Finally, after immense pressure from teachers, unions, local authorities and within the chamber, we have got them to back down and admit implementation plans were flawed.

I am fully supportive of the foundation phase itself with its high adult-to-pupil ratios, emphasis on learning through doing, and emphasis on outdoor learning, but my concerns have always been with the inadequate funding and planning.

From the beginning it became increasingly obvious that, to achieve these welcome and significant changes to the curriculum, would lead to considerable demands, including training existing staff, recruiting and training new staff, and the need to invest in new resources and facilities, all of which would have consequences for the very fabric of the settings in which the foundation phase would be delivered.

From the teaching unions to Estyn, all were agreed that, to get the foundation phase right, significant investment and high levels of planning were needed.

That was the purpose of piloting the foundation phase in several schools: so that, when launched in September 2008, all schools could move forward.

However, with just months to go, local authorities, school leaders, governors and parents have been loudly and clearly stating their ability to implement the foundation phase in September is in jeopardy because of the Government's approach to funding and planning.

The levels of funding from WAG were expected to be announced in January but they didn't come until March and then were short.

Powys alone was found to be £1M short of the resources needed to ensure all children get this vital opportunity.

Worryingly some schools have moved resources from elsewhere in their schools, to the detriment of other provisions, this is especially true of schools facing imminent inspection.

With the Welsh Assembly Government blaming local authorities for not having asked for enough funding and local authorities blaming WAG for not having given enough the whole debacle is yet another example of the funding fog within Welsh Education and the need for a more transparent system.

With threats of boycott from teachers in at least two parts of Wales the Minister finally opened her ears and made a complete turnaround from saying that the Foundation Phase was on course to admitting that extra finances will be needed.

My hope is that this money will be adequate and will come with extra support – alone it will not be enough, but it is certainly a much needed step in the right direction.

It's time the Government properly implemented and invested in this flagship scheme to ensure it is the success that it deserves to be.