Welsh Language Strategy 2023 to 2028: theme 1 - children and young people
The vision
- That 40% of all seven-year-old pupils will have attended Welsh-medium education by 2032. Having a solid foundation in speaking and communicating in Welsh will increase the pupil's choice and confidence to follow a completely bilingual path in education, and on to employment and into the wider community.
- Increasing the use of the Welsh language among children and young people by giving access to Welsh-medium education and community activities and promoting opportunities for social interaction in Welsh.
Desired outcome
- Better attainment in Welsh and in other subjects through the medium of Welsh at every key stage in every school.
- 32% of year 1 pupils receiving Welsh-medium education by 2027.
- 24% of students aged 14 - 16 studying for qualifications through the medium of Welsh by 2027.
- More Welsh speakers under the age of 21 in Denbighshire in the 2031 Census
- More leisure and youth activities held through the medium of Welsh
Indicators
- More nursery children / three year olds educated through the medium of Welsh.
- More reception children / five year olds educated through the medium of Welsh.
- More children continuing to improve their Welsh Language skills when transferring from one stage of their statutory education to another.
- More learners studying for Welsh qualifications (as a subject) and subjects through the medium Welsh.
- More opportunities for learners to use the Welsh language within different contexts in school.
- An increase in the provision of Welsh-medium education for pupils with additional learning needs ("ALN") (in accordance with the duties set out by the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018)
- An increase in the number of teaching staff who can teach Welsh (as a subject) and through the medium of Welsh
- Increase in the number of bilingual youth work sessions.
- Increase in the number of youth service staff who speak/learn Welsh.
Welsh in Education Strategic Plan
Denbighshire County Council's aspiration is that by September 2032, 40% of all seven-year-old pupils will have attended Welsh-medium education. Having a solid foundation in speaking and communicating in Welsh will increase the pupil's choice and confidence to follow a completely bilingual path in education, and on to employment and into the wider community.
In September 2020, 28% of Year 2 pupils in Denbighshire schools were receiving Welsh-medium education. By 2032, in full consultation with stakeholders, Denbighshire County Council aspires to surpass the lower target of 37% proposed by the Welsh Government with the aim of being closer to the higher target of 41%.
In the period between 2010 and 2020, the percentage and number of pupils receiving Welsh-medium primary education in Denbighshire increased. This has coincided with investment in the schools' estate and implementation of schools’ reorganisation proposals. There are currently unoccupied places in Welsh-medium schools that could provide for 30% of all Year 1 pupils in Denbighshire, although this is not distributed evenly throughout the County. In some areas there are less than 4% unoccupied places available and therefore further growth will mean that changes will be required.
Denbighshire proposes to meet the growth target by increasing the capacity of Welsh-medium schools and changing the language designation of English-medium schools. The result of this will be a gradual increase in the availability of Welsh-medium education over the period of this plan, which is 10 years.
Youth Service
Denbighshire Youth Service runs various projects and activities for young people aged between 11 and 25. This work is carried out in youth centres and schools and community halls across the county. The service provides activities that enable young people to develop and improve their skills and knowledge and increase their confidence and self-esteem. The activities, which are free, include sports, arts and crafts, games, trips and visits. The service also provides educational programmes focussed on health and well-being, independent living skills and community citizenship and money management.
In order for the Welsh language to be seen as a living community language, it is important to show young people in particular that it is possible to use the Welsh language outside the formal structures of education and that it is a language that enriches their everyday life. For that purpose, it is important that the County Council's Youth Service provides opportunities for young people to converse through the medium of Welsh by providing a rich variety of bilingual activities and programmes across the county. The youth service recruits, trains and utilises first language youth workers and promotes training and development of Welsh language skills for all staff and volunteer members. In addition, they give the Urdd an Annual Service Level Agreement to employ a member of staff who supports the Secondary Schools and runs Community clubs through the medium of Welsh.
Denbighshire Leisure Ltd
The Council's Leisure services are now provided by Denbighshire Leisure Limited (DLL) – a Council owned Local Authority Trading Company (LATC). DLL aims to provide accessible, high quality leisure opportunities that attract high levels of participation and improve the wellbeing of Denbighshire's residents and visitors. DLL provides bilingual swimming and fitness sessions and work continues to improve their current offer, with the support of their recently appointed Welsh Public Relations, Communications and Media Officer. DLL will examine the Welsh language and the related standards during the year 2022/23, with the aim of building on good practice that is already in place in the company in terms of the use and availability of the Welsh language.
Denbighshire Welsh Language Forum
Denbighshire County Council works closely with its partners, as part of a county forum which considers the use of Welsh in activities across the county. There are many agencies operating locally that share the same priorities as us and it would be a mistake not to coordinate our efforts and take advantage of each other's resources and expertise to achieve one goal which is to increase the use of the Welsh language in Denbighshire.
Membership of the Denbighshire Welsh Language Forum is currently as follows:
- Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych
- Denbighshire County Council
- Denbighshire Education Department
- Yr Urdd
- Mudiad Meithrin
- Cymraeg for Kids
- Merched y Wawr
- Young Farmers Clubs
- Popeth Cymraeg Ltd
- North Wales Centre of Welsh for Adults
- Coleg Cambria
Actions and responsibilities
Action: Completing new childcare facilities located on the same site as Ysgol Dewi Sant, Rhyl and Ysgol Twm o'r Nant, Denbigh, ensuring plenty of facilities.
Responsibility: Education Service
Due by: April 2028
Action: Increase the number of Welsh-medium places available each year at Ysgol Gymraeg y Gwernant, Llangollen to 30 through capital investment.
Responsibility: Education Service
Due by: Review at the end of the strategy period
Action: Work with English-medium schools to change their language designation in order to ensure a 5% increase in the percentage of year 1 pupils who receive Welsh-medium education.
Responsibility: Education Service
Due by: Review at the end of the strategy period
Action: Work with partners to ensure an increase in the number of staff who can teach through the medium of Welsh and teach Welsh as a subject.
Responsibility: Education Service
Due by: April 2028
Action: The County Council will increase the youth work activities available for young people to take part in through the medium of Welsh by investing in staff training to increase their language skills and confidence in the Welsh language and promote the recruitment of more staff and bilingual volunteers in the future.
Responsibility: Youth Services
Due by: April 2028
Action: The County Council will continue to develop the partnership with the Urdd and the Welsh Language Forum partners in order to expand the Welsh-medium activities available to young people in Denbighshire.
Responsibility: Youth Services / Welsh Language Forum
Due by: Review at the end of the strategy period
Action: The County Council will have a Welsh Language Champion within the Youth Service to support the staff to embed more casual Welsh in our sessions and to create activities to develop young people's confidence in using the Welsh language in a social setting and informal education.
Responsibility: Youth Services
Due by: April 2028
Action: Design and publish a booklet to promote Welsh education and bilingual living in Denbighshire.
Responsibility: Education Services / Welsh Language Forum / Communication and Marketing Team
Due by: January 2024
Action: Create a page on Denbighshire County Council's website to accompany the above booklet.
Responsibility: Education Services / Communication and Marketing Team
Due by: January 2024
Action: Explore the demand for Welsh-medium lessons (swimming/fitness classes) and put plans in place to provide those lessons where there is demand. The Council will also work closely with the Urdd to accomplish this.
Responsibility: Denbighshire Leisure Ltd.
Due by: April 2025
Action: Train more bilingual coaches in a variety of sports to be able to carry out activities through the medium of Welsh.
Responsibility: Denbighshire Leisure Ltd.
Due by: March 2028
Action: Adopt Welsh Language Champions in all Leisure Centres to be responsible for promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language and developing a Welsh ethos.
Responsibility: Denbighshire Leisure Ltd.
Due by: March 2024
Action: Support administrative and frontline staff who can speak/learn Welsh within the leisure service to further develop their skills in order to aim to provide a completely bilingual service.
Responsibility: Denbighshire Leisure Ltd.
Due by: March 2027