Councilors at Neath Port Talbot have approved a plan to improve the planning and quality of Welsh language education in the county.
The plan, known as WESP, outlines how the council aims to enable learners to develop their Welsh language skills so they can use the language with confidence in everyday life.
It is part of the council’s contribution to the Welsh Government’s goal of one million Welsh speakers in Wales by 2050.
All local authorities in Wales are required to produce a WESP and the Neath Port Talbot Council plan has been developed through close collaboration with partners including Neath Port Talbot Schools, Menter Iaith, RhAG, Muddiad Meithrin, Neath Port Talbot College, Academi Hywel Dda Swansea University, Urdd and the Welsh government which formally approved it.
At a meeting of Neath Port Talbot council on Wednesday September 28, councilors from all parties unanimously approved the release of the plan so that it could move into implementation.
Outcomes will include more Nursery/3 year olds receiving Welsh education, more Reception Class/5 year olds being educated in Welsh, more children continuing to improve their language skills Welsh as they move from one stage of their statutory education to another, more learners studying for assessed qualifications in Welsh (as a subject) and an increase in the number of teachers able to teach Welsh (as a subject) and to teach through Welsh.
Cabinet Member of the Neath Port Talbot Council for Education, Skills and Training, Cllr Nia Jenkins said: “We are committed to supporting, developing and promoting Welsh language education in Neath Port Talbot to produce fully bilingual learners.
“Our Welsh Plan in Education will play an important role in delivering the Welsh Government’s ambition to see the number of people able to speak and use Welsh in Wales reach one million by 2050.”
