Skip to main content

Welsh in Education Strategic Plan consultation agreed by Cabinet

School classroom generic 1

Cabinet Members have agreed to the Council undertaking an engagement and consultation process in relation to publishing its new Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP), having considered its latest draft version. 

A report to the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, July 20, presented the draft Plan to Members, and recommended they agree to an upcoming consultation process with a wide range of stakeholders. The results of this engagement exercise would then be presented to a future meeting of the Cabinet.

Local Authorities in Wales must prepare a WESP, required by the School Standards and Organisation Act 2013, which contains proposals and targets to improve the planning and standards of Welsh Medium Education and teaching, and report on the progress made towards set targets in these areas.

The Council’s target during the 10-year lifespan of the current WESP, up to 2032, is to increase the percentage of Year 1 learners in Welsh Medium Education from 8% to 12% (from 506 to between 720 and 825). These target figures are based on methodology implemented by Welsh Government which acknowledges the different challenges faced by Local Authorities in Wales.

The WESP also includes a number of specific outcomes – ranging from more learners in nursery and reception age groups, to better provision for Additional Learning Needs pupils, more learners studying for assessed qualifications in Welsh and increasing the number of staff able to teach Welsh as a subject.

On Tuesday, Cabinet agreed with the recommendations of the report, and the Council will now prepare a consultation exercise over a minimum period of eight weeks. It will also be scrutinised by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee and the Welsh Language Cabinet Steering Group.

The draft WESP is included as an Appendix to the report to Tuesday’s meeting, and is available for the public to view on the Council’s website.

Councillor Joy Rosser, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services, said: “The WESP is an important guide for the Council to help contribute to the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 vision to create one million Welsh speakers. The Plan outlines several key outcomes aligned under one main target set by Welsh Government, to increase Year 1 learners in Welsh Medium Education by between 8% and 12%, by 2032.

“A multifaceted approach is required in order to achieve this target – by ensuring that Welsh Medium Education is available in the right location from Early Years through to primary and secondary education, progressing to higher and further education for all learners, whatever their learning need.

“In January 2021, Cabinet received a detailed update on the Council’s actions and investment towards the WESP outcomes. Two current examples of proactive investment include exciting developments at YGG Aberdâr and Ysgol Rhydywaun, which will get underway in this summer holiday. The respective £4.5m and £12.1m projects will increase Welsh Medium provision in each school by 2022, targeted in areas where demand exceeds capacity.

“While the statutory responsibility for the WESP sits with the Council, there are several other groups which play a key role in continuing its preparation, implementation and evaluation. The Council is in the process of establishing a WESP steering group which will provide an effective focus in the Local Authority, and will work in partnership with these external organisations.

“These organisations will be key stakeholders in our upcoming consultation, which has now been agreed by Cabinet – and the feedback received in that process will be reported back to a future meeting of Cabinet in due course.”

Posted on 21/07/2021