FEWER children are taking part in educational visits to Wales' historic sites, Welsh Conservatives have learned.

Figures obtained by the party show a 21 per cent drop in visits by school children to sites maintained by Cadw over the last decade.

In 2008-9 there were 86,956 education visits to Cadw sites compared to 110,096 in 1999-2000.

Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies AM warned that youngsters were missing out on a vital part of their schooling.

He also accused Assembly Government ministers of failing in their commitment to boost learning through school visits.

And Mr Davies said the fall in visits could undermine efforts to boost learning outside the classroom in initiatives such as the Foundation Phase.

The Preseli Pembrokeshire AM today demanded an explanation from ministers, including whether health and safety legislation and financial constraints are putting off schools from organising visits.

Paul Davies AM said:

"Once again Assembly Government rhetoric is not backed up by fact.

"Ministers say they recognise the importance of educational visits as part of a broad learning experience. We share those views.

"Ministers say educational visits motivate children to learn. We agree with them.

"But by their own admission efforts to encourage this valuable part of education appears to be failing.

"Ministers need to explain why schools are making fewer visits to Wales' historic sites. And they need to tell us how they intend to rectify the situation.

"Children deserve the broadest possible educational experience both in and outside the classroom.

"They must not be disadvantaged by red tape and lack of money."