Agenda item

Annual Review Report of the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP).

Author Debbie Anne Williams Jones.

To accept the report.

To accept the report.

The Cabinet Member for Education introduced the report, and drew attention to the challenging period that schools had faced during the lockdown periods. In relation to the Welsh language in schools, it was noted that there would be future challenges as children had missed out on being part of a Welsh environment in the school and the classroom.

The Corporate Education Services Manager gave an overview of the annual report on the department's operation.
She emphasised that the focus of the report this time was on procedures rather than data.

She explained that the report's content summarised the methods used to cope with the changes in education. The Language Centres had faced the challenges of continuing to provide a Welsh experience to the children, and had taken advantage of the opportunity to innovate by using live learning sessions. She further added that these approaches ensured that the Welsh language reached the learners' homes in order to maintain their language skills. In addition to supporting learners, she noted that the Welsh Language in Education Strategy had another priority, namely to support a confident workforce in relation to the Welsh language.

The Head of the Education Department added that the use of the Welsh language was one of the main challenges facing schools as they re-opened, and they noted an element of concern about the decline.

Estyn's thematic review was discussed, and it was emphasised that Gwynedd's arrangements had been recognised as an example of good practice. He referred directly to the innovative approaches used by the language centres to provide education over the lockdown period, which had received national recognition.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations.  During the discussion, the following matters were raised:-

-        The Department was congratulated on the innovative approaches used, that had been recognised as good practice, and it was emphasised that the Welsh language was facing increasing pressure as distance learning continued.

-        A question was asked about whether any steps would be taken to assess the decline in the use of the Welsh language, and to meet the additional requirements following the re-opening of schools.

-        It was noted that the authority had obviously taken valuable steps to protect the Welsh language in the face of difficult circumstances.

-        Members were reminded of their important roles as school governors, and of their influence on the efforts to maintain the Welsh language within the classroom and beyond.

In response to some of the above observations and questions, the Education Corporate Services Manager noted:-

-        It was positive to hear elected members appreciating and recognising the work undertaken in schools and language centres in Gwynedd to protect the language.

-        It was intended to establish a baseline to assess the situation of the language following the return of all learners to the classroom.

-        The Head of Education Department added that the Education Department had been asked to lead a piece of cross-departmental work with partners such as GwE, Mudiad Meithrin, the Health Service and Further Education centres. He added that the work's aim would be to identify areas where a well-being gap had appeared due to Covid-19.

-        He noted that the next steps would be to create an action plan to identify definite milestones to signify how the situation could be strengthened.

-        He added that the outcome of the research would be shared with this committee.

-        He explained that there were a number of methods employed by schools to limit the decline of the Welsh language. He provided examples, such as ensuring that learners had the necessary technology to take advantage of live stream lessons, and providing parents with bilingual guidance.