Welsh in Education Plan (WESP) Consultation

Since the Council’s first WESP was initially prepared and submitted to the Welsh Government, there have been significant changes in the Welsh medium education sector at local and national levels. Changes have been mainly influenced by legislation, in particular the new Welsh in Education Action Plan – 2017 to 2021 and further implementation of the 21^st Century Schools and Colleges Programme. In addition, regulations regarding WESP’s have been updated. The Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (Wales) Regulations 2019 and The Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 focus on four key proposals, the principal two being:

• Extending the duration of the WESP from its current implementation cycle to a ten year implementation cycle (2022 to 2032). 
• Removal of the current duty on Local Authorities to plan their provision of Welsh medium education based on demand with the requirement that Local Authorities achieve targets set by the Welsh Government, which aim to increase the percentage of year one learners in Welsh medium education over the duration of the WESP.

Integral to achieving these goals is ensuring there are good schools, so all children and young people have equitable access to good Welsh medium and Welsh language education. The Council will deliver this by ensuring the availability of Welsh medium education, from the initial early years through to primary and secondary education then progressing through to higher and further education, for all learners whatever their learning need in line with achieving the vision of one million people in Wales being Welsh speakers by 2050 as set out in Cymraeg 2050: A Million Welsh Speakers.

Whilst the statutory responsibility for the WESP sits with the Council, a range of external groups and organisations have a key role in formulating, implementing and evaluating its progress regularly throughout its lifespan.

The Council’s target, during the ten year lifespan of this WESP, that has been set by the Welsh Government, is to:

Increase the percentage of year one learners in Welsh medium education by between 8.0% to 12.0% during the ten year lifespan of this WESP. This equates to an increase from 506* year one learners in Welsh medium education to between 720 and 825 year one learners in Welsh medium education.

*This target is based on 2019 / 2020 PLASC data.

This target will contribute to the overall long term target, set out in Cymraeg 2050 – A Million Welsh Speakers and will be achieved via the delivery of seven outcomes. The outcomes, set by the Welsh Government, are:

1. Outcome 1: More nursery / three year old learners receive their education through the medium of Welsh.
2. Outcome 2: More reception / five year old learners receive their education through the medium of Welsh.
3. Outcome 3: More learners continue to improve their Welsh language skills when transferring from one stage of their statutory education to another.
4. Outcome 4: More learners study for assessed qualifications in Welsh (as a subject) and subjects through the medium of Welsh.
5. Outcome 5: More opportunities for learners to use Welsh in different contexts in school.
6. Outcome 6: An increase in the provision of Welsh medium education for learners with additional learning needs.
7. Outcome 7: Increase the number of teaching staff able to teach Welsh (as a subject) and through the medium of Welsh.

Give us your views

We would like to hear your views on how the Council and its partners aim to achieve the WESP target and each of the seven outcomes.

You can have your say in a number of ways:

Online:

Email

Email us - consultation@rctcbc.gov.uk

Telephone

If you would prefer to speak to someone to provide your views or you require paper copies of the information please:

Telephone – 01443 425014

Write to us at: