

The Director of Education has also pledged to meet with the wider school community after the autumn half‑term break to share more details and answer questions.

“A centre of excellence”

In a joint statement, Owain Lloyd, Director of Education, and Headteacher Ceri Hopkins said:

“We remain committed to working closely to design, build and create a centre of excellence for the very well‑deserving pupils of Ysgol Heol Goffa.”

Families still cautious

Council leader Darren Price has described the project as “a really positive day” for education in Llanelli, but admitted the process will take time: “You don’t build a school overnight.”

For families and campaigners, today’s update is a welcome sign of progress — but after eight years of delays, reversals and political rows, they remain determined to hold the council to its word.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Campaigners condemn “appalling scandal” over autism provision in Llanelli
Parents and campaigners hit out after the council scrapped plans for a new Heol Goffa school.

5,000‑name petition on new special needs school U‑turn handed to council
Thousands backed calls for Carmarthenshire Council to reverse its decision on Heol Goffa.

Plans revealed for replacement Heol Goffa special school on former Draka Works site
Early proposals showed how a new school could be built on the former cable works site in Llanelli.

#additionalLearningNeeds #Autism #CarmarthenshireCouncil #education #Llanelli #newSchool #specialSchool #YsgolHeolGoffa

Heol Goffa rebuild: Council faces critical decision on future of Llanelli’s special school

Carmarthenshire Council is preparing to vote on the future of Ysgol Heol Goffa — a school built for fewer than 100 pupils, now stretched to accommodate nearly 150 children with complex learning needs. The cabinet’s decision, due on 31 July, will determine whether the town gets a fast-tracked rebuild or a larger, more expensive consolidated site.

Two options remain. Option 4 proposes a new 150-place school with additional Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) centres attached to mainstream campuses. Option 5 would create a single 250-place school combining all specialist provision on one site.

Governors, staff and campaigners have rallied behind Option 4, citing speed, flexibility and the urgent need to relieve overcrowding. The current building has been flagged for leaking roofs, cramped corridors and limited space for mobility aids — conditions that may breach disability standards.

Independent reviewer David Davies recommended Option 4 after assessing six models, noting it would allow the council to meet its statutory duties under the Additional Learning Needs and Educational Tribunal Act (2018).

Political support for Option 4 has grown steadily. Plaid Cymru’s Education Cabinet Member Cllr Glynog Davies confirmed he will recommend it to cabinet, saying: “A new and enlarged Heol Goffa can be delivered in a shorter timescale than the alternative. What’s being proposed now will be a much better outcome for pupils, parents and staff.”

Independent Cllr Rob James, formerly Labour’s group leader, added: “Option 5 appears to reset the clock and delay the benefits a new school will deliver, while a new 150-pupil school could be built quickly. I call on the council to get the shovel in the ground as soon as possible.”

Reform UK’s Cllr Michelle Beer, elected in 2024, also backs Option 4: “It is a matter of urgency that the children, parents, and staff get the much-needed new facilities they deserve. The children and parents have waited patiently for a long time.”

But Labour Cllr Shaun Greaney has taken a more combative stance — not against Option 4 itself, but against the political handling of the rebuild. He warned that Reform UK’s growing influence could jeopardise the Welsh Government’s 75% capital funding offer, and accused Plaid Cymru of dragging their heels. “Reform have no policies for Wales, and no answers,” he said. “They have some very right-wing candidates and we know the right wing are no friends of children with special needs.”

Greaney also criticised the council’s refusal to meet with the Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Group, which submitted a petition with over 9,000 signatures. “The current school is substandard and past its sell-by date. That is fact, no matter how they try to spin the story,” he said. “Now here we are, eight years down the line, and despite the political grandstanding by the party in power in Carmarthenshire, Ysgol Heol Goffa’s children, parents and staff are still waiting for action.”

Campaigners say the building is no longer fit for purpose, citing inadequate toilet facilities, narrow doorways and a leaking roof. “Despite the county council having spent around £500,000 on the existing school building, there are still problems. It’s a dangerous situation,” said action group member Becki Davies. Chair Hannah Coles added: “Our school’s families and children can’t afford to wait any longer.”

If approved, Option 4 could see construction begin quickly — a relief for families who’ve waited years for change. For Llanelli’s disabled pupils, this isn’t just a building project. It’s a chance to learn, grow and thrive in a space designed for their needs.

Related stories on Heol Goffa and Carmarthenshire politics

Concerns raised over future of Heol Goffa special school
Councillor criticism, political tensions, and the call for swift action on the rebuild. Read more »

Council explores alternative plans for Heol Goffa replacement
Following the original scheme’s cancellation, Carmarthenshire Council looks to new build options. Read more »

Petition demands new school for Heol Goffa pupils
Campaigners deliver thousands of signatures urging the council to prioritise special school investment. Read more »

Reform surge shakes Carmarthenshire political landscape
A look at Reform UK’s rising influence and what it means for local council dynamics. Read more »

Polling shows Reform reshaping South West Wales politics
New data suggests a shift in voter sentiment as Reform gains ground against traditional parties. Read more »

#additionalLearningNeeds #ALN #ASC #Autism #AutisticSpectrumCondition #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrGlynogDavies #CllrRobJames #CllrShaunGreaney #disabledChildren #HeolGoffa #HeolGoffaActionCommittee #Llanelli #MichelleBeer #specialSchool #YsgolHeolGoffa

Decision on new Heol Goffa school expected this month

A long-awaited decision on a new special school for Llanelli could finally be made this month, with Carmarthenshire Council’s cabinet member for education, Cllr Glynog Davies, confirming he intends to bring forward a “definitive proposal” at a cabinet meeting on July 31.

The announcement follows years of uncertainty surrounding the future of Ysgol Heol Goffa, which serves pupils with additional learning needs and has long been described as overcrowded and unfit for purpose. Plans for a replacement school were first agreed in 2017 but were shelved last year due to rising costs — sparking protests, petitions and widespread community backlash.

Two options on the table

Following an independent review of specialist education in the Llanelli area, the council is now considering two revised options:

• A 150-place school, alongside specialist centres for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions attached to mainstream schools
• A 250-place standalone school, which would include provision for autistic pupils — and is the preferred option of Ysgol Heol Goffa’s governors and campaigners

Cost estimates range from £36.2 million to £58.1 million, with the Welsh Government expected to fund the majority of the capital investment.

Cllr Davies told full council on July 23 that “a lot of work” had now been done and that the proposal was “imminent” — though opposition councillors and parents say they’re still waiting for firm answers.

Political tensions and community frustration

Labour opposition leader Cllr Deryk Cundy pressed Cllr Davies for a clear timeline, saying parents deserved peace of mind after eight years of delays. Cllr Davies responded that the matter had to go before cabinet and reiterated his intention to make a formal proposal on July 31.

The exchange has reignited political tensions, with Plaid Cymru councillor Terry Davies accusing Labour of “generating headlines” rather than seeking genuine answers. In a Facebook post, he said:

“The announcement on Ysgol Heol Goffa has already been agreed with the school and its governors… If we’d pursued Labour’s previous proposal, the new school would already be facing serious capacity issues on opening day.”

But parents say the issue is far more urgent than party politics. Becki Gilroy, whose child attends Heol Goffa, responded:

“How dare you try and turn this around to the narrative that ‘Plaid are heroes for not building the original school as it was too small’. That’s a total insult to our intelligence. It was obvious from the start that the original plans didn’t meet current or future demand — but at least they would have provided a safe, accessible building. Right now, we’ve got water coming through the ceiling and doorways too narrow for wheelchairs.

Let’s be clear: the reason the council pulled the plug wasn’t capacity — it was cost. And now, after years of delay, we’re being told to wait even longer while they rework the plans. Meanwhile, children are stuck on waiting lists, denied the education they’re entitled to.

The David Davies review makes it crystal clear — unless a suitable school is built promptly, CCC is breaching its legal duties under the Equality Act. That includes failing to provide reasonable adjustments and accessible facilities for disabled pupils. This isn’t just a moral failure — it’s potentially unlawful discrimination.

And before anyone tries to politicise this, I’m not Plaid or Labour. I’m a parent of a disabled child who’s sick to the back teeth of being fobbed off. Our children deserve better — and the council needs to act before it’s too late.”

Campaigners demand action

The Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Committee, which has led protests and gathered thousands of petition signatures, says time is running out. In a statement earlier this year, the group wrote:

“Time is of the essence here; parents do not want to be waiting another five years plus for the new school. We agree that the school can be delivered in a more cost-effective manner, while also increasing pupil capacity to address the ever-growing need.”

The group has consistently backed the 250-place option, arguing that anything smaller would be outdated before it opens.

What happens next?

Cllr Davies is expected to present his proposal at the July 31 cabinet meeting, where councillors will review feasibility work and costings. If approved, the new school would replace the current Heol Goffa site, which has been described in council reports as “not fit for purpose” and facing significant accessibility and maintenance issues.

Related stories on Heol Goffa and specialist education in Llanelli

Concerns raised over future of Heol Goffa special school amid Reform UK surge and council delays
Published June 2024: Campaigners say political uncertainty and missed deadlines are putting disabled pupils at risk, as calls grow for urgent action on a new school.

Education cabinet member to propose new-build additional learning needs school
Published July 2024: Cllr Glynog Davies confirms plans to bring forward a new proposal for Heol Goffa, following feasibility work and community consultation.

Council says it’s looking at alternative scheme after axing Heol Goffa replacement school
Published March 2024: Carmarthenshire Council outlines new options after scrapping the previously approved school build due to rising costs.

MP says council decision to scrap new Heol Goffa school plans ‘wrong choice’
Published February 2024: Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith criticises the council’s decision to halt the new school project, calling it a setback for disabled children and their families.

#additionalLearningNeeds #additionalLearningNeedsProvisionWales #AdditionalLearningNeedsSchool #ALN #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrDerykCundy #CllrGlynogDavies #CllrTerryDavies #HeolGoffa #HeolGoffaActionCommittee #Llanelli #newSchool #PlaidCymru #specialSchool #WelshLabour #YsgolHeolGoffa

Pupils choose name for city’s new special school

This week Swansea Council’s cabinet has approved funding to appoint a contractor to carry out detailed design, planning and site preparation work.

The new state-of-the-art school at Mynydd Garnllwyd Road will replace Ysgol Crug Glas and Ysgol Pen-y-Bryn with bigger and better facilities.

In another major milestone from September these schools will amalgamate under one governing body and headteacher even though both existing sites will remain open with no disruption to pupils until the newly built school is ready.

Both existing school communities have been involved in selecting a name for the new school and it will be called Ysgol Calon Lȃn.

Calon Lȃn is one of Wales’ most recognisable hymns and was written by Daniel James in the 1890s and set to the music of John Hughes, both of whom lived in Swansea.

Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Robert Smith, said: “A lot of hard work has been done to get us to this stage and I’m extremely grateful to the governing bodies and wider communities at both schools for their support.

“Governors, staff and pupils will now have a big say in the design and look of their new school to help ensure a smooth transition for all.

“This is the largest ever investment in special school facilities in Swansea and when ready the new school build will not only improve education for current pupils, but it will also have an additional 100 places to accommodate a rising demand for special school places and reduce the need for some pupils to be placed into independent and out-of-county schools.”

Gethin Sutton has been appointed as the new headteacher of Ysgol Calon Lȃn.

He said: “Pupils, staff, governors and parent and carers from both existing school communities are looking forward to coming together in September to establish our new school, Ysgol Calon Lân, school of pure heart.

“We are very excited to be building a vibrant unified special school that is comprised of the very best of what our existing schools have to offer, and are thrilled at the journey we will be undertaking to build a wonderful new,  21st Century school building, that offers our city’s most complex and vulnerable learners, the very best resources, environment and opportunities to flourish, learn and thrive.”

Chair of Governors, Alan Pitt, said: “The school communities are very excited by this major project which will greatly improve the ALN provision for vulnerable learners in Swansea.

“There is a real passion within the governing body to ensure that we contribute fully to achieving the best possible outcome.

“Lessons are being learned from other recent special school builds and the governors are committed to keeping the school communities, including pupils, staff, parents and carers, fully appraised of progress as we move forward.”

Meanwhile in nearby Llanelli, Cllr Glynog Davies, Carmarthenshire’s cabinet member for education has said he will propose a new-build additional learning needs school for the town after the previous school-build plan to replace Heol Goffa school was pulled as being unaffordable – a decision that triggered a huge public backlash and a 5,000 name petition handed into the council calling on them to reverse that decision.

#additionalLearningNeeds #CalonLȃn #newSchool #specialSchool #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #YsgolCalonLȃn #YsgolCrugGlas #YsgolPenYBryn

3 West #Cork mums who are campaigning for the area’s first #SpecialSchool to be established have identified 60 children with different needs, currently attending either an #autism spectrum disorder (#ASD) unit or a special school in #CorkCity.

15 children they know of currently travel to #CorkCity from west of #Bandon, with some of them spending as little as an hour a day at school, while travelling one-and-a-half hours each way.

https://www.southernstar.ie/news/mums-identify-60-youngsters-who-are-in-need-of-local-special-school-4260307