Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Lead Member for Education, Children and Young People (copy enclosed) presenting the Council’s proposed Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2017 – 2020 for approval.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       approve the proposed Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2017 – 2020 that had been approved by Welsh Government in March 2018, and

(b)       confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report) as part of its consideration.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts introduced the report and presented the Council’s proposed Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) 2017 – 2020 for approval (the draft WESP had been approved by Welsh Government in March 2018).

The Plan demonstrated how the Council aimed to meet Welsh Government targets by developing Welsh Medium education in the county and focused on improving skills, particularly oral communication and understanding.  The long term aim was for all children and young people in the county to leave full-time education competent and confident in using both Welsh and English languages.

Councillor Hilditch-Roberts referred to the Council’s proven track record of developing services through the medium of Welsh and investment in Welsh Medium education and the Council’s approach had been praised by Estyn during the recent inspection of education services.  The Plan would be delivered in partnership with key stakeholders including schools, Urdd, Mudiad Meithrin and Menter Iaith and the Welsh Government had made various funding streams available to help meet targets including £30m capital funding and £2m workforce development grants against which bids could be made.  The Head of Education and Children’s Services highlighted the comprehensive consultation process in setting the objectives and the role of the Welsh in Education Strategic Group in the Plan’s development and monitoring its delivery.  Key elements focused on (1) quality and standards of Welsh taught through schools’ curriculum, improving outcomes for learners and the level of proficiency across all schools, and (2) ensuring sufficiency of places in Welsh Medium education.  The Head of Service commended the Plan and the hard work in its development.

Cabinet welcomed the Plan as a means of further developing Welsh Medium education in the county and contributing to the national target of achieving a million Welsh speakers by 2050.  Tribute was also paid to those involved in developing the Plan with specific mention to the Welsh in Education Strategic Group.  Councillors Arwel Roberts and Emrys Wynne, who were members of the Welsh in Education Strategic Group, added their support to the Plan and commended the work with partners and the good work and success which had already been achieved in the county which had also been recognised in the recent Estyn inspection report.

During the ensuing debate –

·         further detail was sought regarding the financial implications of delivering the Plan and officers provided a breakdown of funding streams made available by the Welsh Government and how that funding could be used to meet outcomes, including funding for workforce planning and continual professional development

·         assurances were also provided that the council and its partners were continually working to capitalise on any external funding streams from other sources open to them in order to meet the aims and objectives within the Plan

·         the good work and success achieved in Denbighshire was highlighted with a renewed focus on further improvements within existing resources and capitalising on available external funding sources to focus on specific outcomes

·         the need for balance to ensure the right provision for learners taking into account parental choice and providing opportunities to learn the Welsh language was acknowledged and officers reported upon the comprehensive work undertaken in the county in terms of predicting demand for school places which had identified an increase in demand for Welsh Medium places

·         reference was made to the benefits of a bilingual education, particularly in terms of future employment opportunities where proficiency in the Welsh language was important, and the challenge to demonstrate the benefits of a bilingual education to non-Welsh speaking families so that informed choices could be made for learners from an early age

·         it was confirmed that Welsh language was at the centre of the Futures Curriculum focusing on high quality learning for pupils and the new leadership and teaching standards also focused on the importance of developing the Welsh language and culture within the profession and in schools

·         reported upon the excellent relationship with partners who were fundamental to the Plan’s success and promoting the benefits of a bilingual education within schools and communities

·         tribute was paid to the work of Athrawon Bro, testament to which was the Welsh Language Charter silver award mark which had been achieved by all Welsh Medium schools in the county, and work was progressing to continue that success in English Medium schools and support the work of the Plan

·         officers advised that the Plan would be monitored by the Welsh in Education Strategic Group and would include milestones in terms of monitoring objectives to determine progress of schools and there was an expectation for schools to include how they had responded to outcomes in the Plan in their annual reports

·         the majority of grants for training and workforce development would be through GwE and there would be a regional training offer and package building on previous successes including the sabbatical programme; it was also important to offer a more bespoke training programme to meet the needs of teachers

·         officers reported upon the Council’s strong record of maintaining transition from English medium settings to Welsh medium education and elaborated upon the different pathways including both immersion and peripatetic but highlighted that the offer was dependent on the needs of the child and work was ongoing to develop a more flexible, robust and sustained offer to build on that success

·         in terms of evaluating Welsh Medium provision and identifying any gaps regular surveys were carried out to ensure a level of competency and to identify deficits to effectively target professional development of skills

·         officers acknowledged specific concerns raised by Councillor Mabon Ap Gwynfor regarding the strength of the Welsh medium offer in Ysgol Dinas Bran and loss of pupils from Welsh medium education in the Dee Valley area together with the impact of the school transport policy given the close proximity to the border with Gwynedd and confirmed the intention to consider the Llangollen area as part of the Band B 21st Century Schools Programme and look to address the issues raised as part of that review.  The complexity of the issue spanning a number of policies and procedures was highlighted

·         the importance of developing skills at an early stage to enhance progression was recognised together with ensuring no pupils were lost from continuing a Welsh Medium education following transition from primary to secondary school whilst at the same time highlighting opportunities for those from English Medium settings transferring to Welsh Medium schools either as latecomers or when transitioning from primary to secondary school – in order to promote the Welsh offer the Communications Team was developing a marketing strategy, which included the use of social media, to ensure parents were fully aware of the benefits of a bilingual education when choosing a school for their children

·         Councillor Bobby Feeley was pleased to highlight that the number of Welsh speakers in Denbighshire had risen from 24.6% in the population census of 2011 to 36.7% in the annual population survey in 2017.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       approve the proposed Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2017 – 2020 that had been approved by Welsh Government in March 2018, and

(b)       confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report) as part of its consideration.

At this point (11.45 a.m.) the meeting adjourned for a refreshment break.